And as for charging ..............if you dont ask you dont get dont forget lots of parlours charge for a vanila service extras are extra so will bump it up to the same price as a indie in some places and maybe more in others .........also a client will pay more not to be rushed and feel more special !
Yes - I don't personally know anything helpful about Manchester, but I'm based in London and am therefore also surrounded by a million brothels/flats/parlours at all times (some of them so popular/'famous' that they are fully booked every day), but also by a million other indies. So in a busy city there is clearly a market for a wide variety of services and if the existence of parlours made indies redundant then, well, I would have had to stop working before I even began.

If you're going to be in the City Centre, I'd guess that you want to be within 5-15 mins walking distance of a LOT of offices and available during daytime hours that would suit working clients (11am-8pm - tricky with hotels, I know). Also, as said above, there's no point being there during xmas hols etc when there's nothing but tourists and shoppers. And consistency is absolutely key - same hours, same days each week. And then just be your reliable and enthusiastic self so that the clients who might prefer an indie to a parlour because of the little extra special touches we are able to provide (making it feel very personal and relaxed, like a date/GFE etc) will want to come to you.
If parlours are charging extras etc then you shouldn't need to cut your rates. There will always be clients who want the full, affectionate, friendly indie experience and once they know they can visit you discreetly and that you won't let them down, they'll call you regularly.