The Abbey Officially Opens Its Doors At Manchester Science Park With Free Weekend Of Live Music And Community Events
By Bruntwood SciTech
The Abbey has officially opened at Bruntwood SciTech’s Manchester Science Park, marking the start of a new chapter for one of Manchester’s most cherished historic pubs. Following an extensive restoration, the legendary Hulme venue will celebrate its return with a free three-day launch weekend running from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th June, giving visitors a first taste of its affordable food and drink offering, outdoor beer gardens, community-focused events and a packed programme of grassroots live music. Guests can also enjoy 50% off all food and drink throughout the opening weekend.
The pub, which has stood on the site since the 1890s, has been lovingly restored with original features such as the 19th century bar, which remains at the heart of the venue. Rich dark green tones and mahogany furnishings create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, complemented by a newly introduced snug and beautifully restored parquet flooring. At the rear, a new 100-capacity live music venue has been added to champion grassroots artists and emerging talent. The Abbey also boasts two outdoor beer gardens, including the return of its much-loved original beer garden, now enhanced with new decking and a dedicated outdoor serving hatch.
Behind the bar is a broad range of affordable pints from local Manchester brewery Blackjack Brew Co, as well as wines and spirits, whilst food at The Abbey comes courtesy of Pieminister. The team will be serving up favourites including the Moo steak and ale pie; the Free Ranger with chicken, ham, leek and thyme; the Big Cheese with vintage cheddar, leek and emmental, alongside plenty of traditional pub sides and extras like mash, peas and cheese.
The Abbey’s events programme has been designed to bring people together, with a mix of live music, community events and family-friendly activities throughout the year. Across the opening weekend celebrations, guests can expect a diverse programme of live music, family entertainment and community-focused events.
Friday sees Stop Making Sense Live come to Hulme, fresh from selling out two Manchester Albert Hall shows. Their full-band recreation of the legendary Talking Heads concert film has built a huge following and feels like the perfect way to open the venue.
Saturday shifts the focus firmly onto new music, with an all-day showcase featuring some of our favourite emerging artists, including Mary In The Junkyard, Tommy Barlow and Ishango Bone.
Sunday afternoon belongs to Born To Be Wild Child, bringing a family fun day with a bouncy castle, creative activities and storytelling from CBeebies favourite Jan Blake, before the weekend rounds off with a special headline DJ set from Anish Kumar, one of the UK's most exciting electronic artists.
Live music will be at the heart of the programme, with performances from emerging artists and breakthrough bands already lined up for the months ahead. Upcoming gigs include Willie J Healey's four-night residency, Greg Mendez, Modern Woman, Soft Loft, Crocodiles, Les Big Byrd, Glasshouse Red Spider Mite, Pina Palau, Ora Cogan, Golomb, Ebbb and many more, with new additions to be announced throughout the summer.
Full listings:
12 June – Stop Making Sense Live
13 June – New Bands All-Dayer ft. Mary In The Junkyard, Tommy Barlow & Ishango Bone
14 June – Born To Be Wild Child Family Day
14 June – Anish Kumar (DJ Set)
18–21 June – Willie J Healey Residency
25 June – 1000 Rabbits
1 July – Divorce
2 July – Runnner
3 July – Holly Head
12 July – Crocodiles
18 July – Akoustik Anarkhy / Getner / Brickhouse / Dennis Beach
1 August – Spanish Horses
24 August – Ora Cogan
26 August – Golomb
3 September – Les Big Byrd
11 September – The Dream Machine
18 September – Glasshouse Red Spider Mite
22 September – Ninush
26 September – Bikini Body
9 October – Born At Midnite
13 October – Dolphin Love
16 October – Makeshift Art Bar
22 October – Pina Palau
25 October – Soft Loft
29 October – Modern Woman
7 November – Greg Mendez
8 November – Colin Miller
10 November – Quiet Light
13 November – Hiding Places
15 November – Boko Yout
27 November – Ebbb
Ruth Hemmingfield from The Abbey said:
“We're incredibly proud to finally open the doors and welcome people back into The Abbey. We wanted to create the kind of place we'd want to spend our own time in — a proper boozer with great beer, great pies and a room at the back dedicated to the music we love. Somewhere you can call in for a pint after work and end up discovering your new favourite band. Small independent venues are what make Manchester's music scene special, and we hope The Abbey will be one of those places."
Matthew Pazos, Senior Retail Commercial Manager at Bruntwood SciTech, said:
"The reopening of The Abbey is a hugely important moment for Manchester Science Park and the wider Hulme community. The Abbey has always been an important part of the area's identity and we're delighted to see it reopen as a welcoming destination for local residents, workers, students and visitors. With great food and drink, live music, community events and a fantastic team behind it, The Abbey is set to play a key role in the continued growth and vibrancy of the neighbourhood. As the Manchester Science Park neighbourhood continues to grow, it is important that we create places where people can come together, socialise and build connections.”
Located on Guildhall Road, The Abbey forms part of Manchester Science Park, a thriving science and technology community in the heart of the city's knowledge quarter. Its reopening marks another milestone in the ongoing evolution of the neighbourhood, as Bruntwood SciTech continues to invest in creating places and amenities that support the growing community of residents, workers, students and businesses across the Oxford Road Corridor.
The reopening follows the appointment of leading independent hospitality and live music operators Ruth Hemmingfield, Wesley Jones, Jonathan Wickstead and Gareth Butterworth, whose collective experience spans some of Manchester's most loved venues and events, including YES, The Deaf Institute, Gorilla, Albert Hall, Now Wave and Manchester Psych Fest.
For more information on launch party set times, offers and more, guests can sign up to The Abbey’s newsletter HERE.