Invaders in Manchester

A look at a piece of Invader street art in Manchester.

It was nice to have a walk round Manchester again for the first time in a while on Saturday.

One of the best free-to-do activities in the city centre is to look for street art. There's plenty of it about.

Space Invaders

Manchester is the site of an Invasion by French street artist Invader. He created 47 pieces of mosaic tile art with a total points value of 970 back in 2004.

You have to look in a wide-range of places to see the Invaders

Over the years some of these retro video game inspired pieces have been damaged, removed or stolen. While some have been lost entirely because the building they were on has been demolished!

Luckily some of these lost Invaders have been replaced.

Look up!

Mario Mini Market in Reddish, Stockport

Finding a super market in South Reddish.

We took our daily exercise in the Reddish area of Stockport yesterday and while having a wander we spotted Mario Mini Market on Gorton Road.

There's another branch in Levenshulme, Manchester.

I've also seen Mario and Luigi ice cream vans in Buxton and Hathersage, Mario movers in Newcastle, Mario's takeaway in Barnsley, and three Mario, Luigi and Mario & Luigi takeaways in Blackpool!

Pizza Luigi takeaway in Blackpool

Spotting a Luigi's pizza takeaway in Blackpool.

On my recent trip to Blackpool I was surprised to see the Pizza Luigi takeaway on Dickson Road!

Pizza Luigi in Blackpool

Mmmm, Calzone

I've seen a number of Mario takeaways, and another Mario's on Foxhall Road in the town that features both Mario and Luigi on the sign in the window. But this was the first where Luigi was on his own.

Interestingly, Pizza Luigi is opposite Mario's!

Mario's takeaway on Dickson Road in Blackpool

I've also seen a Mario mini market in Levenshulme, Mario and Luigi ice cream vans in Buxton and Hathersage, Mario movers in Newcastle and Mario's takeaway in Barnsley.

Mario's takeaway in Blackpool

Spotting a Mario's takeaway in Blackpool.

On my recent trip to Blackpool I spotted Mario's takeaway on Dickson Road!

Mario's takeaway in Blackpool

Mario's takeaway in Blackpool

Mario's is opposite Pizza Luigi!

Pizza Luigi takeaway on Dickson Road in Blackpool

I've also seen a Mario mini market in Levenshulme, Mario and Luigi ice cream vans in Buxton and Hathersage, Mario movers in Newcastle and Mario's takeaway in Barnsley.

There's another Mario's takeaway on Foxhall Road in Blackpool. That one features both characters on the window.

Mario's and Luigi's takeaways in Blackpool

They're opposite each other on Dickson Road in Blackpool.

What a sight!

Mario's in Blackpool

Pizza Luigi in Blackpool

Over the last few years I've seen a number of Mario takeaways, but this was the first full-blown Luigi place I've spotted.

Pizza Luigi in Blackpool

There's another Mario's on Foxhall Road in Blackpool. That one features both characters on the window.

We've seen Mario and Luigi in some interesting places in the last few years.

There's a Mario mini market in Levenshulme, Mario & Luigi ice cream vans in Buxton and Hathersage, Mario movers in Newcastle and Mario's takeaway in Barnsley.

Super Mario moving in Newcastle

Our knack for seeing Super Mario on business signs continued on our trip to Newcastle at the weekend.

Mario will move anything, anytime!

We've seen Mario in some interesting places in the last few years.

Related blog posts:
- Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Vans
- Mario's takeaway in Barnsley
- Mario

Street art in Manchester

On Monday I managed to see two of the latest reactivated Invader street art pieces in Manchester.

The French street artist Invader visited Manchester in 2004 and put up 47 pieces of mosaic tile art with a total points value of 970. They look superb.

This Mario Invader is one of my favourites

Over the years some have been damaged, removed and stolen. While some have been lost because the building they were on was knocked down!

That was the case for MAN_15.

The new MAN_15 on a new building in Manchester city centre

A closer look at MAN_15

Invader has invaded 78 cities around the world, putting up 3779 pieces in total.

The reactivated Invader MAN_46. It's probably in the grubbiest location in Manchester

In the UK Invader has also invaded London and Newcastle and we've managed to find a few of his pieces on trips to the two cities.

During my latest trip to Manchester I also saw some of Mr Do Not's stickers in town.

No Space Invaders

No Monopoly

No photos and no love

And I noticed a new sticker has been added to the large Invader piece MAN_45.

The wall around MAN_45 has got increasingly busy in the last year or so

Kim Chunk Un!

Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Vans

Spotting some Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Vans on our travels.

We spotted a couple of Mario & Luigi ice cream vans on our weekend away in the Peak District.

Mario and Luigi in Buxton. Along with a Micky Mouse Robin Hood!

Luigi and Mario on an ice cream van in Hathersage 

We've seen Mario in quite a few interesting places in the last couple of years.

Related blog posts:
- Bootlegs
- Mario
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- Ice Cream Van

Mario's takeaway in Barnsley

Spotting a Super Mario takeaway in Barnsley.

I thought Mario was a Plumber by trade

We were in Barnsley at the weekend and while exploring the town we spotted this bootleg Super Mario takeaway in the town centre!

Mario's takeaway in Barnsley

Mario's a character rather than a gamer!

It's not the first use of Mario we've seen on a takeaway as 'he' also has a branch in Blackpool.

Mario's in Blackpool

There's also a Mario Mini Market up the road from us in Levenshulme, Manchester!

Mario Mini Market in Levenshulme

Related blog posts:
- Super Mario
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Mario mini market in Levenshulme

Spotting Super Mario at a European food store in Levenshulme, Manchester.

While having a wander along the Stockport Road in Levenshulme we spotted Super Mario on the sign for a mini market!

In August we spotted Mario's takeway in Blackpool. That place also had Luigi on the window.

Related blog posts:
- Bootleg
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Mario's in Blackpool

On a trip to Blackpool it was super to see Nintendo are getting into the takeaway business.

I bet Luigi was miffed he didn't get his name on the sign too

Popeye and 'facebook' also have takeaways in Blackpool!

Related blog posts:
- Funny sign
- Bootleg