New Northern Quarter music bar with huge roof terrace planned by festival boss

A huge new multi-level music bar, restaurant and club is being created in the Northern Quarter – led by festival boss Andy Smith.

And it will include the biggest roof terrace in the Northern Quarter when works are complete.

Andy, one of the founders of award-winning music festivals Kendal Calling, Off the Record and Bluedot, is planning the new creative music space 33 Oldham Street alongside business partner Jason McGuire of Manchester Coffee.

The venue is a nod towards the founders’ other activities and love of music, and will house three individually designed floors to explore when it opens in November.

It will include a ground floor coffee shop which will transform into a cocktail bar by night.

On the first floor will be a listening room inspired by Japan’s famed omakase joints, a stylish workspace by day and chic bar by night, including state of the art MB2SE speakers and a recording studio.

There will be a curated music programme including weekly ‘selector’ sessions showcasing the exploratory side of a DJ’s record collection, album listening parties, artist takeovers, radio broadcasts and ‘in conversation’ events.

The second floor is a creative space and lounge with a members’ club vibe but with no membership fee.

The fourth floor will follow the initial developments to launch in 2019 and will be the largest roof terrace in the Northern Quarter – and a sun trap all year round.

“33 Oldham Street brings together everything I love about the Northern Quarter and adds some extra touches I’ve fallen for elsewhere,” said Andy.

“It should be the kind of space you pop in for ten minutes and leave five hours later – we want people to come here because it’s special all the time, and free to get in.

“The festivals are amazing but take a whole year to plan and then, boom, suddenly they’re over. I’m really excited that this gives a space to curate the whole year through.”