Hi!
Welcome to StP and greetings from Germany ...
I have been in Manchester twice ... first time end of 2ß16 and second time about September 2017. Both times with friends I met in Bristol first.
First time we had a squat in Salford, second time sleeping rough first but then we opened a squat in city centre and stayed there for about 2 weeks.
Hope to be back in UK in the next days, Bristol first and then Brighton perhaps to see friends.
I liked Manchester and will go back there I guess, at least coming through. Plan to go to Newcastle later this year.
Cheers!