PRIVATE members clubs tend to fall into two categories, the wanky and the swanky. Ultimately though, it comes down to the clientele who frequent them, as to how they eventually become labelled.
With the arrival of MediaCity and with it, the relocation of 2,300 BBC staff, there was never a better time to reinvent the private members club.
Here in Manchester, the two best known private members clubs are, perhaps, The Press Club on Queen Street and The Circle Club in Barton Arcade.
Both claim to be venues for creatives working in the media or, as the 143-year-old Press Club puts it, ‘originally intended as a drinking establishment for late-finishing journalists’, hence its 6am curfew.
It all sounds very old school Don Draper-esque and with such a wide selection of wonderfully atmospheric city centre bars these days, it’s a wonder why they still exist.
Some even argue these so-called private members clubs have lost their edge and exclusivity. The Press Club for example recently opened their ‘late-finishing journalists’ membership to employees of BUPA and the NHS. And as private clubs go, or indeed any club, glamorous it is not.
But with the arrival of MediaCity and with it, the relocation of 2,300 BBC staff, there was never a better time to reinvent the private members club. With direct links to MediaCityUK a screening room, event space and bar complete with cocktail and food menu, On The 7th is the new school cool.
Like a corporate speakeasy, On The 7th isn’t very easy to spot. The mysterious entrance actually leads you to a desk where you’re then directed through doors to a lift and up to the seventh floor. Take a wrong turn and you may end up on Jeremy Kyle’s couch - the building has all sorts going on.
Entrance to On The 7th
Once up there, another desk awaits and this time there’s a curious MI5 looking thumb scanner to sign yourself in. With no one at the desk on our arrival, there really was nothing to stop non-members waltzing in. Nevertheless, once inside, there is an air of exclusivity about the place, until you realise everyone else is wearing lanyards and you’re not.
That’s because most members seem to be from the Beeb where lanyards with elaborate job titles are of course part of the uniform.
Even as a non-Beeb though, it was easy to feel at home.
On The 7th is part of the Eclectic Hotels group who are also responsible for The Great John Street Hotel, Didsbury House and Eleven Didsbury Park hotels. While On The 7th isn’t a hotel, it certainly has the whole boutique hotel lobby vibe going on with its low lit faux oldie-worldie furnishings and impressive window views.
While it may look the part, on a practical note we did immediately wonder how easy it would be to navigate a knife and fork around a plate on a knee-high wooden table while sat on an executive chair.
As a matter of fact the lamb burger (£11) and a bubble and squeak artisan pie (£8.50), both served with fries and salad, came on wooden slabs rather than plates making it even more fiddly, but both tasted great. The lamb burger may not look as fancy as others but it was crisp and juicy. The pie, which was the only one of four pies available due to the fact “we’re changing the menu” was also top notch. None of this Holland’s rubbish, but deep filled and bursting with coconut and mustard flavour.
Lamb burger at On The 7th
The only downside was the accompanying fries which were over-salted to the point where we resorted to vinegar to try and drown it out. What worked better as a salt dilution however, was the drinks of which the menu is vast and varied.
Despite not drinking alcohol on that particular night, the non-alcoholic apple mojito (£4) gave a good insight into their mixological style.
Cocktails are definitely the in thing here with a menu of 20 or more. Plus anyone who can make fizzy apple juice into the stuff sipped on a Sandals' holiday definitely deserves recognition. If you’re after draft beer, Estrella at £4.20 a pint is all they have on offer, much to the eye roll of my guest.
It's all worldy bottled beers from Asahi (£3.70) to Innis & Gunn Original (£4.50). Add to that the worst attempt at a Manchester tart I’ve ever seen with sickly sweet custard that hadn’t set making its great escape from rock hard pastry like a weeping wound, and we both agreed that in spite of excellent mains there were still things to be worked on here.
Inside the bubble & squeak pie at On The 7th
But then again, there’s so much more to this place than just food.
While we didn’t get to see any famous faces sadly, rumour has it The Voice judge Tom Jones has nipped in for a quick half after filming.
There's also that private screening room that can be hired by members plus conference rooms. We also noticed a few very neat looking private snugs with their own wide screen TVs that had been bagsied by a big group of Beebers.
Members can get involved with all sorts of events hosted in On The 7th too, recently including a fashion sale and chocolate making party. They should certainly make more of these extras because when MediaCityUK gains a few more independent bars and quality restaurants where entry is free, they’ll need to find a way to stand out from the crowd.
Manchester tart gone gooey at On The 7th
As the website says: ‘The philosophy is to create a destination that not only fulfils the basic need to refuel but is somewhere to relax, work, socialise and entertain, a destination to impress surrounded by like minded souls and ultimately a place that has a feeling of ownership by the members.’
On The 7th is certainly doing all it can to live up to its mission statement and after a few menu tweaks, more special events and membership offers, it will continue to draw in the media rich community which surrounds it.
It could potentially become the social key to the Quays. At least for now.
Follow Lynda on Twitter @lyndamoyo
Annual membership at On The 7th costs £120 and can be paid in quarterly instalments of £35. For more information, please visit eclectichotels.co.uk/on-the-7th/
ALL SCORED CONFIDENTIAL REVIEWS ARE IMPARTIAL AND PAID FOR BY THE MAGAZINE.
On The 7th, 7th floor, The Landing, Blue Tower, MediaCityUK, salford, M50 2ST
Rating: 14/20
Food: 3/5
Drink: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 3/5
A would-be Don Draper?
