Does it not strike anyone as odd that there are almost no city centre bike shops apart from the big chains like Evans and On Yer Bike? I can’t imagine that the economics make sense for a independent trader, which is why all of the successful ones are located out of town. Ultimately most people wanting to go to a bike shop are going to drive so location is mostly irrelevant.
Within the Manchester suburbs you have one of the best MTB specific bike shops in the country – North West Mountain Bikes. It may be 7 miles out of the city centre, but since you’re going to have to make a car journey anyway, what difference does it make if its 7 miles as opposed to 1 mile?