Landlord of reprieved Abercromby gets out bunting

The landlord of the historic Sir Ralph Abercromby pub, which dates back to Manchester’s famous Peterloo Massacre,  is planning a street party to celebrate its reprieve from the bulldozer.

Revised plans for the £200m city centre development by the St Michael’s Partnership, fronted by football stars-turned-property-moguls Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, will now spare the pub, the only building remaining from the massacre at St Peters Field in 1819.

The pub where people were taken for treatment during the massacre was previously set to be demolished to make way for the scheme.

Landlord Mike Christodoulou had given up on any hope of the pub being saved from the wrecking ball, even though a 5,000-name petition had been raised.

However, last week public consultation opened on revised plans for St Michael’s which include the retaining of the pub, the retaining of the former Bootle Street Police Station frontage, and a single 134.5m high tower – 2m lower than the highest point of the previous scheme – rather than the twin towers, now located on the eastern edge of the site away from the Town Hall.

The intervention of Historic England which has this time advised the developer and Manchester City Council looks to have been the game-changer.

Christodoulou said: “The bottom line is the scheme went to review with Historic England and they were the ones who wanted to save the pub.

“It’s not a listed building, but it is in a conservation area. Historic England have said the pub has emotional importance and it’s got soul because it’s the last standing building from the time of the massacre.”

Christodoulou said that the St Michael’s Partnership is now set to buy the pub from Enterprise Inns, so Neville and Giggs will effectively own it.

And he was reluctant to blame the two former Manchester United stars for the initial plans which included the demolition of the pub.

“I thought Manchester City Council should’ve known better. For them to say it was OK for the pub to be knocked down was wrong.”

Meanwhile, the landlord has already started redecorating and has further plans to improve the pub.

“I’ve not been able to do anything to the place for three years,” he told TheBusinessDesk.

“With all this hanging over us, it would’ve been pointless spending any money on the place, but now we can invest in it again.

“I’m also planning to make an application to the council to close of the street and hold a street party to celebrate the saving of the pub.

“The regulars are absolutely delighted this has happened. I’m looking forward to working the St Michael’s Partnership when they take ownership of the pub.”

The scheme for Bootle Stret continues to include the replacement of an existing 1950s synagogue with a new synagogue, with street level uses including a new public square as large as Lincoln Square outside the Sir Ralph Abercromby.

Hodder + Partners were appointed to carry out an independent review of the original scheme, which had been designed by London-based Make Architects.