Out of Home is all about being in the right place at the right time. And when it comes to opportunity, audience and impact, Manchester has it all.   

Katherine Kershaw, Regional Account Director, shares her reasons why Manchester should be on your media plan in 2025.  

Manchester is the first stop for brands that want to be seen, heard and remembered. With an audience that’s constantly on the move, a culture that thrives on big moments, and an OOH landscape that blends scale with creativity, Manchester delivers visibility, impact and results. 

A city on the move

1. One of UK’s fastest-growing cities 

The latest regional economic forecast projects that Manchester will experience an annual average growth of 2.5% between 2024 and 2026, surpassing the national average of 2.1%.¹

2. Investment in infrastructure  

Ambitious plans have been unveiled for a £2billion regeneration of Trafford Park, which includes proposals for a new 100,000-seater stadium. If approved, this development is projected to boost the UK economy by £7.3bn, creating 92,000 jobs and 17,000 new homes.²

3. The largest regional commuter belt  

7 million people live within an hour’s drive of the city³. Every day, they fuel a buzzing city centre primed for high-impact campaigns.  

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4. Globally recognised as a must-visit  

The New York Times named Manchester one of the best places to visit in 2024 and it was the only UK city to appear on the list.  

5. A built in Gen Z audience  

With over 100,000 students, Manchester has the third largest student population in the country. One that is social, mobile and highly engaged with OOH. Brands looking to capture the next generation will find them here.⁴ 

6. 2025: a year of unmissable moments  

From Parklife’s 80,000 festivalgoers to 320,000 Oasis fans descending on Heaton Park, Manchester’s cultural calendar offers huge moments for brands to tap into.

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7. It’s all football  

Home to Manchester United and Manchester City, the city sees millions flood in for match days. In 2024, 2 million⁵ visited to watch a game. And, Old Trafford had the highest aggregate attendance of all European men’s clubs in 2024.⁵ 

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8. Diverse and dynamic audience  

The ACORN groups – City Sophisticates and Student life group are 5x higher than UK average, and career climbers are 2.3x higher.⁶  

9. Spending hub  

With £1.3billion in annual spend potential, Manchester ranks as the UK’s third-highest city for visitor spending across hotels, restaurants and leisure.³

A formula for success

10. OOH leads the way in Manchester   

72% of Mancunians are heavy or medium OOH consumers – more than radio or TV⁷. If brands want to reach Manchester’s diverse and engaged audience, OOH is the way to do it. 

11. We are Manchester’s most-watched media owner  

Our network reaches 51% of Manchester’s city centre in just two weeks⁸, spanning large format roadside screens, shopping destinations and transport hubs, covering every point of the consumer journey. 

12. Manchester’s no.1 provider of large format roadside  

We cover 48%⁸ of Manchester’s population every two week, rising to 53% of ABC1s and 55% of ABC1 (18-34s). And it’s estimated that 699,000 residents commute solely by car annually.

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Where brands go big

13. Printworks SkyLights: Europe’s largest digital ceiling  

Since its launch, Printworks Skylights has redefined immersive advertising, offering brands a breathtaking canvas. Wicked, Volvic and Maybelline have already taken centre stage, turning heads and amplifying PR reach.  

Plus, OOH doesn’t just stop at the screen. Issey Miyake took it further, with sampling, putting products straight into the hands of more than 400 customers.  

14. Spinningfields: where business meets leisure  

Home to 165 commercial organisations, with 5.5 million visitors every year⁹. Your brand can engage this premium audience across our 22 full motion Loop screens, armed with Ocean Labs capabilities.  

15. The Screen @ Arndale: the power of 3D  

Our DeepScreen® offering boosts creative appeal by 17% and leaves 34% of viewers wanting to see 3D ads again. My recent favourites: Jack Daniel’s and Red Bull truly showcased the power of this format in Central Manchester.  

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16. Cut outs that make your brand stand out  

Pin Mill Brow is the prime space to break out, light up and go viral. Just ask Surf whose 3D ‘Smells That Good’ campaign turned heads and captured Manchester’s senses. 

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17. Your brands gateway to the city   

Overlooking the skyline on the approach to the city, our digital Two Towers® Manchester is perfectly positioned to target the city’s busiest arterial route.   

Contact Katherine.Kershaw@Oceanoutdoor.com to find out more about our Manchester advertising portfolio.  

Sources:

1. EY Economic Forecast, 2024
2. Oxford Economics 2025  
3. CACI, 2024 
4. Invest in Manchester, 2024  
5. BBC
6. ACORN, 2025
7. YouGov, 2025
8. ROUTE, 2025
9. Spinningfields, 2025