The team behind a popular Whitefield bar are hoping their next opening will bring something completely different to the booming Greater Manchester suburb. Northern Social is set to open on Bury New Road, two doors further up from Northern Crafthouse, which is run by the same team.
It will breathe new life into the former Motorists Discount Store unit, which has stood empty for more than three years. Manager Kirsty Maher says the team will run Northern Social with the 'same ethos' as it has operated Northern Crafthouse for the past six years - but with food, drink and games, she believes it will have a more 'fun' vibe than its sister bar.
She told the Manchester Evening News : "It's going to be a different offering, a different vibe. It's more of a late night place - shuffleboard, beer pong - just something a bit different, a bit fun."
Work is still ongoing to get the venue ready for launch, with bosses going through the necessary protocol with Bury Council, but Kirsty hopes Northern Social can open as soon as possible once that is complete. Once it does begin to welcome customers, it will be the latest venue to add its name to Whitefield's social scene.
Northern Crafthouse has become a popular spot for food and drink since first opening. The bar sits close to restaurants Porada, Mezzaluna and Forts of India, near to the junction with Radcliffe New Road.
They are among a host of other bars and restaurants which sit either along Bury New Road or just off it in Whitefield. All those businesses have helped Whitefield's reputation grow as another Greater Manchester destination in recent years, and Kirsty hopes Northern Social will be another welcome addition.
She added: "There's us, there are all the great restaurants on that strip, you've got Hamilton's across the road as well - it has become more of a destination. We are finding more people are coming to the area as more places are opening."
For updates from the team at Northern Social, see the bar's Facebook and Instagram pages.