BLACK DOG BALLROOM have announced the launch of a third venue in Manchester city centre, Black Dog Bowl.
Confidential thinks it's getting interesting down Oxford Road Corridor aka The Southern Quarter. There are the Black Dog venues, Gorrilla from Trof has opened and also the Whim Wham Cafe.
 
Following the second Black Dog Ballroom, launched in May in nearby New Wakefield Street, the new venue will feature tenpin bowling lanes in the old Cocotoo, facing The Ritz, on Whitworth Street West. The original Black Dog Ballroom opened in Manchester’s Northern Quarter in 2009. 
 
Black Dog Bowl will offer all of the usual elements of this updated speakeasy with cocktails, pizzas, burgers, hot dogs and salads late into the night. 

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It will also feature a five lane ten pin bowling alley, designed by Manchester based creative design agency Start JudgeGill.
Black Dog Bowl will open in September from noon to 2am daily.
 
Since opening Black Dog NQ has accolades including Best Bar of 2010 by the Manchester Evening News’ CityLife and Best Bar of 2011 by Manchester Confidential.  
 
Ross Mackenzie of the Black Dog says: “We reckon customers enjoy activities as an attraction and the pool tables in our existing venues have proved to be a huge success throughout the day and into the night, so for us bowling is the next step.  
 
“We have designed something that brings alive the brand creating what is sure to be a fantastic hang-out.  Look out for ball dispensers in the shape of a Black Dog and many other design touches that we hope will make our customers smile.”
 
The Black Dog partnership also own Tiki Dive Bar and Caribbean Rum Shop, The Liars Club, in the old Purple Pussy Cat site underneath Mojo. They are looking out for further sites in which to develop the Black Dog Ballroom and The Liars Club concepts across the North West - as discussed by Mackenzie here.

Confidential thinks it's getting interesting down Oxford Road Corridor aka The Southern Quarter. There are the Black Dog venues, Gorrilla from Trof has opened and also the Whim Wham Cafe.

Cornerhouse will move in with the Library Theatre in a couple of years to a site down Whitworth Street West and thus remain close to the area. Meanwhile it makes sense that any new operator for the present Cornerhouse location will want to retain the arty energy and magic of the present bar and restaurant. 

It's a curious thing that the bar sector in Manchester is seeing such a lot of movement when the retail sector is taking a hit once more and units begin to empty on King Street.

The growth of internet shopping is a factor here, one that underlines something else. The effects of the rash of out-of-town shopping centres approved a decade or two ago are now, in recession, having a profound impact. Restricting car access into the city centre does nothing to reduce the pressure.

The leisure side of cities is therefore becoming more and more important. It will have to be. 

Canny operators, such as Black Dog, with a nose (forgive the pun) for what appeals to the market are crucial. 

You can follow Jonathan Schofield on Twitter here @JonathSchofield

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