You might have seen them – but they won’t be here long

17:26, 23 May 2025Updated 17:28, 23 May 2025

The Boombox Barry poster – with the man himself cycling past(Image: F37 Foundry)

A mysterious new advertising campaign has taken over Manchester city centre — but it will disappear very soon.

Billboards on Deansgate, Mancunian Way and Tib Street have been plastered in slogans which celebrate the city’s characters and idiosyncrasies. The messages, written in white text on a black background, appeared last week (May 19).

The Deansgate advert calls on motorists to give ‘Beeps for Boombox Barry’, a nod to cyclist Barrington who lives in town and is known for blasting music out of a speaker in a bag-for-life, usually hung over his handlebars.

Near Victoria station, one jokes: “Mancunians: A people who figured out how to split the atom, but not how to open an arena.”

It’s a reference to the delayed opening of Co-op Live, which celebrates its first birthday in early June. Other ads make light of Manchester’s weather, with one declaring we’re ‘Vitamin D deficient and proud’ due to the lack of sun.

(Image: F37 Foundry)

However, the billboards are set to vanish on June 1 — meaning they can only be spotted in the city for a fortnight.

It’s not clear at first glance what is being advertised, but a company has claimed responsibility for the stunts.

F37 Foundry is behind the campaign, and it is drumming up interest for its new F37 Mancunio typeface.

The company says the font is inspired by one of Manchester’s last surviving wooden street signs, on St Michaels Place.

Its founder, Rick Banks, added: “We’ve always loved how Manchester carries its history in everyday places, like old street signs tucked away in quiet corners.

“This campaign isn’t about being loud; it’s local-first, subtle and authentic, with smart, warm type designed for those who truly understand what makes this city unique.”

In total, six city centre billboards have been taken over in the campaign. They are on Great Marlborough Street (under a bridge), Victoria Street East (under Victoria railway station), Mancunian Way, Hamson Street, Tib Street, Deansgate (under Deansgate-Castlefield railway bridge).