Two of the most frequented and beloved bars in Stockport, Doctor Feelgood and The Glass Spider, have sadly announced they are shutting down.
Establishing themselves as local institutions in just a few short years, they join the growing list of businesses going bust across Greater Manchester and the country in general, as businesses face increasing obstacles during a turbulent time for the UK economy.
Confirming the news of the immediate closures on social media, owner Joseph Patten expressed his “extreme sadness” at how things have transpired, but that he is thankful for “all the fond memories and wonderful customers” who made them the popular pubs they were.
Patten explained that the decision came down to a simple matter of “rising costs and the lack of people going out spending” as they were, with so many owners in the hospitality sector, especially, being forced to close their doors down to surging energy bills alone.
Credit: Dr Feelgood and Glass Spider (via Facebook)
Informing patrons on Facebook of Dr Feelgood’s closure via local forum ‘What’s On Stockport’, Joe wrote an emotional message, saying, “It was my absolute dream to bring Live music back to the market place. And I’ve had a blast doing so.
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“We had some absolutely insane artists perform here over the last year and a half, from Miles Kane to You Me At Six, Clint Boon and recently The Twang sold out. Not to mention all the insane Halloween parties.
“Doctor Feelgood [opened in 2021] was born from a mixture of lockdown and watching The Dirt on repeat on Netflix and a desire to bring a venue that plays Rock music through and through… I’m sad we won’t be able to carry on bringing you all these crazy gigs and good times, but it’s been one hell of a blast!”
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He went on to thank the customers for their loyalty even “through difficult times”, as well as his team and the “amazing manager Aaron”, adding: “I couldn’t be more proud of what we have achieved in such a short amount of time.” Then came his second announcement just an hour later.
Once again taking to Facebook, the actor-turned-bar owner informed fans of The Glass Spider — located just across the market square from Dr Feelgood — that the bar which started out as “the sequel to The Cracked Actor”, his first of four openings in Stockport, would sadly be following suit.
Joe went on to say that he opened the second site in 2020 when he “had a spring in [his] step and all the energy in the world”, but that he sadly doesn’t have that anymore and “if the climate was a little different” he would try again.
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Just as with Feelgoods, punters in the comments have said they are “gutted” and “absolutely heartbroken” to see the two go.
For now, he says “the right thing to do is to pass this lovely unit on to someone else” and while Dr Feelgood and Glass Spider might be closing down, he will continue to run “The Cracked Actor where it all began”, as well as his relatively new gaming bar Glitch, in the hopes that downsizing will see them survive.
Rest in peace to two of the best bars in Stockport, you will be missed and we wish Joe and his team all the best with his remaining and future ventures.
Featured Image — Dr Feelgood/The Glass Spider (via Facebook)
Eats
Inside Voyeur, a mysterious new post-punk 80s-inspired cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
A brand new cocktail bar is set to open in Manchester this week, with dark and mysterious interiors, 80s inspiration, and a raunchy theme.
Voyeur is opening in the heart of the Northern Quarter, and here it’s all about modern drinks in a post-punk 80s setting.
The walls are decorated with beautiful voyeurism photography from the 80s, including artists like David Hockney, Nick Taggart, and Malerie Marder.
Even the menus celebrate the artistic side of voyeurism, with drinks presented within a book of photography.
Those drinks include creative twists on drinks dating back more than a century, from the Kaleidescope of Lies (a two-in one cocktail inspired by a pina colada, with a strawberry daiquiri foam top) to The Voyeur (made with coriander-infused tequila for a savoury punch).
There’ll be monthly themed specials, kicking off with The Breakfast Club, where seasonal drinks take inspiration from Lucky Charms cereal, chai latte and an acai bowl.
Cocktails inspired by The Breakfast Club at VoyeurCocktails at Voyeur in the Northern QuarterInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barVoyeur on Oldham StreetThe cocktail menu is presented as a photography book
The dark space is lit by marble table lamps and a glittering green disco ball (and not much else), perfect for an evening spent sipping cocktails into the early hours.
Between Thursdays and Sundays, Voyeur will have DJs spinning vinyls.
Voyeur is opening this week on Oldham Street and will be open from 5pm to 2am between Tuesday and Sunday.
A brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop in a former Manc food spot
Thomas Melia
Sweet lovers and dessert connoisseurs alike, a brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop is opening in Manchester city centre this month.
Titled ‘Baby Mayhem’, this sweet-filled shop has been teasing its arrival for the past month with videos showcasing everything from new instalments to their graffiti-style logo.
This brand-new opening will be located on Radium Street, not too far away from Chinese superstar Wing Yip and fellow sweet treat specialists, Flat Baker, right in the heart of Ancoats.
The interior has been given a very nice and bright facelift too, going from an all white four-walled site to a bold and distinctive baby pink-covered site.
Manchester seems to have quite the sweet tooth at the moment, as it was only last month that our Northern Quarter was christened by cake gods, Get Baked.
As for this new dessert shop, they’re starting from scratch, with a temporary wooden window frame with their branding spray-painted onto it fitted ahead of their soft launch later this week.
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the much-loved Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria shop, and it really is out with the old, in with the new, as the familiar neon ‘No Lasagne’ sign has been traded for a sweeter read of ‘Fresh Donuts’.
It may be Yank spelling, but this still feels Manc through and through.
Case and point: all their signage, stamps and stencils have been done by local laser cutting service and neighbours, Drawn By The Light – also on Radium Street.
Enough salt, let’s have a serious amount of sugar. (Credit: Baby Mayhem via Instagram)
Baby Mayhem are taking sweet treats to the complete extreme, serving up everyone’s beloved combo of coffees and cakes, while also creating our soon-to-be-favourite indulgence: doughnut sandwiches. 10/10, no notes – genius.
There really are no complaints here; what’s not to love?
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the former Lazy Tony’s site, 23 Radium Street in Ancoats, and will be serving up their sweet treats for all to try from this Saturday, 26 April.