DEANSGATE’s dinky cocktail den Elixir Tonics & Treats has been on borrowed time ever since plans were announced in September to demolish Lincoln House alongside the interlinking buildings from 123-127 Deansgate.
We’ve never argued the fact that we are an ugly duckling architecturally
The buildings from Dixy Chicken (since closed), through Ladbrokes and Elixir to Brazennose Street will be replaced by a new (and fairly insipid) £70m twelve storey office block from Preston-based Worthington Properties, which gained council approval in December.
Sadly, Elixir is one of the first necessary casualties of wider plans to redevelop and modernize this dreary city centre drag, running from Spinningfields through Lincoln Square to Albert Square and the Town Hall. Plans by M&G Estates to redevelop the nearby Brazennose House and re-open views to St Mary’s Church (aka The Hidden Gem) are already well underway.
Still, it’s a shame to lose Elixir, a beguiling little independent bar of whizz pops, crystal waters and shamelessly camp concoctions, punching above its weight on the peripheries of corporate, brand-heavy Spinningfields.
Lincoln House and 123 Deansgate will be demolished to make way for...
...125 DeansgateThe bar announced it will close with 'one big-ass closing party' by the 25 June via its Facebook page, stating 'we have a few short months to vacate' and 'at this time we don't have any new premises to move to'.
Here's the announcement in full:
To all our valued, loyal and supportive customers… "Everything for a reason, a time and a season”.
It's with a little heartache that we share our news with you today. It seems the inevitable has happened and our story at the little house on Deansgate is coming to an abrupt end. Very recently we received news that our red brick building is to be flattened to make way for a new development, something modern, something befitting of the location. We’ve never argued the fact that we are an ugly duckling architecturally. And so it’s come to light that our lease won’t be renewed, in fact we have a few short months to vacate our beloved home at 123 Deansgate. The building will be quashed and with it goes Elixir, one of the last remaining independent businesses on Deansgate. The corporate jungle is relentless and we are powerless to its brute force.
The news came as a shock to our team and with much sadness, a little panic, disbelief and confusion but quite quickly followed with a quiet understanding that everything has to end, nothing lasts forever, change is inevitable and evolution takes many forms. We shouldn’t fight it when it’s beyond our control, we will ride the wave and hope there’s something great for us on the horizon. We will, in the meantime of course, suck the marrow dry and leave no thirst unquenched.
Our vison just over two years ago was to bring something soulful to Manchester, a sanctuary away from pretence, something real. A place where cocktails were the key to unlocking a door in ourselves and our customers, all we had to do was push. Behind the door we hoped there was a room, without inhibition or exclusion, somewhere that ignited fun, imagination and conversation. What a joy it’s been for us to watch magical nights unfold, faces light up, memories made and troubles forgotten.
It has been a pleasure to be embraced by this great city, a place where an independent, owner operated, small and indistinct cocktail bar can seemingly appear so big and shine so bright, only in Manchester!
To all those customers who’ve joined us for drinks, to the people who voted us “Best Cocktail Bar” in Manchester to the unique and wonderful staff who’ve passed through our doors and shared in the magic, we thank you!
There are many practical questions that we welcome in the coming days and safe to say we’ll be having one big-ass closing party. We are open as usual, we hope to remain open up to and including the 25th June 2016 so please join us for Tonics and Treats and help send us off with a bang! Any questions relating to our closure or bookings that post date 25th June please contact info@elixir-manchester.co.uk and we can discuss with you personally and assist where possible.
At this time we don’t have any new premises to move to, we aren’t sure what the future holds. Words cannot begin to express what Elixir means to our team.
We are authentic, we have heart… we hope you could taste it.
Elixir.
