The 1990s was a terrible decade for Manchester. The 1992 bombing attack wounded 65 people and damaged many buildings. After four years the IRA Bombing of 1996 caused £700 million of damage. It was the biggest attack on British soil ever, the bomb injured over 200 people and heavily damaged nearby buildings in the city center. The reconstruction was started soon after the attack, the city council, business, and central government turned every stone and rebuilt the city center. This was largely completed with much success by the turn of the millennium.
The Manchester Arena was opened in 1992 and by the end of the 1990s, it became the busiest arena in the world. The same year, Manchester Metrolink opened and Manchester became the first city in the UK to acquire a modern light rail tram system. The Manchester Velodrome was opened in 1994 which is now an Olympic goldmine. Late in 1996, the Bridgewater Hall launched and for the first time in almost 150 years Manchester’s orchestras, particularly The Halle, had an international standard auditorium.
The nightlife and night-time economy also flourished in the 1990s, with the huge investment from breweries in bars, public houses, and clubs, along with active support from the local authorities. The night-time economy has a value of more than £100 million and it supports 12,000 jobs.
Take a look at these stunning photos of Manchester from the 1990s and don’t forget to check our previous galleries of Manchester from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
