As soon as you enter Manchester’s Wonder Inn it is instantly apparent why so many people are determined to ensure that the place sticks around for a long time to come– quite simply put – it is magical!
Guest writer Tracy Reeves takes a look for About Manchester
The venue is the realised dream of internationally acclaimed musician Kirsty Almeida, whose enthusiasm and love for the place shines through as she tells me what the Wonder Inn is all about. “It’s a space devoted to the nurture of wellbeing and creativity, a place to make people feel better about themselves! We’ve hosted hundreds of beautiful and unique events and with an amazing team of volunteers behind us we pour our profits back into the project and community. The Earth is also always at the centre of our choices.” These guys even plant a tree for every ticket bought to their events. Everything they do is just so, well, lovely!
The Wonder Inn has been open for a year now but sadly its future is under threat unless money can be raised in time to cover legal fees to fight the revocation of the initial 7 year lease. So far they have raised an impressive £4000 in just 11 days and this is not crowd funding or investing, Kirsty tells me, people are donating purely for their love of the place. This seems to go hand in hand in a way with the whole ethos – that it is created and enhanced by the people that come here and love and use the space. There is still a way to go – £10000 is needed in total but Kirsty is staying positive: “We are more determined than ever to ensure this project stays alive. In return for donations we would like to hold a huge Wonder Inn Ball to say a gigantic thank you, regardless of the outcome. ”
Even the start of the project was almost organic. While working on the refurb of a nearby bar Kirsty used to walk past the building daily and wonder what it was and why such a beautiful old building was standing empty. It was like the building called to her.
Even as we are chatting, passers by stop to take photos of the outside of the building, as if they cannot walk past without capturing a part of the beauty, and Kirsty tells me that this happens all the time saying: “I love when they do that! The building just draws people in!” Kirsty’s vision for the place evolved from a book she created by noting down all the elements she thought would make the perfect venue, drawing inspiration from venues all over the world where her music took her, from Moscow to New York. “We started with nothing and no money – just a whole head of passion!”
Donations from the community helped to shape the venue, from old church chairs to pianos, and perhaps most randomly 180 Edwardian style umbrellas – a selection of which are now adorning the downstairs café area! It is unique touches like this that created a beautiful cosy interior, as the artists who use the space were able to use their lifetime of experience to transform and upcycle all donations, making the ordinary into something pretty special. Even the mop has been crafted from what appears to have been a tree branch, which just sums up the quirkiness of this place!
Regular events include unusual delights such as face yoga and reggae yoga, Mbira lessons (for those like me who haven’t heard of this it is an African musical instrument consisting of a wooden board with metal prongs), a jazz night and a new open mic night with Gideon Conn.
The Wonder Inn regularly hosts a whole range of musicians for small gigs or album launches and all three floors are available to use for any creative, artistic or holistic use.
“The wonderful thing is that no event looks the same – the building is a blank canvas, an ever changing gallery, and each different event seems to honour the building and shape its use accordingly. You can’t get much different than a 1 day yoga retreat and Kendrick Lamar coming in to work with young musicians but the building was equally perfect for both. I am blown away constantly by how well the space lends itself to music artists and I love seeing their response as they play to what feels like a festival audience. At the weekend we held an intergenerational party with Project Better Days and it was amazing to see people of all ages and backgrounds coming together. What started with my two year old son on the dance floor ended up with a spontaneous full scale gospel choir performance…who couldn’t love that!”
When asked about plans for the future Kirsty gives me a look that says ‘how long have you got?’ before reeling off a whole host of exciting new ideas! We are working on a lot of collaborations – one idea is to hold events that will turn the whole building into a festival within a building, music festivals or mind body and spirit festivals for example, and retreats too.”
The café space isn’t fully open yet (although delicious looking homemade foraged soup and rolls are often on offer – today’s is tomato, lentil and freshly foraged nettle and elder – yum!) but the plan is to host pop up’s weekly serving local wholesome organic food. They are in the middle of a bid to the Arts Council to turn the back room into a children’s café too and hope to create an outside space. “One thing I’m really excited about,” says Kirsty, “is working with the Gaskell Garden Project, who support refugees to integrate in the community. They will be coming in to grow and build things. It’s such a beautiful project.”
“It is wonderful that we created so much with nothing and grew from the smallest beginnings to what we have now …it’s madness…beautiful madness! Everyone is welcome here it really is for everyone and anyone to get involved and become a part of.” See….lovely!
You can help by contributing on the Wonder Inn Go Fund Me page. Details can be found on the website http://www.wonderinn.co.uk/
