A stone’s throw from Manchester’s gay village and right at the end of the student Oxford Road corridor, for years Fifth Avenue was a mainstay on the mainstream clubbing scene. Now it’s closed for good.
Officially no more, the club officially ‘surrendered’ its license in November 2021 according to Manchester City Council.
Whilst the venue had been shuttered since the beginning of the pandemic, news of its official closure has only just been confirmed.
The once-iconic nightclub spot on Princess street had, in the eighties, been thought of as somewhat of a precursor to the Hacienda during its days as Legend.
At that time, it boasted incredible lighting and sound rigs, plus guest and resident DJs such as Greg Wilson, A Guy Called Gerald, Mike Pickering and Paul Oakenfold.
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Since then, though, the club’s had somewhat of a fall from grace – with some even branding it the worst nightclub in the UK.
Of course, after the closure of Legend, the site went on to become Fifth Avenue and was known, even more simply, as just ‘Fifth’ in recent years following a rebrand by owners 5th Leisure.
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Image: Fifth Avenue
Love it or hate it, if you’ve had a night out in Manchester then you’ve probably climbed those stairs down into the belly of the beast at one point or another.
Plagued by numerous noise complaints in recent years, in part due to the fact that a number of apartments are situated directly above the nightclub, planning documents show its owners had submitted requests to refurb, renovate and improve soundproofing at the venue.
However, according to reports in the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City Council recommended that its application be refused referencing ‘significant noise complaints’ stretching back to 2006.
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The Council’s Licensing and Out of Hours team wrote at the time: ‘with an existing abatement notice in force and for the aforementioned reasons LOOH recommend that the application is refused’.
Staff, however, seem to have been under the impression that the club was due to reopen if social media posts are to be believed.
Boarded up for some time now, it is unclear what will happen to the space next. As part of the fabric of the city centre for decades, it would be a shame to see another nightclub disappear from the Manchester scene.
For now, though, it seems that Fifth Avenue is gone for good. Who knows what will replace it.
Feature image – Fifth Avenue
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Opening date finally confirmed for new Uniqlo store at the Trafford Centre
Emily Sergeant
Uniqlo is preparing to open its second store in Greater Manchester, and the official launch date has finally been confirmed.
The popular Japanese high street fashion retailer currently operates 24 stores in the UK, with its first British store having opened its doors all the way back in 2001, and its first European flagship store opening on Oxford Street in London in 2007 – but it was revealed earlier this year in April that Manchester was set to get a second helping.
Uniqlo announced that it would be opening its second Greater Manchester inside the Trafford Centre this autumn, following the huge success of its city centre store opening on Market Street in 2019.
The Trafford Centre store is set to make Manchester the first location outside of London to have two Uniqlo stores.
When news broke that the hoardings had officially gone up inside the shopping centre, elated shoppers raced to the comments to say things like: “No way! I’ve been waiting years for this.”
Uniqlo is preparing to open second its Manchester store inside the Trafford Centre next month / Credit: | The Manc Group
“Uniqlo in Trafford Centre would be a dream come true,” another person said on Instagram, while a third added: “I will never have to step foot on Market Street again,” and plenty others chimed in with comments like ‘finally’ and ‘can’t wait’.
And now, we officially have an opening date to share with you.
Uniqlo will open in the Trafford Centre for the first time on Thursday 15 October, with plenty of events happening across its extended opening weekend.
Traditional Japanese Taiko drumming performances will be happening throughout the day on Thursday 15 and Saturday 17 October, while the first 300 customers to spend over £69.90 in store on the Thursday (15 October) will get a special Uniqlo Manchester goody bag.
Uniqlo’s arrival at the Trafford Centre follows the opening of several other high-profile stores in recent months, like Urban Outfitters, White Company, Stradivarius, and many more.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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‘Do not let Britain’s independent businesses disappear on your watch’ – Manchester bakery makes heartbreaking plea to Andy Burnham
Clementine Hall
A beloved Manchester bakery has issued an open letter to Andy Burnham ahead of the Budget begging him for help.
Barbakan Deli in Chorlton is basically an institution at this point.
The legendary bakery and delicatessen has been serving the community for 62 years, famed for its freshly-baked loaves of bread, its handmade sandwiches, and its pastries and cakes inspired by bakes from across Europe.
Posting on Instagram last night on Thursday 18 September, Frankie Dyer the director of Barbakan, issued an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Images: The Manc Group
It read: “Dear Mr Burnham, As an independent business owner in the hospitality sector, I am begging you to please read this.
“Really read it. And seriously consider what businesses like mine are telling you before the upcoming Budget.”
It continued: “In just the last two years, we have self-funded new bakery machinery, new catering kitchens, essential repairs and renovations and opened a second retail site, creating another six local jobs. We have won more than ten national awards for the quality of what we do.
“We have invested. We have grown. We have employed more people. We have worked harder than ever. In short, Prime Minister, we are doing everything you keep asking British businesses to do.
“And our bank balance is finished. That is the reality.”
The letter finished by Dyer inviting Andy Burnham to come visit the bakery and pleading for a ‘fighting chance’ to save the business: “We need action. We need meaningful reductions in the tax burden placed on employers.
“We need Employer National Insurance looked at urgently. We need a business-rates system which allows independent high-street businesses to survive. We need VAT reform for hospitality. We need Corporation Tax to reward businesses which reinvest, employ and grow.
“And we need proper grants and incentives that help established independent businesses invest and expand — not schemes with endless criteria which most ordinary businesses can never access. We need you to do something.
“And we need more than one token gesture in the Budget. A band-aid for a bullet wound. So I am asking you, Prime Minister, to come back to Manchester and see it for yourself. Pop an apron on and stand behind our counter.
Images: The Manc Group
“Come into our bakery in the middle of the night and meet the people making Manchester’s bread while most of the city is asleep. Look at our payroll, our energy bills, our rates, our supplier increases.
“Look at what leaves our bank account every single week simply for the privilege of keeping 50 people employed and our doors open. You said you wanted a government that understood the regions. You now have an opportunity to prove it.
“Independent businesses across this country are not asking for a handout. We are asking for a fighting chance. I sincerely hope your next Budget gives us one”.
Georgina Pellant -
15th February 2022 
