Renamed The Abbey, they'll be bringing this neighbourhood boozer back to life...
Manchester promoters Now Wave are opening a pub.
Well, re-opening one, to be precise. The crew behind some of the best gigs in the city – at venues from YES to New Century to The White Hotel – will be taking on the Old Abbey Tap House in Hulme.
Listings had already been appearing referring to the ‘Now Wave Pub’ as the venue, with the postcode matching up to the Old Abbey, which has been closed for over a year.
Now the move has been confirmed by Now Wave with the new venue being renamed simply The Abbey.
Venue spokesperson Ruth Hemmingfield said: “We love a good pub. With The Abbey, we’re excited about bringing a brilliant old pub back to life, protecting what people loved about it, and creating something special: a great local, alongside a vital grassroots music venue for the area. Honouring the pub’s history while building its future.”
Found on Guildhall Road in the Manchester Science Park, the pub was built in 1890, and has been a cornerstone of the Hulme and Greenheys neighbourhoods.
It was also the pub outside which boxer and racism activist Len Johnson protested with hundreds of others, overturning the ‘colour bar’ policies in 1953, which separated white and black patrons in pubs, clubs and bars.
Matthew Pazos, Senior Retail Commercial Manager at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Ruth, Wesley and Jonathan are the perfect custodians to breathe new life into The Abbey.
“Their reputation for running independent spaces in Manchester, alongside their live music expertise, will ensure this much-valued pub once again becomes a beating heart for Hulme and the wider neighbourhood.
“The reopening of The Abbey will create an inclusive new hub that welcomes everyone — from the Hulme locals who have looked after the pub over the years, to the Manchester Science Park community, university students, and the many residents and workers across the Oxford Road Corridor.
“We are delighted that such a culturally significant and important pub is set to open its doors once again.”
Already booked in for shows include the likes of Divorce in July, Les Big Bird in September and Born At Midnight in October.
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