Inside iconic Manchester student bar that's reopened with new name after £1million transformation

The Grosvenor has opened in the former Footage - which closed back in May - the Grade II listed building on the corner of Oxford Road and Grosvenor Street. 

Billed as the “ultimate adult escapism experience”, the new-look bar includes a 6x3 metre ball pool, beer pong and pool tables and a carousel horse.  The 800-capacity venue is also hoping to attract sports fans with its main five-metre screen covering all major events. 

Check out how our first visit went in the video at the top of the page

The renovation has preserved many original features of the building, including the iconic mezzanine and balustrade, while revealing hidden elements like walls and timbers that had been unseen for years.

Chris Tulloch, managing director of the company behind the transformation, said: “We can’t wait to welcome the community back into this historic space and for everyone to experience the fun, whether that’s diving into the ball pit, dancing to live music, or grabbing a bite and a pint and watching sports, all while being surrounded by the rich history of this remarkable building.”

Originally built in 1915, the building started life as the Grosvenor Picture Palace cinema. It was granted Grade II listed status by English Heritage in 1974. According to the building’s profile on the English Heritage website, it was the largest cinema of its kind outside of London when it was first built. 

Over the years it was also used as a bingo hall and later a snooker hall. It was turned into a pub in 1990, when the Firkin Brewery bought the building. First it was called Flea and Firkin, but then changed its name to Footage and Firkin a few years later. 

Located at the intersection of Oxford Road and Grosvenor Street, The Grosvenor will be open from 12pm to 12am, with extended hours until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.