"It's hard to tell you where the real Manchester is - it's changed so much"

You may have never been to Clampdown Records. But you’ll have definitely seen it.

It’s been the site of famous film sets like Morbius, It’s A Sin, and Peaky Blinders. So its owner, Neil Clarke, has rubbed shoulders with some A-listers.

Refreshingly, the man behind the counter is very down to earth. He’s owned Clampdown for 16 years, and it moved to its current site in Piccadilly in 1996 — but it started life in the Corn Exchange in 1991.

READ MORE: Driver 'abandons car' after getting stuck in Deansgate traffic in three-hour nightmare

Neil’s originally from Swinton, but has been coming to town for work and play for decades. He knows the city intimately, and he’s proud of it — with some interesting ideas on how it’s changing.

Here’s what makes him tick.

Where’s your favourite hidden gem?

There’s a place in Ancoats, it’s called Nam. Down below the restaurant, underneath, there’s a high-end audiophile bar.

In the basement of it, every weekend they have DJs on with an amazing set-up — there’s custom-built speakers, an Isonoe mixing desk, it’s open until 2am once a month. A quality place.

What’s your favourite view of the city or in the city?

Looking towards the city, I’d go for Birtle near Bury. On a clear day you see the high rises, it’s like downtown Los Angeles now.

Where’s best to go for your dinner in town?

Cafe Marhaba, just over from Piccadilly. It’s got the best rice-and-three.

Where would you take someone to show them the real Manchester?

It’s changed so much in the years I’ve been here. It’s hard to do that now, I don’t think you can find the real city now, compared to the way I could in my younger days.

I grew up in Swinton, but when I think back to the 90s when not many people lived in the city, you’d