EXCLUSIVE: Brand new Nashville-style blues bar Bunny Jackson’s to open on First Street

Imagine this. You’ve just arrived in Nashville after days of hiking with nothing but a flask of whisky and your battered guitar. The air is smokey, the beer is perfumed and there’s a deep rumble inside the crowded honky tonks.

You pass the Country Music Hall of Fame where a gentleman tips his hat, says “howdy” and you think to yourself, “I’ve made it to Nashville.”

It’s this bluesy rhythm and Deep South soul that’s the inspiration behind brand new bar concept, Bunny Jackson’s Juke Joint.

This bar on First Street where The Liquor Store used to be is set to put blues back on the map with live rock and soul music nights and a drinks list as long as your arm.

Granted, these days you can drink whisky anywhere. Except at work or when you’re driving. But Bunny Jackson’s is set to serve up the best liquor this side of the Mason-Dixon line. All-American favourites like the tantalising New York whisky sour.

There’s probably no better place for people who love all-American fare and whiskey. Which really should be everyone.

You can devour enormous classic American sandwiches, popcorn shrimp, wings and burgers. There’s salads too with possibly more junk than the sandwiches.

Then you can eenie-meenie-minie-moe your way through a list of whiskies that won’t empty your wallet.

The brains behind the operation is none other than Lyndon Higginson, a gentleman with a keen eye for coming trends, who has single-handedly turned seven bar ventures, including Cane and Grain, Crazy Pedro’s and Junkyard Golf Club, into Mancunian havens for great food, quirky drinks and all night good vibes.

Now he’s worked his magic on Bunny Jackson’s.

According to Lyndon, Bunny Jackson was a real person – an old busker with one leg who played the mouth organ with no teeth. But that’s another story.

There’ll be boozy, bluesy, foot tappin’ vibes all night long, with live music and even a chicken wire stage.

The whole place has the vibe of a honky-tonk den, complete with people actually dancing and enjoying themselves, not just going through the motions.

The place to go if you’re looking for 1) class A drinks, 2) possibly the best vibes this side of Nashville and 3) probably the most comfortable couch in the city.

And definitely the place to go if you think Manchester is a city that thinks a table is for dancing on.

“The opportunity to bring Bunny Jackson’s back to life now Beat Street has finished is awesome,” says Lyndon.

“Out of all the many brands Beat Street held, Bunny Jackson’s was by far the saddest part we had to close. The unit on First Street is ideal to bring the brand back to life.

“Bunny Jackson’s will be a place of solace for everyone who wants to rebel against the corporate world and anyone who may want to stick two fingers up to pretentiousness,” says Lyndon. “Whip off your tie, tie it round your head and go crazy.”

The Liquor Store venue on Deansgate is set for a revamp, with even more Americana, bigger beats and a bar crammed with even more liquor.

“Lyndon and I have been friends a long time and I know that’s he’s been on the lookout for the venue for their new concept Bunny Jackson’s,” says Doug Waldron, mastermind behind and founder of The Liquor Store.

“We have managed to do a deal on the First Street site, which we believe will take the venue from strength to strength. It also gives me the opportunity to refocus on the original Liquor Store and give it a bit of a revamp. I see a bright future for both venues.”

Lyndon is equally complimentary. “I’ve always loved The Liquor Store,” he says, “especially for those trademark messy nights down at the Deansgate venue. I hope we can take the First Street unit to new heights and continue what party bar The Liquor Store started but with a new twist.”

We say amen to that.

Bunny Jackson’s opens on 20th November with a launch party on 23rd November, so make sure you subscribe to our newsletter for the chance of an invite.