Around Town. ( The Pubs & Clubs Of Levenshulme) |
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AROUND TOWN The Pubs And Clubs Of Levenshulme
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The above photographs are the work of Aidan O'Rourke, who has a fascinating website called Eyewitness in Manchester. His photographic work is stunning. Several pages are devoted to a virtual walk around Levenshulme.The above images are contemporary and show 1)a view of Stockport Road near Elbow Street. Remember Sankeys Newsagents And The Grand Cinema? 2) The corner of Cromwell Grove And Stockport Road. Whatever happened to Estelle Modes? 3) The Pack Horse Hotel. Are those mounting steps still in the passage at the side? 4) The Palace Nightclub, formerly the Palace Cinema. It was certainly never a palace! Also known as The Farmside,because it was in Farmside Place. Popularly known as "The Bug Hut" or "Flea Pit" This view is unusual to me, because all the building surrounding The Palace have been demolished! There used to be a bakery adjoining. Was it Burdetts or Birkett & Bostock?
A great contemporary photograph of Clare Road, west of the main London to
Manchester railway line.
To prove my point on a timeless scene, this postcard photograph of Clare Road was taken prior to the First World War.
An Interesting postcard view of what is now Errwood Crescent, taken from the corner of The Fields near Cringle Brook. All the houses in the view still exist. Note the Poor Clares Convent at the extreme right of the picture. The Pubs of Levenshulme "NOW & THEN Levenshulme has many public houses ,"Pubs", mostly located on Stockport Road. Most date from the late 19th or early 20th century. Some are rebuilt examples of earlier inns, or coach houses. There may have been other local inns in the distant past. If you have any information on Levenshulme pubs, I would like to hear from you. I will list the pubs from north to south on Stockport Road, and then the other pubs which are located in various parts of the Levenshulme area. The Midway
This photo of the Midway Hotel is dated 1970, though the vintage of the Riley car would indicate an earlier period!
The Midway Hotel, March 2008. Not much has changed here! ( Photo via Colin Irving) The Farmers Arms
The Farmers Arms in the 1950s. I am not sure if this is really Levenshulme, as it straddles the Longsight/ Levenshulme border. I am sure it still has many patrons from the Levenshulme area. ( photo Manchester Libraries) The Victoria
The Victoria, a rather unassuming public house situated on Stockport Road in North Levenshulme. ( Manchester Libraries)
The Victoria, now renamed " The Little Vic". When did this name change occur? Also note the Irish Tri-colour, a recognition of Levenshulmes strong Irish connections. ( Photo via Colin Irving)
The Church Inn
Two views of " The Church Inn" in March 2008. During the early 1970s, I belonged to a youth oriented club that met here on a Monday evening. The group was called " Levenshulme 18 Plus", part of a national organisation.The landlady was a Mrs. Turner. We met in the music room at the side. Note the public lavatories are long gone. Also the "shot off" look of the Stockport Road frontage. ( Photos via Colin Irving).
Two views of the " Church Inn" Stockport Road. The first view from 1970 clearly shows the outside public convenience. The second view shows the row of terraced cottages, one of which the pub would have originally been. As of March 2008, the pub is still in business. The cottages have been demolished. Hennigans Sports Bar
Hennigans is a fairly new bar/pub in Levenshulme. Located on the corner of Farmside Place and Stockport Road. The location was originally occupied by a High Class Grocers called Burgons. My mum worked for Burgons pre-WW2. The Horseshoe
The above photo shows " The Horseshoe Inn" on Chapel Street in 1965. ( Photo. Manchester Libraries)
Two views of " The Horseshoe" in March 2008. Currently up for sale. Is it still in business? ( Photos via Colin Irving)
The Horseshoe Pub sign. Interestingly there was a blacksmiths shop located around the corner from this pub! The Union Inn
Two views of the " Union Inn". The first, from 1970, is a good frontal view clearly showing the year of construction " AD 1923". Was there a pub here prior to this date? The second view, from 1959,shows the ' Union Inn" and its neighbors namely, The UCP tripe shop, Kents sweet shop and Robinsons bakery and cafeteria. I seem to think that the UCP had a cafeteria as well. Notice the louvered windows on Robinsons. Very continental!! ( Photos via Manchester libraries)
This photo shows the " Union Inn" in 2007. Note the M19 bar next door. See below The M19 Bar
This is the newest "watering hole" on Stockport Road. Right next door to the " Union Inn". The premises used to be a butchers and a chemists I think. Promoted as an alternative to the " dingy Levenshulme pubs", and appealing to a younger crowd. It offers A variety of lagers and sophisticated drinks together with loud music and video screens. (Photo Aidan O'Rourke) The Railway Hotel
The "Railway Hotel" in 1970. Obviously added to at a later date. Note the very prominent neon sign, " A Chesters House".( Photo via Manchester Libraries).
This view of the side of the Railway Hotel taken in 1965 also features the Union Inn in the background. Does anyone remember the newspaper vendor on the corner of Stockport Road and Albert Road? Rain or shine they were always there during the morning and afternoon! ( Manchester Libraries)
An interesting view of the corner of Albert Road/Stockport Road corner taken in 1935. It shows The Railway Hotel, Williams Deacons Bank, The old sign post and what appear to be early Belisha Beacons on the corner. Also note the cobbled road and tram lines, and in the distance the railway bridge with a very large sign board. ( Photo Manchester Librairies) The Pack Horse
The Pack Horse Hotel in 1959. Note the Bedford Utilicon vans, well loved by local shopkeepers for deliveries. Next to the Pack Horse was Halsalls Newsagents, and beyond that the Trustee Savings Bank. The TSB eventually aquired the newsagents and extended its premises. ( Manchester Libraries) Fiddlers Green This is a fairly new pub on Stockport road in a very familiar setting!! The building used to be a bank. I remember it as The Midland Bank, but it may have gone under different names in the past. The far end of the building used to be a fishmongers, Warings. They had an open frontage with fish sold off marble slabs.
The Levenshulme
The "Levenshulme Hotel" in 1959. Also note the gateway to the former police station, with the coat of arms of The Lancashire Constabulary in the centre. The gateway has since been demolished. Was the coat of arms preserved?
Two views of The Levenshulme, March 2007. As you can see part of the old gateway still does exist, but not the arch. Note the abbreviated LEVY name on the side panel, and the razor wire!! ( Photos via Colin Irving) The Wheatsheaf Situated on the corner of Broom Lane & Stockport Road in South Levenshulme. This was, and is, Levenshulmes most southerly "watering hole". My Mum worked here as a barmaid in the 1950's. I remember the Billiard Room with its large tables. In the 50's the landlords were called Smith. They went to Spain for their holidays! Very unusual in the 1950's. Also at one time they had a pet chimpanzee, which they kept in a cage in a spare bedroom! A very unusual family the Smiths!! I used to watch TV here after school It was probably my first encounter with television! In the 50's & 60's this pub was part of the Grove & Whitnall Brewery chain.
A great photograph of " The Wheatsheaf". Not sure of the date, but early 20th century by the look of the fashions & transport. The pub was obviously extended north at a later date. Note the horse drawn delivery vans. The one in the middle of the road appears to be a bakers van as it advertises " Choicest Flour"!! ( photo via Joy Mercer)
The same corner in 1959. The Wheatsheaf had received some considerable additions during the intervening years.( Manchester Libraries)
A postcard print of Stockport Road and The Wheatsheaf early in the 20th Century
December 2007. The Wheatsheaf Hotel now boarded up and for sale. Looking quite different from the 1950s view above.
"Other Pubs, not on Stockport Road!!" The Blue Bell Situated on Barlow Road, opposite Green Bank Playing fields. This pub was built in the 1930s and replaced an earlier "Blue Bell", which was on the opposite side of Barlow Road. Sustained some bomb damage during the Second World War, and the splinter marks are apparently still visible on the west side.
This is a nice view of The Bluebell Inn in March 2007. I had a drink in here with my friend Dave Irving in December 2007, and I have to say it seems to be a very comfortable and well run pub. I remember as a child playing in the "beer garden" at the side. Also roller skating, on borrowed skates, on the large flat expanse of the car park. ( Photo via Colin Irving) The Kingsway The Polygon Inn Situated on Barlow Road, east of Saint Marks Church.
The Polygon Inn March 2007. Looking somewhat different in appearance to 1959 below. The windows in the eaves are gone!! The pub is situated in the area known locally as Talleyrand. (Photo via Colin Irving)
The Polygon Inn in 1959. ( Manchester Libraries)
This photograph shows a party of pensioners waiting to board a coach for an outing to Blackpool in 1982, outside the Polygon Inn. Does anyone recognize anyone? (Photo via Ken Musgrave). The Sidings
My apologies for using this photo again. The Sidings pub, acknowledges that there was once a railway goods yard, or sidings on this site. The Kingsway Hotel
The Kingsway Hotel, West Point, Levenshulme in 1959. This was the largest pub in Levenshulme. Located at the junction of Moseley Road, West Point and the Northern end of Kingsway. When it was built it may have had guest rooms and function rooms. A very "Grand Hotel", still operating in 2008.
The Kingsway Hotel in 1995. The hotel became a Bernie Inn Steakhouse in 1969-70. Not quite sure who it is owned by now!!
This is a very weird photo of the Kingsway Hotel, dated 1970! Was the Kingsway roundabout elevated temporarily at some point? Answers please!! Did I miss Any?? Night Clubs and Dance Halls In Levenshulme Levenshulme had a number of Night Clubs and Dance Halls. My knowledge of these is limited,as most of them were long gone by the time that I was an adult & legally able to frequent such establishments. I will need help with this section! The Levenshulme Sporting Club
The Levenshulme Sporting Club in 1959. The Levenshulme Sporting Club is a bit of a mystery to me so I am relying on someone to give me some more history. I remember it was once a roller skating rink. It was also a wresting and boxing venue, and for a while a nightclub. A correspondent a few years ago said that he had met Diana Dors at the bar there!! I have a feeling that the club attained some infamy as being involved with Manchester gangster-ism in the 1950s! Was it at one time owned or run by a wrestler, possibly Bill Benny, who appears in several scenes in the film " Hell Is A City" ( See my seperate page) . (Photo via Manchester Libraries) The Palais de Dance I am not sure whether The Palais de Dance was really in Levenshulme, but most people refer to it as "The Levenshulme Palais"!
The "Palais" in 1959. This photo, taken from Stockport Road, shows how it was located. Compare to the following photo. ( Manchester Libraries)
The Palais sometime before it was demolished. When was it built? What inspired its design? It looks sort of Spanish with its balcony & tiled roof!
These are a couple of photos that I found on the internet showing the demolition of the " Palais De Dance" at a later stage than the previous photo.
The site of the Palais de Dance, now a Jain Community Centre. December 2007. Browns School Of Dancing
Browns School Of Dancing opened up in the 1960s in the Hall above the old Co-op store in South Levenshulme. A popular disco venue in the 60s and 70s. Does anyone have any memories? Other Clubs and Social Venues in Levenshulme Levenshulme Boys Club
Two views of the Stamford Hall Levenshulme Boys Club in 1965. This was situated in what had been a church on land bounded by Rostron Street, Chapel Street and Weatherall Street. I think that the club had a reputation for turning out gymnasts!! I was never a member so have no real idea of the activities that took place here. The building later became an Islamic Centre I believe. Does anyone recognize the kids on bicycles? ( photos via Manchester Libraries) Levenshulme Catholic Club
Levenshulme British Legion This building became the Levenshulme Catholic Club at some time. I think that it is situated off Central Avenue. It was extended at a later date. Did the house have a name?
This is a view of the Levenshulme British Legion building in 1970. The building stood on the corner of Slade Lane and Albert Road, and always looked a grand and imposing site. There were well kept bowling greens and the house looked like it may have been built for a rich businessman earlier in the 19th Century. Does anyone have any history on this building? The house is shown as Beech House in the 1905 Ordnance Survey. |
The Blue Bell
2003 ( Photo MEN via Cliff Garratt)
A sad end to a
familiar local Dance Hall. The Palais de Dance during its demolition. Did
anyone try to save the building or was it beyond repair? Was it built as a
dance hall? When was it built? What was it last used for? Can anyone help
with this? (Photo via Cliff Garratt)
