Craft beer bar set for June opening

The operator behind the proposed bar, which also runs pizza and beer bar Ply, hopes to be in business within three months on a site on Swan Street in Manchester.

A planning application, partly retrospective, has now been lodged for the site, at the prominent junction with Oldham Street, within a well established leisure circuit including Band on the Wall, Mackie Mayor, the Smithfield Tavern and the Castle Hotel.

The upper floors of the former office building are being converted into flats, and while the lower and ground floors had a previous bar consent, that has now lapsed.

Street Design Partnership and planner Paul Butler Associates lead the professional team on the project. The site’s overall developer is GLH 4, a company associated with local entrepreneur Colin Shenton, while the bar is to be operated by a company involving Joe Fearnhead of craft brewer Alphabet Brewing Company.

Work has been progressing on the site, to the extent that it should be up and running soon after its June determination date, should it be granted consent. The application relates to a change of use for the ground floor and basement, along with external alterations including repair works to facades and windows. Cleaning of the building’s exterior has already taken place, along with shopfront glazing and internal fit out.

Alphabet also operates the ABC Taproom at its brewery close to Manchester Piccadilly, which is open on Friday and Saturday evenings, and a bar in Chorlton. Fearnhead, an experienced operator in the sector, also runs Stevenson Square pizza and beer bar PLY and previously ran Kosmonaut in Tariff Street.

SDP’s design & access statement said: “The proposed change of use and refurbishment works to the existing building, will significantly improve the appearance of the property, and therefore enable it to contribute positively to the street scene and the wider conservation area.”