City centre residents said their lives have become a 'nightmare' because of 'constant bass' as well as 'screaming', 'drug taking', and 'public urination' at a popular Manchester venue. Five people living in central Manchester spoke at a council licensing meeting on July 13, 2026, about disturbance from Diecast, a venue based on Ducie Street.
Residents Describe 'Significant Disruption' Every Weekend
One complaint was over 'prolonged low level bass that persists for several hours' impacting the neighbourhood. Daniel Tischer, who lives near the venue, said neighbours have started 'dreading' weekends. 'We regularly experience prolonged shouting and singing during dispersal, often lasting long into the night,' he said.
Thomas Askem, a resident in the Oxygen apartment block, claimed that some renters in his building have moved away because of disturbance from Diecast events. 'On Saturday, we had 20 people urinating on our building and a security officer stood by not doing anything. Do we want Manchester city centre to be a place where people want to live, or simply a party destination?' he added.
Cancer Patient Pleads for Rest
Another resident, Maged Selim, who is being treated for grade four cancer, urged the council to act so he can rest at home without major disturbance. 'I mention this not to seek sympathy, but because it explains why rest has become so important. I now live with interrupted sleep, and ongoing stress and anxiety, for which I take prescribed medication. I often cannot enjoy my own terrace, living room, bedroom, or completely open my windows or doors because of the noise from the venue, particularly the beer garden. After 19 years in my home, I simply want to be able to rest,' he told councillors.
Mr. Selim's partner, Meena Shah, added: 'With his diagnosis, he's got three to four years on this planet, and that's if the treatment works. I'm begging you, please please please do something.'
Venue's Response and Licensing Conditions
Diecast said it wants to build a 'positive working relationship' with the local community. A representative from the venue stated: 'It's a multi-use space which a huge amount of people go to and get benefit from.' Diecast opened in 2023 and has capacity for up to 8,000 people to attend events, according to licensing documents.
The council licensing meeting was held so that Diecast could 'reflect changes to the internal layout' at the venue. However, the hearing turned into a stand-off between frustrated residents and venue management. Several complaints from city centre residents were published on Manchester council's website as part of the licensing hearing. One read: 'The recurring disturbance has had a significant effect on my quality of life. It has affected my sleep, contributed to stress and anxiety, and reduced my ability to enjoy my home in the way any resident should reasonably expect.'
Council Officers Confirm Excessive Noise
Another complaint added: 'Every weekend, from afternoon into late evening, we experience constant bass noise, shouting and screaming from the beer garden and street below. We can no longer open our windows in hot weather, and we have lost the use of our own outdoor space, the very feature that drew us to this flat. The sleep deprivation and constant worry have accumulated over time and have caused ill health. There has been no genuine let-up. On many weekends, my neighbours and I have felt we had no choice but to leave our own homes simply to get some peace.'
Officers from Manchester council also flagged concerns about noise levels from the venue. A report stated: 'Recently, officers attended nearby residential properties following complaints concerning amplified music emanating from the premises. During these visits, officers witnessed significant bass noise breakout, causing disturbance to nearby residents. On each occasion, licensing out of hours officers found the levels of noise to be consistently excessive and intrusive.'
New Conditions Imposed
Diecast representatives said the venue has invested sums to try and reduce noise break out during events. Several licensing conditions were put in place for Diecast to agree to. These include a written noise management plan, with measures to control amplified sound, and for the beer garden to close at 11pm. The venue also offered to attend quarterly meetings with local residents to ensure regular dialogue.
Councillor Julie Connolly, chairing the meeting, said she hoped the decision would mark the start of better relations between Diecast and local residents.
