IT was announced two years ago that the Masonic Hall on Bridge Street– now Manchester Hall– would be reinvented by Vision Developments.
Their grand plans for the Grade II listed building started with a £7m renovation proposal of a former garage to combine the likes of restaurants, bars, rooftop terraces and event spaces. Now, a motor-themed pop-up bar has been opened up in the newly renovated arena.
Conversely, like anything pop-up inspired these days, it went from looking like an actual garage to the small matter of welcoming customers on Saturday 3rd December.
And it did not disappoint with a booming bar that boasts a large capacity of people across three floors.
At first sighting when you walk through the door there is a rustic plywood bar covered in motoring ephemera – including number plates and brasses. As well as pump nozzles and car parts having been turned into lighting, wrenches acting as door handles and a vintage petrol pump sitting by the door whilst tyres line the staircases and landings. Just the right side of edgy and quirky.
On a quiet Tuesday afternoon, it is harder to picture Garage as a buzzing bar full of punters. It has a different feeling to it. In fact, it’s empty, other than a few curious shoppers fluttering from the Christmas Markets. Workmen are still doing small jobs, merely adding the finishing touches, nevertheless it only adds to the feel of the place. This is nostalgic feeling is shown especially through one dodgy step leading from the ground floor to the first, bringing back all kinds of memories of a Grandad’s working garage or shed, particularly in the cold.
However, the first floor changes that in an instance when the snug cosiness hits you almost immediately. It could be due to the many radiators and heaters up there or the countless Christmas lights and decorations, whatever it is, it’s something that makes you feel at home instantaneously.
Garage Bar is one of the few drinking spots within the city to boast a generous roof terrace, on the third floor. Despite the view overlooking a crossroads, Garage will be making the 60-capacity top level and terrace available for private hire. Therefore, just having such a space as original and eye-grabbing is enough to entice the customers in.
One thing that will definitely entice you in is the cocktails, which all pay homage to the car theme, too. With names like Spark Plug, Piston, Anti-Freeze, and Throttle they are all £7.50, so that’s not as bad an M.O.T now is it. With the old-school garnishes and flavourings, the bar doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. It isn’t offering you high-quality cocktails like Manchester House on the opposite corner, which they slave over for minutes and minutes to create the perfect concoction. But then again, Manchester House doesn’t offer you a warm and friendly team dressed in car overalls, whilst pulling a pint does it?
What is great to see about the opening of this bar is that it doesn’t proceed to take itself too seriously and all in all just provide a little light relief for punters at the end of a stressful week.
GARAGE BAR is open now from noon until midnight Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, and from 12pm until 2am Thursday to Saturday until late April.
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