The best and worst nights out in Greater Manchester ranked in new report

High energy bills, changing working practices and the cost-of-living crisis are putting the nighttime economy in towns and city centres across Greater Manchester under pressure.

But a new report suggests nightlife is evolving rather than dying in many areas, with fewer pubs and bars - perhaps due to fewer young people drinking alcohol - but more restaurants.

And policy consultancy Public First says there's huge variations in fortunes around the country, not least in the North, as its new Night Out Index ranks Brighton top based on the number of licensed bars, restaurants and clubs per 10,000 people.

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On the list of over 100 major towns and cities in England and Wales, Manchester is 10th in the country with 16.5, with Stockport 47th on 11.6, Bury 51st on 11.2 and Wigan 58th on 10.7.

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But at the bottom of the table Salford is 109th with a score of just 6.1, Oldham 100th at 7.4 and Bolton and Rochdale 94th and 93rd with scores of 7.7 and 7.9 respectively.

In the last ten years the biggest improvements to nightlife have been in Leeds, Liverpool and Halifax, with Sheffield, Manchester and York also in the top 10 in this measure.

But at the other end of the scale Rochdale was judged to have seen the biggest decline, with Burnley, Bradford and Oldham not much better.

The Night Out Index suggests regional variations in nightlife vibrancy are more nuanced than a simplistic North-South divide, or even a rich area-poor area divide.

And it says other factors will feed into the quality and vibrancy of the night