The team who brought legendary split-level venue JW Johnsons to Manchester have reunited to bring Red Door to the exact location on Deansgate in Manchester, underneath The Botanist
Tim Bacon has joined forces once again, with Chester based entrepreneur Dave Hinds and former Living Ventures bar expert, Lee Lynch, to bring this stylish and fun bar to the heart of the city.
A return to this site will trigger a lot of reminiscing for anyone involved with JW Johnsons. The vibrant restaurant and bar was located on the ground floor, but it was the basement club where the happiest and possibly haziest memories were formed. It was a melting pot of people from all walks of life (TV personalities, musicians, sports stars, journalists and office-workers) who all had a common bond, a love of good music, live music, and a zest for dancing and forming lasting friendships.
Tim and Dave’s business relationship stretches back to the early 90’s when they set up JW Johnsons, followed by Via Vita and Life Café across the UK, at which time they were joined by business partner Jeremy Roberts. Together, the trio spearheaded a revival of the dining scene in Manchester city centre. Those venues were sold to Whitbread in 1999 after which Dave Hinds decided to concentrate on his property interests, leaving Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts to establish Living Ventures.
The subterranean Red Door will undergo a major overhaul costing £350k and is set to open in June 2016. Occupying 2800 sq ft with a capacity of 250, it will create 20 jobs. Opening times will be 8pm-2am 7 days a week
Managing Director, Lee Lynch, who has worked with Tim Bacon and Dave Hinds since 1998 and is a partner in Red Door said “Following the huge success of our venues in Chester and Liverpool, we are delighted to bring Red Door to Manchester, our intention is to make it one of the best bars around, with highly trained bar-tenders and live music. It will hopefully make a significant contribution to the return of a positive and thriving bar scene at that end of Deansgate.”
