Manchester’s infamous student pub, The Footage, is re-opening, creating new jobs and hoping to lure in a more tech-savvy crowd not just after a pint of the latest craft beer but their morning coffee too.
The Grosvenor Street pub will re-launch this Saturday after closing for a four week £360,000 investment.
Set in a Grade One building, that used to house The Grosvenor Picture Palace, the pub aims to provide character and convenience for Manchester’s student population.
General Manager Emma Maher said: “Our ethos is to be generous in everything we do, from the food and drink we serve to the entertainment or facilities we offer.
“We know our customers won’t settle for anything short of great quality and why should they?”
Sixteen new jobs will be created by the re-opening of the pub, which will boast late night entertainment and two giant TV screens for live sport.
The Footage aims to appeal to a busy, geek chic crowd, offering modern essentials like super-fast broadband, USB ports on tables and wireless printers.
Punters can also interact with The Footage team by taking part in the pub’s ‘poll of the day’ and run the pub’s jukebox with a ‘secret DJ’ app.
It will open daily from 8am, offering a coffee-shop style ‘grab and go’ counter in the mornings, as well as a totally revamped menu.
Also new to The Footage will be five regularly rotating craft beers, and ale aficionados can sample them on third pint taster trays or share a three-pint flagon with friends.
Emma added: “The Footage is such a well-known pub in Manchester. It’s huge with a capacity for 620 customers and so the investment has given us a big opportunity to create something new and fresh in the marketplace and I’m looking forward to showcasing it to our existing and new customers.
“The building is a characterful Grade One listed former cinema so in refurbishing the pub we have taken great care to preserve all the existing features whilst incorporating some modern ideas that make it practical and engaging for todays’ technology savvy customer.”
Doors will open again this Saturday at 5pm with live music from the resident DJ, and the Manchester City versus Arsenal match live on the tele.
Image courtesy of Emiliano, via Flickr, with thanks
