As Salford is crowned the cheating capital of the UK, Mirror journalist Jackie Annett hits the city’s streets to ask the locals why the city has such a hot and steamy reputation
Salford has been named the cheating capital of the UK, with more people confessing to doing the dirty on their other half than anywhere else in the country – but is it a reputation it deserves?
During my visit I can see it’s a place of two halves – the inner city with its brick terraced houses, cobbled streets and cheap takeaways meet the more salubrious Media City and Salford Quays just a stone’s throw away.
Along the waterside, there’s a buzz of activity as smartly-dressed city workers enjoy the Friday afternoon sunshine, while smiling graduates pose for photos with their families. But delve a little deeper and behind the smiles you’ll discover an underbelly of deceit.
Because, according to a new survey by extramarital affair website Ashley Madison, it’s the one place in the UK where you’re more likely to have a bit on the side.
Christoph Kraemer, Europe MD at Ashley Madison told The Mirror: “Salford is well known for people who aren’t afraid to express themselves and go after what they want and need. It’s a vibrant city with lots of people from different backgrounds and experiences to share.
“It’s no surprise then that Salford seems to be well above the national average and that people here are more inclined to look for their personal fulfilment outside of their primary relationship if some of their needs are not being met at home.”
Strolling through the streets of Salford, there are no striking signs that it is in fact a hotbed for locals looking for steamy extramarital sex. But experts say it’s happening in plain sight – round the back of cheap takeaway cafes, in litter-strewn alleyways and murky, multi-storey car parks.
Private detective Paul Evans from Bond Lees told me that 99% of his clients are people who want to know if their partner is cheating on them and he even moved to Salford because that’s where most of his work comes from. “Around 80% of them are women and 20% male,” he says. “Women generally aren’t wrong, they have a certain intuition.
“Manchester as a whole is hot for cheaters – and as a part of Greater Manchester – Salford stands out. And these hook ups are happening in broad daylight in the middle of the day and you don’t have to go to a hotel to catch them. It’s so easy to meet someone online these days – you don’t even need to go to a bar or a nightclub to hook up with someone anymore.”
Paul was recently asked to follow a driving instructor whose wife was suspicious because he’d been giving lessons to a younger woman for three years. “I was asked to follow him on one of their driving lessons – which I did for an hour before they went down a one-way street and parked up,” he recalls.
“Then they started putting the sun shades up and you could see the car moving in ambiguous ways. All the time I was sending live updates to my client who turned up and pulled them both out of the car – stark bollock naked.
“I’ve also been asked to drive to a private members club in the middle of Edinburgh from Salford and when I got there they were having a gang bang. I’ve been all the way down to Land’s End and caught people at it in a layby in the middle of the day. The further they get away from home the less they care about getting caught.”
Jai Mortlock, 20, who lives and works in Salford, says he’s not at all surprised by the latest statistics showing his home city is the place with the most cheaters. “It sounds about right – everyone here has a story to tell about someone cheating on them. It happens – it’s just the norm these days – and it happened to me about two years ago. My workmates take the mickey out of me and say she cheated on me because I had a bike with no pedals.”
He explained: “Basically I spent about £2,000 on a bike and it came with no pedals. But I’ve never cheated on anyone – my mum raised me right! In Salford everyone knows everyone so people probably have more opportunity than they would if they lived in a quieter area. People are friendly here and you can easily talk to anyone you want. But I don’t know why people don’t just speak up if they’re not happy in a relationship and then move on before doing the dirty.”
Michael Furlong, 56, who is from nearby Burnley but whose partner is in Salford for a job interview, says it’s quite a well to do area and when people have got money, there’s nothing left for them to do but have a bit on the side. “When you’ve got money there’s not much left, is there? Whereas Salford Quays is quite well off, the town is quite deprived.
“I cheated when I was younger as I was very insecure and I had the opportunity which I put down to finances. Money enables you and I wasn’t a bad looking lad back then. I was a typical young man with means – but I’ve got it out of my system. I haven’t cheated for about 15 years and I would never cheat on my current partner.”
Sitting in a nearby pub garden enjoying the summer sun, Charlie Slinger, 25, tells me he knows Salford well and says he’s not surprised it’s been named the cheating capital of the country. “There’s more women here,” he notices. “I’ve been cheated on in the past – I’ve been in two relationships and they both cheated. It’s not a nice feeling when it happens.”
Natalia Rekowska, 21, is originally from Poland but is studying dance at Salford University. She’s celebrating her boyfriend Ross’ graduation and is surprised that Salford is the cheating capital of the UK.
“Personally I don’t believe in cheating – I’ve been cheated on but I’ve never cheated. I’m always loyal and I would break up with someone before getting with anyone else. When it happened to me I was heartbroken – I wished he’d have just ended it and not used me as a toy to play around with. I’m not sure why Salford has so many cheaters but it does have a lot of students and people from different places – maybe that’s why?”
Her boyfriend Ross Ward, 21, who has just graduated with a degree in photography from Salford University, says he thinks it’s because people from the city are looking for something more in life – or a better lifestyle. “I’ve cheated in the past – I went with a girl to Glasgow and stayed the night with her in a hotel. I eventually came clean to my girlfriend as I couldn’t live with the guilt.
“I think if you’re going to cheat maybe you’re not with the right person. I genuinely wouldn’t cheat on Natalia who I’ve been with now for six months – despite my friends trying to tempt me. People cheat for a variety of reasons – perhaps they’re looking for a bit of excitement or a better life.”
Ross’ parents have come to Salford together to celebrate his graduation despite going through a divorce. Mum Heather Ward, 42, said she’s not sure why Salford is the cheating capital of the UK but where there’s a vibrant nightlife, there’s often a way.
“I’ve not really thought about it, but it could be that it’s a city with lots of bars and a drinking culture,” she says. “When people drink they tend to lose their inhibitions and maybe they think there are no repercussions because they’re on a night out.”
And although it appears that things are more hot and steamy up north, a marriage counsellor from Relate says that social media has a big part to play no matter where you live in the UK. “People have affairs for a number of reasons,” relationship guru Amanda Major says.
“Because they’re very unhappy, because they feel unheard in their primary relationship, maybe they feel hurt or abandoned or want revenge. I think societal views have changed over the years – if you think back 100 years ago having an affair would have been outrageous. But these days there are apps for everything and If you fancy a bit of extramarital fun and games there’s more opportunity to have an affair.”
And it’s not the first time Salford has been named the UK’s most adulterous city. Along with neighbouring Manchester, Salford beat off eighteen other towns and cities to arrive at the top spot and take in all the glory. So what is it about the north that means people are more likely to cheat on their partners?
We asked Labour MP for Salford, Rebecca Long-Bailey for her take on it all. “This is scandalous – it’s all lies,” she laughs. “Salford folk are the most loyal, loving people you will ever meet. Once we love you, that’s it – you have us for life whether you like it or not!
“I bet it’s them sordid types coming across the Manchester border using our hotels in secret and tarnishing our good name.”
But Salford isn’t the only UK city where people are doing the dirty on their partner. Ashley Madision data shows that while northern cities bag the top three spots, there’s plenty more towns and cities across the UK with cheats.
UK’s most adulterous cities 2025:
Ranking
City
Change 2024
1
Salford
(-)
2
Manchester
(+16)
3
Newcastle Upon Tyne
(new)
4
Exeter
(new)
5
Brighton
(new)
6
Bournemouth
(new)
7
Colchester
(new)
8
Cambridge
(-6)
9
Lincoln
(+11)
10
Leeds
(+1)
11
Southampton
(-6)
12
Worcester
(new)
13
Norwich
(-9)
14
Belfast
(new)
15
Chelmsford
(new)
16
Edinburgh
(new)
17
Basingstoke
(-7)
18
Glasgow
(new)
19
Oxford
(new)
20
Watford
(new)
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