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
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
15th February 2022 
