MANHESTER’S team of City Hosts were among the latest visitors to the recently opened Coronation Street The Tour at the Quay Street studios.
Five members of the City Hosts team stepped onto the Corrie cobbles, after becoming one of the most requested visitor attractions in the city centre.
Funded by the Heart of Manchester BID, the Hosts work seven days a week, 363 days a year and are based in the main shopping districts of Market Street, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square and King Street.
The seven-strong team assist an average 4,000 visitors a month and are on hand to guide shoppers, visitors and workers – helping with directions, public transport information and provide details on events taking place in the city centre.
Since the former Coronation Street set re-opened in April as a visitor attraction for the first time in 15 years, it has welcomed over 100,000 fans.
The Hosts enjoyed a revealing tour around the set which was home to the show for 53 years, before moving to a new base at MediaCityUK. The 90 minute experience gave the Hosts a fascinating insight into the world’s oldest soap offering a rare look into its production and an array of quirky facts along the way, complete with pulling a pint at the Rover’s Return.
City Host Kathryn Gradwell said: “We get asked where people can shop, eat and drink in the city centre, but we also get asked about other attractions and lots of people are visiting Manchester for the Corrie Tour.”
The City Hosts have also been behind the scenes at some of the city’s other major tourist attractions, such as the Royal Exchange, Central Library, Bridgewater Hall and the Phones4U Arena, so they can pass on their knowledge of the city centre to tourists.
Gradwell added: “Getting to see all the big tourist attractions is a really fun part of the job – and means we can be even more helpful to visitors.”
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