Independent theatre, 53Two is set to launch a brand new bar and community hub this Spring in a breath-taking Grade-II listed heritage site.
Dedicated to supporting diversity and equality in the arts, 53Two provides a range of services and support for those working in the cultural sector. Now, a new 53Two Bar will welcome the arts community as the road to recovery begins.
The 150 capacity bar will occupy one of the arches beneath Manchester Central providing an all-day community hub for the arts sector.
Throughout the day, the menu will see coffee, cakes and pies while evenings will see drinks and live entertainment from local musicians.
Guests can expect beers from local Manchester breweries like Brightside and locally produced bar food from the wonderful HM Pasties.
After 11pm, the bar will operate as an ‘artists members club’ to provide those working in the cultural sector a special ‘members entrance’ for a late-night post-work drink.
The venue will house a baby grand piano for a karaoke experience like no other with ‘request pianists’.
The history of the arches will be preserved throughout the whole restoration process, including keeping the original flag work edged by metal runners that once guided horse and carts transporting goods.
The original granite cobbles from the road will be recovered and used to restore the century old flagstones in the 21st Century theatre and bar.
The second arch will open later in the year as the main 53Two Theatre, until then it will be used as a studio and private cinema room.
“53Two Bar will continue our tradition of creating an inclusive, accessible place for Manchester – full of laughter, creativity and conversation. The bar will bring the spirit of 53Two theatre to the arches until we can open that too – everyone’s welcome, especially anyone working in the arts who has struggled during lockdown. It has been such a tough time for our sector. And one part of vision is to continue to use the space to continue to support artists too. We’ll be running many of our support programmes from 53Two so it will be a real community hub. We absolutely cannot wait to open the doors to our brand-new bar. See you in May!” – Simon Naylor, Director of 53Two
53Two brand new bar and community hub is set to open on May 30th.
