A Manchester bar has come up with an ingenious way to help make ends meet during the cost of living crisis. Alvarium in the city's Northern Quarter has launched a crowdfunder in a bid to keep the bar afloat over the winter period.
On a post shared on social media, Alvarium's owners explained the need for the campaign, following a "tough" two years. In April, owner Braddan Quayle slammed the council's decision to revoke the pedestrianisation of roads around his bar - an initiative introduced during the pandemic to help hospitality - and pleaded with them to let him move tables and chairs outside ahead of summer.
Now, looking to their customers for their support through the winter period, the bar's owners are offering a number of prizes including a £3,000 bar tab. They are also offering a luxury night stay at hotel to encourage people to donate to the crowdfunder.
Read more: Popular Manchester brewery chooses Stockport for next site featuring tap room and bottle shop
Hoping to raise a total of £50,000, Alvarium explained the money will "go a long way into making a dent in the crippling debt" that they had take on to survive through Covid. The cash raised will also go toward essential repairs that need to be carried out to the plumbing and electrics, and to give the bar some "much needed TLC".
Taking to Instagram to explain their situation, the owners wrote: "It’s been a tough 2 years for us here at Alvarium. After Manchester City Council swept the rug out from under our feet by taking away our road closure, making summer exceptionally difficult for us.
"We love Alvarium and we hope you do too, therefore we’re asking for your help. Our prize draw is offering one lucky winner a £3,000 bar tab to be redeemed in Alvarium, but not only this we are also offering a luxury stay right on the border of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.
"Our very kind friends at the Kings Arms in Kirkby Lonsdale have offered up a weekend stay in one of their picturesque cottages along with a meal at the top-rated restaurant in the area, Number Nine Bar & Kitchen. Single Entries are £3 with two entries costing £5. If you wish to enter for free, postal entries are also available. As always, thank you for all your continued support and good luck."
Single entries for the prizes on offer cost £3, while double entries cost £5. People looking to enter for free can ask for a postal entry and supporters are allowed to enter as many times as they like until the campaign ends in 10 days time.
Following the decision to revoke the pedestrianisation of some parts of the Northern Quarter earlier this year, businesses like Alvarium were told that to continue seating customers outside they would need to apply for a Traffic Regulation Order - a process that can take 18 months or more. Braddan said the news meant business would be a "huge struggle" for his small bar, which would see a drastic drop in footfall if unable to seat people outside.
He said the time: "Originally, it came from the Government that councils were allowed to grant us road access so businesses like us could survive. We thought we would match the criteria to be closed - we are situated at a small dead end, with double yellow lines, and no parking bays or disabled access. The only people that use the road is ourselves for deliveries which come early in the morning.
"After October, we heard nothing from the council until March, when we just received a blanket email from the council telling us they would be unable to reinstate the temporary traffic orders. We were shocked, and didn't know where to go from there."
Commenting on the bar's latest post, a spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “During the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic laws were brought in by the Government which allowed the Council to expedite road closures and provide temporary licences for premises wanting to trade outside. This was vital in allowing the Council to expedite planning and licensing law in order to save countless businesses that would not have been able to trade due to Covid restrictions.
“However, the temporary powers granted to the Council were revoked by Parliament and can no longer be used more expeditiously support businesses who want to install outdoor seating that required a road closure. General applications for road closures and permanent outside seating licences would have to be directed to the Council’s Highways Department, as was the case before the pandemic.
"While we appreciate times have been incredibly difficult for businesses across Manchester, the Council has done everything within its legal power to help them through the pandemic, and now the cost-of-living crisis." The council representative added that they have been working with Alvarium regarding the issue and have a meeting scheduled with them next week.
READ NEXT:
