The Abbey, a historic pub in Hulme, reopened earlier this month as a grassroots music venue and pub after being derelict for over a year. The venue, originally known as The Old Abbey Taphouse, has been part of the area since the 1890s and was considered one of Manchester's oldest pubs. Its last operation as a social enterprise included a pub, music venue, radio station, kitchen, and youth training centre. The closure of the beloved spot on Guildhall Close hit the local community hard.
New Life for a Historic Venue
Three weeks ago, the cobwebs were cleared away and the venue - now simply The Abbey - was given a major spruce up and reopened. The opening night saw both beer gardens full and people queuing out of the door to get in. According to Wesley Jones, one quarter of the leadership team behind The Abbey, the momentum has yet to die down and the pub has been very busy. Wesley is a co-founder of music promoters Now Wave alongside Jon Wickstead, who is also part of the Hulme venue's team alongside former Deaf Institute programmer Ruth Hemmingfield and Psych Fest's Gareth Butterworth.
Putting The Abbey on the Map
Although the group are veterans when it comes to running successful music venues in Manchester - with the Now Wave co-founders also running YES in the city centre - this new venture has come with a unique challenge: putting it on the map. "We've had a bit of feedback, people who have never been to The Old Abbey sort of don't know where exactly it is," Wes laughs. "There's nothing you can do about it, so instead of seeing it as a negative, you can see it as a positive."
Wes says, like with venues like The White Hotel and Antwerp Mansion in years gone, people will soon figure out where The Abbey is situated - especially as it brings in a range of artists and live acts, with Ora Cogan, Spanish Horses, and Golomb playing in August, and Less Big Byrd, Psych Fest, Dream Machine and Bikini Body amongst those on the bill for September. Their first weekend even attracted a performance from the Talking Heads-inspired Stop Making Sense Live, fresh from selling out two shows at Manchester's Albert Hall. It will also go beyond just music, with a range of community events and family-friendly activities throughout the year too - with the community allowed to lead the charge in terms of what it wants from the venue going forward.
Avoiding Noise Complaints
One advantage of their location is that it will hopefully avoid future noise complaints, an issue that has plagued many popular music venues such as Night & Day cafe in the past. "We're all familiar with the problems Night & Day have had with making too much noise, touch wood we shouldn't have those problems," Wes suggests.
Springboard for Emerging Musicians
Acting as the 'first rung on the ladder' for emerging musicians is a top priority for The Abbey, which will act as a 'springboard' to propel bands and artists headfirst into the grassroots music scene, subsequently allowing them to 'go and play the bigger venues in the city'. The aim with their 100-capacity hall is that it will slowly, but surely, start to add more gigs to its roster as it emerges as a name within the scene. "We've got some more live stuff happening soon," Wes teases, "then it's really busy in Autumn."
Community Hub
Wes acknowledges that it is essential the Abbey remains an inclusive hub for all. "Even when there's no live music on, it's a pub for the community to come in and use," he explains. With a background in live music and a fondness for traditional Manchester pubs, such as the Pevril of the Peak, Wesley knew 'combining those two things seemed to make sense'. Given the distinct lack of pubs in the surrounding area, Wesley is excited to welcome nearby residents in search of a new watering hole. "There is a community in Hulme that hasn't got many pubs," he says. "Hopefully we can become their new local. When people come and fill the place, it's nice to see people in there and feel some life in the building."
