We seem to be obsessed with trendy new game bars - but don't forget Manchester's iconic boozers

Last month, I wrote a couple of stories about Footage, a once popular student bar in Grade II listed former cinema that had been closed and empty for almost a year. The first story was about the fact it was up for sale, listed on Rightmove for £1. In the next story, a week later, it had found a new owner and is now undergoing a £1million transformation ahead of its reopening next month.

At first I was relieved – great, another historic Manchester building saved from dereliction. But then I read the phrase “adult playground”.

The planned transformation of Footage, now called The Grosvenor, includes, among other things, beer pong tables, a photobooth and “outrageous interiors”. There’s even a slide (?!) from the balcony to the ground floor. According to the press release, it’s an “immersive experience” that “blends the best aspects of a sports bar, social venue, and nightclub into one vibrant, unforgettable space”.

And that’s ok – I can see how this would appeal to office parties, students and the inebriated in general. What I struggle with is the sheer volume of these game, activity and gimmick bars that have opened in Manchester over the last few years. In the time it has taken me to write this article alone, I’ve had two emails about new openings; a 80s-style karaoke bar and a roller rink.

There are probably numerous factors that have contributed to the rise of the game bar. After the upheaval of the pandemic and months spent confined to our homes, it’s no wonder people are keen to get out there and try new things. Many workers never returned to the office after Covid, so a round of Junkyard Golf is probably a good way of breaking the ice on the rare occasion your team meets up.

Perhaps it’s a nostalgia thing and the millennial desire to relive childhood memories, only with added booze. Conversely, maybe alcohol is the problem. Young people are drinking less than older generations. A YouGov survey from early 2024 showed that 39% of 18-24-year-olds avoid it completely. Or, more cynically, maybe a zip around the roller rink makes for better social media content than a quiet pint at the pub.

Whatever the reason, it seems to be a thriving corner of an otherwise struggling hospitality industry. For every story we write about a new activity bar opening, there’s another one about a restaurant, pub or music venue closing down. I may roll my eyes every time I see the words “shuffleboard” and “Manchester” in the same sentence, but if these are the venues that are bringing visitors to the city centre then who am I to complain?

At the end of the day, these concepts are transient. Trends come and go, unlike the Peveril of the Peak, the Old Wellington and Briton’s Protection. There are some pubs in Manchester city centre that have served generations of Mancunians and I doubt in a hundred years’ time, people will be flocking to ‘Manchester’s oldest adult playground’ in the same way they do today to some of the city’s oldest pubs and restaurants.

This is not a “why can’t people just talk to each other anymore” rant about fad bars. This is more about the cultural fabric of Manchester. People love coming to this city partly because it has this exciting mix of old and new. There is so much history here to explore, but it’s also in a permanent state of change. New openings are vital for the continuing growth of Manchester but what will these corporate, neon-lit, organised fun “experiences” bring to the city long-term?

There are many wonderful and unique small, local businesses in Manchester, both old and new, that have so much to offer culturally but are fighting for their share of the pie – and survival. So next time you’re in town for a round of shuffleboard or crazy golf, consider grabbing a pint or two at the Pev, or that new independent bar you’ve been meaning to try for ages. I know where I’d rather be.