One Eight Six in Manchester city centre has posted an emotional statement following the huge blaze inside its venue on New Year’s Eve.
A fire broke out at the Deansgate basement bar shortly after the midnight countdown.
Terrifying CCTV footage obtained by the Manchester Evening News showed the moment balloons across the ceiling caught fire.
The footage shows how quickly the blaze took hold, with people scrambling for safety.
Screams and loud popping noises can be heard.
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CCTV from when the fire took hold at One Eight Six.
Around 170 people were evacuated from One Eight Six, and two men were treated for smoke inhalation.
The bar’s co-founder Dean Mac has now released a public statement, saying it has taken ‘five long, emotional days’ to address the fire – which they say has destroyed the main bar and live music venue.
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He wrote: “We cannot put into words how deeply excruciatingly painful this is to be writing, but the fire that broke out just after midnight on NYE has completely destroyed the main room and the majority of the contents within.”
One Eight Six
The statement also thanks their staff and the emergency services who reacted so quickly to save people’s lives.
One Eight Six say they will reopen ‘as soon as we possibly can’.
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They are urging anyone affected by the incident and seeking professional support to reach out.
One Eight Six was only open for three months before the pandemic started and forced it to close for a year.
People have been responding with messages of support for the venue.
Love Island star Scott Thomas wrote: “The comeback will be beautiful.”
Actor and model Gemma Pell posted: “Ugh this is emotional! Sending you all so much love, light and strength at this difficult time. Bring on the come back”
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The full statement from One Eight Six
“It has taken 5 long, emotional days to write this…
“The ONE EIGHT SIX concept and venue on Deansgate took us 2 years to create and build. Just three months after launch night, we were told we had to close our doors for 12 months due to a global pandemic.
“Once we were allowed to re-open, we could have only dreamt of what ONE EIGHT SIX was going to become and how our loyal customers were going to love the brand as much as we did.
“We have built the most dedicated and professional family of staff and we were all so incredibly excited to be celebrating New Years Eve with you, especially after such a successful Christmas period.
“We cannot put into words how deeply excruciatingly painful this is to be writing, but the fire that broke out just after midnight on NYE has completely destroyed the main room and the majority of the contents within.
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“We will be forever grateful to all our brave staff and the emergency services that saved peoples lives that night, and no matter what material items are gone, everyone is safe.
“If any of our customers that night still have belongings inside the venue, please send the ONE EIGHT SIX Instagram account a description of what they are, along with pictures of the items and our team will be in touch shortly to try and retrieve them and get them back to you.
“We also ask that anyone present that evening who is in need of free professional mental or emotional support, please get in touch.
“If any of you have any doubts, we WILL come back from this and we WILL be re-opening again as soon as we possibly can.
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“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your constant support.
“DM / ONE EIGHT SIX x”
Featured image: One Eight Six
News
Drama Call opening first-ever flagship shop in Manchester
Danny Jones
Streetwear superstars Drama Call are opening their new flagship store and first-ever permanent site in Manchester city centre this weekend.
Expect massive queues and lots turning up wearing the increasingly recognisable starry logo.
Already a much-loved brand not just here in 0161 but across the nation at large, the native independent business turned street-style favourites and UK fashion phenomenon are no strangers to HUGE pop-ups in their hometown.
However, they’ve never had a mainstay location anywhere in the country, let alone Greater Manchester – well, until now, that is…
Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Debuting in the Northern Quarter this Sunday, the venue located on Tib Street will effectively serve as Drama Call‘s new HQ.
The local label has done everything from popping up vans with Manc rapper Aitch to collaborating with Man United for multiple limited edition collections, so it only felt like a matter of time before they’d make a big brick-and-mortar splash in our fair city.
Most notably, they’re also taking over the same unit as the Sheep Shop, a former skate shop and legendary urban clothing tastemaker of the 90s; they were one of the first places in Britain to stock famous names like Stüssy, Supreme, Carhartt, The North Face and many more.
With that in mind, it feels only fitting that they carry on the trendsetting tradition from the same premises, and just spitting distance from the likes of Note, as well.
And that’s not all, either: before the full launch, they’ll also be holding an exclusive cash-only shirt swap event, where a limited number of certain collector’s items will be sold for as little as £10.
Other things to note are the additions of signed vinyls by homegrown artists such as the aforementioned Aitch and even The Smiths.
In fact, the store will also feature strictly Mancunian exclusives, too.
Everything from polo shirts and tees to branded mugs, matchboxes and other accessories will be available in-store only.
NQ is bound to be buzzing across launch weekend, with doors officially opening to the public on Sunday, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you see people camping outside the front well ahead of time.
What a moment the Manc shopping scene is having right now.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Pear)
News
Andy Burnham explains why Number 10 North is so important as it officially ‘opens for business’
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has explained his key reasons for launching Number 10 North as it officially ‘opens for business’ this week.
You may remember that earlier last month, Andy Burnham revealed he had intentions to create a Number 10 North if he was to become Prime Minister, with the new base expected to be a ‘dominant driver of the UK’s economy’ once it was officially up and running… and now, fast forward to today, Number 10 North is officially ‘open for business’.
Operating from Heron House in Manchester city centre, as previously reported on, Number 10 North will be the Government’s new ‘situation room for growth’.
It also brings the ‘levers’ of local economic growth and devolution together under one roof for the first time ever.
Number 10 North has officially ‘opened for business’ / Credit: gov.uk (via Wikimedia Commons)
With the Prime Minister expected to work from Number 10 North each week, so that decisions about the country’s economic future will no longer exclusively be made in Westminster, and with other ministers also working from there on a regular basis, the Government says the move underlines its determination to ‘do things differently’.
Now that Number 10 North has officially opened, Andy Burnham and his fellow ministers have explained why this move is so important for not just Manchester, but the north as a whole.
“For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre, and too many communities have felt forgotten, without the attention and investment they deserve,” explained Andy Burnham.
“Number 10 North will change that by putting more power into every postcode across the entire country. It will be the situation room for making Britain better, the place we use to get power out of Westminster, into the hands of people at a local level, so that they can turn things around.
“The days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over, for good.”
First Secretary Louise Haigh added: “Today marks a fundamental re-balancing of where power sits in our country. Number 10 North has been set up to drive economic growth in every postcode and put power in the hands of every community.
Daisy Jackson -
6th January 2022 
