Hebden Bridge - The Uk's Second City?

[sunny-dave]

Apparently we need a "second city" rather than two "thirds" (Brum and Manchester).

The latest suggestion is Hebden Bridge ...

"Hebden Bridge, nestling in the Pennines between Manchester and Leeds, is certainly one of the most interesting and flourishing towns in the UK. It was once declared the "fourth funkiest town in the world" (whatever that means) and is often said to be the lesbian capital of the UK"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26472423

[Baldric]

I've heard it's twinned with Brighton!

[Prudie]

In the 70s I went to Hebden Bridge 'fayre' while on hols and remember I tried to guess the weight of a bull. It was a sleepy Yorkshire village I thought - has it come on since then??

[leahbee]

Went there for the first time yesterday and was very impressed.
It was absolutely heaving, for the first time this year people were out in shorts and T shirts while the many bikers looked to be baking in their leathers.

[emeritus]

I think it was the Clog Factory that attracted a lot of people to relocate there !

http://www.clogs.co.uk/

[gness]

I have never visited the relatives I have there....but the image of hot and sweaty bikers in leathers....mmmm..looks like a good place to holiday...☺

[Baldric]

I believe the craze for injecting drugs into the mouth started there, known as, "Ee ba gum!"

[ivor4781]

birmingham will always been the second city in the uk
hebden bridge very nice place to visit, also know as the lesbian capital of the uk

[DTCwordfan]

Hebden Bridge, a pretty village of 4200, known as the lesbian capital of the UK, set on the confluence of the Hen-den and the Call-Out Rivers.....

[DTCwordfan]

or even better, the Call-Her River....

[Quoi]

I stayed in a b&b in Hebden bridge for a few nights and reading that might explain a little incident that may or may not have happened while I was there.

[Ric.ror]

I would advise anyone to go to Hebden Bridge - its lovely

[redman41]

Major English Cities (Population-2011-03-27)
1. London 8,250,205
2. Birmingham 1,085,810
3. Liverpool 552,267
4. Bristol 535,907
5. Sheffield 518,090
6. Manchester 510,746
7. Leeds 474,632
8. Leicester 443,760
9. Bradford 349,561
10. Coventry 325,949

Sorry Dave, Hebden Bridge is just a Village that most people have never heard of, let alone been there !!
Evan Davies is having a fantasy moment .....:-)))

[ladybirder]

Hebden Bridge is lovely, I nearly bought a house there many moons ago. The surrounding scenery is beautiful. A nice place to live.

[ivor4781]

but liable to great floods.give it a miss

[joggerjayne]

Crikey, why would anywhere want to be the Second City?

You'd attract all sorts of unwanted attention.

We, for one, are happy down here, perched on the edge of the mainland, minding our own business, living by our own little set of rules, and trying to ignore the rest of the country.

If there has to be a Second City, then somewhere a long way away like Hebden Bridge would be excellent.

I presume Hebden Bridge is a long way away. I dont think I've ever actually heard of it.

[Elina]

Hebden Bridge is so beautiful! I have visited a lovely vegetarian / vegan restaurant there .

[jno]

interesting piece, that. The suggestion is that the UK doesn't have a second city, one about half the size of London - only two third cities about a quarter of the size - and that this damages the country by giving far too much money and power to London. I'd agree (despite living in London).

The idea of making a conurbation out of Leeds and Manchester looks like hard work, though they're probably not much further apart than Dartford and Watford, say.

[jno]

why would anywhere want to be the Second City?

Ask Marseilles, Milan, Barcelona, LA (I think it's overtaken Chicago), Rio, Cape Town...

[mikey4444]

I don't want to be rude about Hebden Bridge but I doubt if its Yorkshires 2nd city, let alone the UK's.

[sunny-dave]

... ah, but are you a Lesbian Mikey?

That would surely change your opinion :+)