£500k upgrade creates ‘happiest place in Manchester’
The Northern Quarter’s beloved Bluu Bar is being transformed into the ‘happiest place in Manchester’, under the name Foundry Project, after a £500,000 renovation, writes Alex Hornby.
The new look of the original venue, situated in the Old Smithfield Market buildings on the corner of Thomas Street and High Street, has been inspired by Manchester’s industrial past.
It will also be home to the UK’s first Estrella beer tank, which will provide an impressive centrepiece to the bar itself.
It will show off a minimalist interior, with exposed beams and polished concrete, but contrasted with several textures, like leather, neon and copper, to give the site a warm, laid-back feel.
The locale will be laid out with various ‘zones’ in mind to create different tones to suit every occasion, from intimate dinners to lively parties.
Under its new name, the restaurant is set to wow customers with a humble, but stylish menu that includes dishes for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike, such as it’s ‘Hangover Pizza’ or ‘Smashed Avo’. However, burgers will be the house speciality, boasting a selection of ‘buns to please all palates’.
Meanwhile, the bar’s cocktail list hosts an eclectic list of experimental drinks, including original cocktails like the ‘Gin Fashionista’ and ‘One Fine-Apple’, and classics like the Bloody Mary.
The venue will also host regular events, including drag queen-led pub quizzes, various get togethers and live music.
This is the third Foundry Project in the country, with two other sites located in Edinburgh and Harrogate, both of which have received overall reviews of 4/5 and 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
