Canvas, a Manchester gig venue, event space, restaurant and bar, appears to have suddenly shut down less than two years after opening.
A notice has been put up in the window of the Oxford Road space, which only opened in May 2022.
Right in the heart of the not-long-open Circle Square neighbourhood, with neighbours including Federal, Hello Oriental — whose supermarket area is also closing to make space for a new gaming hall — Bird of Prey and North Taproom, Canvas had a busy programme of live music and club nights running all week every week.
The venue also did a roaring trade for the months that Gorilla was closed, with many shows being relocated around the corner to Oxford Rd.
Nevertheless, a sign posted at the entrance now simply reads, ‘This venue is now closed’.
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Canvas on Manchester’s Oxford Road appears to have sadly shut down.The closure notice in the window of Canvas on Circle Square.Credit: The Manc Group
A spokesperson for Bruntwood SciTech said: “We, along with many others, are saddened by the closure of Canvas, an ambitious business that we have supported since its launch in 2019.
“We continue to invest heavily in our Circle Square community and have a number of exciting brands due to open in the coming months to ensure that it remains a vibrant pillar of Manchester’s wider innovation district.”
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The three-storey hangout was billed as a ‘next-generation’ venue boasting live music, club nights, a members’ lounge, and a sleek bar and restaurant.
The 600-capacity gig venue was open into the early hours seven days a week and had played host to the likes of both Neighbourhood and Year’s End Festival.
They did initially promise a plunge pool too, but that never rather materialised.
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Canvas’ ground floor late-night bar and restaurant space.The sound system in this room was incredible.Credit: Lucas Smith Photography (supplied)
It was launched by the team behind two legendary London venues, The Pickle Factory and Oval Space, as well as the MAMA Group, which operated Lovebox and Wilderness festivals as well as the O2 Manchester Ritz, G-A-Y and Hammersmith Apollo.
We’re sad to see it go before we feel it ever really had the chance to properly get off the ground but given the lovely upstairs restaurant and bar interior, as well as the state-of-the-art gig and entertainment space downstairs, there’s definitely still plenty to be done with the place.
Fingers crossed that the venue comes back in some shape or form again soon.
Heartbreaking new figures show 35% of all children in the North West are living in poverty
Emily Sergeant
35% of all children in the North West are currently living in poverty, some heartbreaking new figures have revealed.
Some new research carried out to understand regional levels of child poverty, conducted by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition, has sadly revealed over a third (35%) of all children in the North West are living in what is called ‘relative poverty’, after the cost of housing is considered – which is higher than the national average standing at 31%.
Over in the Lancashire authority of Pendle, this figure reaches 45%, making it the second highest rate of all local authorities in the country.
In Greater Manchester, both Oldham and Manchester join Pendle in the list of the 10 council areas with the highest child poverty rates in the UK, as well as Blackburn with Darwen, and Hyndburn, and to make matters worse, the North West features on the list more times than any other region nationwide.
Rusholme was identified as the Manchester area with the highest percentage rating – with more than half (51.3%) of all children there living in poverty.
88% of constituencies across the North West have a quarter of children in poverty.
This could lead to things like families being forced to use food banks, children going without warm clothes in winter, or living in cold or unsafe housing.
As a result of these shocking statistics being revealed, the End Child Poverty Coalition – which represents more than 135 organisations across the UK – is calling on the Government to meet its manifesto commitment to address these high levels of child poverty, not just in the North West but also across the rest of country.
“These figures should demonstrate to Government just how important it is to quickly address this so to prevent another generation of children from growing up in low-income families,” commented Rachel Walters, who is the End Child Poverty Coalition Manager.
“The Government’s strategy to tackle child poverty must invest in children in areas with higher levels of poverty, like the North West.”
Graham Whitham, who is a End Child Poverty Coalition spokesperson and the Chief Executive of Resolve Poverty, added: “No child should go without the things they need to be healthy and happy.
“The Government’s forthcoming national Child Poverty Strategy must demonstrate a clear ambition to ending child poverty in this country, backed by specific targets and immediate investment in social security.”
Featured Image – RawPixel
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Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road to close for annual safety checks this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road is set to close this weekend while annual safety checks are carried out, it has been confirmed.
As Manchester City Council looks to maintain and improve what is, by far, one of Manchester’s busiest and most-used roads, given the fact it is the main thoroughfare in and out of the city centre, it has been confirmed that Mancunian Way is set to close overnight this weekend for its annual inspection.
Carried out every year, the Council explains that these closures ensure that ‘vital’ safety inspections can be conducted to allow the major road to continue operating as normal.
The overnight closure will take place from 7-8 June.
From 5am on Saturday (7 June), Mancunian Way will be closed in both directions along its entire length, including all slip roads, between the Chester Road roundabout and Fairfield Street, and this will last until 7pm on Sunday (8 June), after which the road will be open to traffic again as normal.
In the meantime while the closures are underway, the Council assures that a signed diversion route will be in place via the north and eastern ring road sections – Trinity Way and Great Ancoats Street – and a local diversion route will be signed via Bridgewater Street, Whitworth Street West, Whitworth Street, and Fairfield Street.
Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road Mancunian Way is closing for annual safety checks this weekend / Credit: Pixabay
During this period there will also be a lane closure east/westbound at the Deansgate Interchange between 6:30-9:30am, and the inbound lane of Princess Road (heading towards Manchester) between 6:30am and 11:15am.
As is to be expected with these kinds of tasks, Councillors say they are preparing for a ‘level of disruption’ but are intending to keep it to a minimum.
“The annual inspection of the Mancunian Way is a vital job which ensures that the tens of thousands of daily users of this road can go about their journey in safety,” explained Councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is the Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment, and Transport.
“We do expect a level of disruption throughout this process so wherever possible we’d advise people to travel via public transport, or plan an alternate route ahead to avoid the work locations.
Danny Jones -
22nd February 2024 
