DURING a mooch about the Northern Quarter last week I decided to try and find the new venture 2022NQ that ManCon colleague David Mc Court first revealed - click here.
We just got on with it. And this is not a pop up bar or temporary venture. We have taken a ten year lease.
It occupies the basement of the handsome building at 20 Dale Street but the entrance is from the alley round the back and through the loading bay doors.
The building is owned, like pretty much most of this half of the Northern Quarter, by Umar Kamani, the man behind fashion label Boohoo.com
While the upper floors were already full of creative types from Manchester Fashion Network the basement was pretty much a dusty and forgotten storage area until Jamie Scahill and four of his mates started asking round about spaces they could use for a new ad hoc events venue.
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Jamie (Mint Lounge/Funkademia/Ramsbottom Festival) explains: “When you go to London there are loads of places which encourage creative arts and where you can go back on consecutive nights and see three different events or artists.
“We wanted to create something similar in Manchester. We mentioned to Umar what we were trying to do and he showed us this basement. He wanted something that would complement the creative feel of the building.”
He probably also wanted someone to spruce up the space and put them in touch with architect Mark Percival of architecturem, who works out of another Kumani building.
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Jamie said: “The hardest bit has been getting planning permission and we worked closely with CityCo and with Mark who drew up the plans.
“We also needed to get a licence as we have to sell beer to help make a profit.”
They got both planning and a licence (1am during the week, 2.30am on Saturday) and now have a ten year lease on the basement which has been cleaned up and painted white and had some partitions built in but retains a wonderful underground feel.
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When I dropped in, there was a film crew working on a project about last summer’s riots, sat round one large table, an exhibition or portraits in the main room and work by MMU students in the second room.
Jamie said: “We wanted it to be adaptable so it can be used for anything from exhibitions to fashion shoots to drama or acoustic music. We want to encourage emerging talent, provide a place where it can be tried out.
“The Northern Quarter needs a hub and we want people to be able to drop in and see something different and be inspired.”
Five of them are backing the venture with their own money. As well as Jamie there is Keith Griffiths, Neil Scott, Steve Johnson and Tunji Oyewobi, owner of Mint Lounge.
“We looked for grants, believe me we did,” said Jamie, “But there was nothing around so we just got on with it. And this is not a pop up bar or temporary venture. We have taken a ten year lease.
“It has been quite a journey over the last four months or so but the reaction we have had so far and the amount of inquiries is positive.
“We are not looking to make a huge profit we just want it to pay its way and be a sort of after work social club! “
Follow them on twitter @2022nq or www.2022nq.co.uk
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