News

A New York-style piano bar and cabaret lounge is opening in Manchester

A new piano and cabaret basement bar is opening down a Manchester backstreet

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 1st March 2022

Venture down a rarely-trod Manchester backstreet in the King Street area of the city, and you’ll discover that work is currently underway on a new piano and cabaret bar.

Inspired by the speakeasies of New York, it’s called Sonata and is tucked away on St Ann’s Alley opposite Mr Thomas’s Chop House, and when it opens its doors this summer will be accessed via a partially concealed ‘speakeasy’-style entrance just off the beaten path.

Founded by a former entertainer who himself performed on the London cabaret scene many years ago, the new music-led venue draws inspiration from the cabaret scenes of the capital, as well of those in New York and Berlin.

Image: The Manc Group

From pop standards to Broadway ballads, from jazz classics to quirky cabaret, the bar’s soundtrack will play host to a mix of genres as it showcases singers, pianists and cabaret artists from across the UK and beyond.

Open seven nights a week with a license from 12 noon until 1.30am, drinks will be served into the early hours whilst food-wise there will be a selection of tempting cheese and charcuterie to nibble on.

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Full table service will be provided, with drinks and snacks brought to your table whilst you enjoy a collection of performances from disciplines like music, dance and theatre.

A trained singer and cabaret artist who left performing for a career in education and business, owner and founder Dale Bassett decided to return to his musical and theatrical roots after spending some time reflecting on what was important to him during the pandemic.

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Owner and founder of the new New York-style speakeasy, Dale Bassett. / Image: Sonata

Sonata is the realisation of his dream, bringing to life up north the thriving cabaret scene he fell in love with during his time in the capital before moving back up to Manchester.

Speaking on the new opening, Dale said:

“I am so excited to be creating a unique addition to Manchester’s nightlife and legendary music scene, and in a completely new and custom-designed venue.

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“Sonata is more than just a bar – it’s a special place to relax and feel at home while you enjoy the piano and song that take centre-stage. Whether you discover something new or enjoy an old favourite, I will be hand-picking our performers to make sure you have a memorable night.

“Sonata has been my lifelong dream, and to bring it to life in the city I love is such a privilege. I can’t wait to share my passion and our fantastically talented artists with our guests.”

Feature image – Sonata / The Manc Group

News

Manchester United opening up ‘warm spaces’ in Red Cafe to the community this winter

Danny Jones Danny Jones United By Your Side Old Trafford warm banks Red Cafe

Manchester United are opening up the doors of their Red Cafe to the local community for December, providing “warm spaces” to those set to struggle over the coming months.

As part of the club’s winter campaign, United by Your Side, the Red Cafe will provide a safe space for people to stay warm, eat, drink and chat.

The area will be available to absolutely everyone and completely free of charge every Monday and Wednesday for the next three weeks, starting on 6 December from 5:00-8:00pm.

People can arrive and register via the North Stand reception (Sir Alex Ferguson Stand), before being guided to the Red Cafe and left to get warm, enjoy hot beverages and plenty of snacks, as well as socialise.

Crucially, another objective of the Red Cafe’s United by Your Side scheme is helping combat loneliness, as a big part of the warm spaces are the ‘talking benches’ located on the forecourt at Old Trafford.

Signposted as a welcoming place for people who feel alone or are simply worried, shy or anxious to sit and talk to others, this area is designed for people to look after one another and reach out during a period when we’re all encouraged to be more giving.

As United’s COO Collette Roche detailed in an official statement: “Whether Christmas is part of people’s life or not, the festive period can be a difficult time for many. It’s a time of year that puts extra pressure on people and can affect mental health and wellbeing in lots of different ways.

“Through our United by Your Side campaign, we want people who are struggling to know that they are not alone, particularly in our local community. We want to make Old Trafford a second home by providing winter accessories, company, warmth and food for those who need it.”

In addition, today (Friday 2 December), fans are drumming up extra support for the United Foundation and homeless charity Centrepoint by staging a fundraising sleepout in the Munich Tunnel.

You can donate to the Old Trafford Sleepout HERE

The club is working with the council and several local and national charities like Centrepoint to deliver the initiatives and communicate them to people who need it most.

Eleanor Roaf, Director of Public Health at Trafford Council, said: “This year with the increase in the cost of heating and food, many people are likely to find winter and the festive period challenging.

“I’m delighted that Manchester United are opening their Red Cafe and providing this space with hot snacks and drinks. This helps to how football is at the heart of our borough.”

Manchester Mind are also playing a key role in the campaign. The CEO of the mental health charity’s Mancunian arm, Elizabeth Simpson, said: “We know that many people are struggling at the moment due to the cost of living crisis and that this is impacting their mental health.”

She went on to note these added pressures on top of an already busy and often stressful time of year “can feel overwhelming and isolating”, which is why initiatives like United By Your Side are so important.

The sleepout alone has already raised nearly £15,000 at the time of writing and the lifeline the warm spaces set up in Old Trafford will provide cannot be overstated.

Moreover, while it fills our hearts to hear of local institutions like this doing their bit to help people in the community, it’s heartbreaking to know that warm banks are even required. Sadly, United are by no means the only organisation that felt it was necessary to offer up this kind of support.

‘Warm Banks’ set up in Greater Manchester to help people who ‘cannot afford to put the heating on’

Read more:

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, loneliness, rising costs or simply not knowing where to go for help, please send them to Manchester Mind’s cost of living information, their wellbeing hub and be sure to make them aware of warm spaces like those at Red Cafe if they need it.

Well done to the club and the associated charities for setting up such vital resources and a safe haven this December. United by name, united by nature.

*Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 16 and due to United’s EFL Cup fixture against Burnley on Wednesday 21 December, the Red Cafe will open on Thursday 22 December instead.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Manchester United/Dayne Topkin (via Unsplash)

News

Part of Greater Manchester named as one of the happiest places to live

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

A new study has named a part of Greater Manchester as one of the happiest places to live in the North West of England.

This year’s Happy at Home study by Rightmove, now in its 11th year, asked over 21,000 people how they feel about their hometowns.

The results showed having a sense of belonging to your local area to be the most important contributor towards happiness, alongside a strong sense of community, and polite and friendly neighbours.

Overall, the coastal town of St Ives in Cornwall was named this year’s happiest place to live in Great Britain by its residents, with Galashiels in the Scottish Borders in second place and the market town of Woodbridge in Suffolk in third.

However, in the regional ranking for the North West Greater Manchester came out on top – with the Trafford market town of Altrincham ranking at number 17 in the whole of the UK and in second place out of 25 regional locations.

Coming in just behind Northwich in Cheshire, it wasn’t the only town in Greater Manchester to make the regional list.

Wth Stockport ranking at number 9, Bury at number 11, followed by Oldham (12), Salford (13) Manchester (14), Rochdale (17), Wigan (23) and Bolton (25), it definitely seems that residents have confirmed what we already know – that Greater Manchester is a great place to live.

You can see the full local ranking of all the regions in the North West below. To see how the rest of the country fared, click here to visit the Rightmove Happy At Home website page.

North West

PlaceRegional rankNational Rank
Northwich116
Altrincham217
Macclesfield318
Chester421
Kendal522
Carlisle659
Southport762
Wirral874
Stockport985
Crewe1090
Bury11101
Oldham12119
Salford13133
Manchester14144
Lancaster15148
Preston16153
Rochdale17158
Blackburn18159
Chorley19161
Burnley20169
Blackpool21171
Warrington22181
Wigan23192
Liverpool24194
Bolton25198

Feature image – Geograph

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