It was argued that hospitality businesses in the suburbs fared better than city centre venues over the pandemic as many customers preferred to stay close to home rather than travel into Manchester. But subsequent cost increases and other factors have proved to be too much for many businesses to bear. A number of popular and long-standing venues have taken to social media to announce that financial pressures have become too overwhelming to continue trading.
One of Chorlton’s original cocktail bars, Proof Bar and Kitchen, announced that they had closed last weekend. The independent all-day venue on Manchester Road opened in 2007, offering weekend brunches, wholesome food, coffee and cocktails. Proof owners Carly and Andy Hick revealed its sudden closure across their social media accounts in a post which said: “2007-2023. We are opening tonight from 5pm for our swansong. If you can make it down, we’d love to say goodbye. Thank you so much for having us, Chorlton x”
Stockport bar owner Joe Patten has also revealed that he has decided to close two of his town centre venues, The Glass Spider, a Victorian craft beer and luxury spirits bar on Vernon Street, and Dr Feelgood, a glam rock bar and music venue on Market Place. “It was my absolute dream to bring live music back to the marketplace and I’ve had a blast doing so,” said Joe in an Instagram post announcing the closure of Dr Feelgood. “We had some absolutely insane artists perform here over the last year and a half…I’m sad we won’t be able to carry on bringing you all these crazy gigs and good times.
“Doctor Feelgood was born from a mixture of lockdown and watching The Dirt on repeat on Netflix and a desire to bring a venue that plays rock music through and through…not to mention Kiss on repeat! I can’t thank all our customers enough for the loyalty through these difficult times! Not to mention our great team that serves you night after night.”
Pattern is also behind The Cracked Actor bar on Lower Hillgate, which he opened in 2019 and retro games bar Glitch, which he opened in December with his partner Amy Fletcher.
Posting on Facebook, Joseph said “So long Stockport! Here’s to round two of today’s farewells. Glass spider started out as the sequel to The Cracked Actor. When I had a spring in my step and all the energy in the world. Sadly I don’t have that any more! So the right thing to do is to pass this lovely unit on to someone who can. If the climate was a little different I’d try again.”
The critically acclaimed Levanter restaurant on Square Street in Ramsbottom also announced it will be closing after nine years in business. “We could list all the reasons why but ultimately the high street and suburbs hospitality, in particular, is being so squeezed we cannot breathe or see a single sunlit upland,” read a statement posted across all the restaurant’s social media platforms.
“Thank you to our longstanding suppliers who we know are facing the same pressures as restaurants are. Love to all our beautiful team, so loyal, so hardworking, we did our best.” The popular Catalan restaurant closed its neighbouring business Baratxuri, a pinchos bar and comedor restaurant on Smithy Street in January. They had recently been lobbying the council, campaigning to keep Square Street pedestrianised so their outside seating area could remain open.
Before opening their restaurant in 2014, Levanter’s owners Joe and Fiona Botham ran a successful market stall importing and selling genuine Catalan ingredients and products. In Autumn 2022, after a busy pop up at The Bungalow at KAMPUS, they brought their Basque fire cookery to the city centre as one of the original kitchen residents at Exhibition, so their loyal following will still be able to enjoy their incredible dishes in Manchester.
