I am looking at a photograph of the Oaks Hotel taken in 1959
and it is pretty much how I remember it two decades later.
It had been built sometime after 1911 and catered for the cemetery trade.
It had been built sometime after 1911 and catered for the cemetery trade.
It was a huge rambling building with a fine staircase and
plenty of rooms which would have suited cemetery parties. I suppose in its heyday it must have been a
crowded and boisterous place, but when ever I dropped in it just
seemed empty and a little sad.
Perhaps the fact that to get to it you had to pass a line of
businesses catering in cemetery goods was not conducive to a happy night
out.
And I rather think R.E. Stanley caught it at its best. By the 1970s and early 80s the elegant lamp
posts on either side of the entrance had gone and the front and enormous back
car parks were showing their age.
Thinking about it I suppose I only ever went there a few
times and a part from a few locals I guess most of its clientele were the
funeral parties. It closed in the early
1990s and was demolished soon afterwards.
Picture; The Oaks Hotel, by R.E.Stanley, May 1959, m17565, courtesy
of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City CouncilThe Feathers, another lost pub published on Sunday October 14th
Had lot's of good night's in the oaks it's where I met my life long friends
ReplyDeleteThere were a lot of famous people played there.
ReplyDeleteSiouxsie and the Banshees played here in 1977. Picture here: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/648518415092007239/
ReplyDeleteNice one
DeleteI went there every night solid for 5 years, in 1975 they changed it and it lost its MAGIC forever, the best soul pub ever in Manchester.
DeleteHad many a good night in the Oaks in the early seventies. It was my local and I was sad to see it demolished.
ReplyDeleteWhen did it close down.
ReplyDeleteWhere about In chorlton was it
ReplyDeleteThe pub was opposite Southern Cemetery, close to the Parkway and closed in the 1990s.
ReplyDeleteI went to the Oaks disco regularly in the early 70s, great nights
ReplyDeleteWythenshawe singer Paul Young and his band Sad Cafe played there in 1977
ReplyDeleteI lived round the corner from The Oaks. Lovely pub. Lovely atmosphere on Christmas day
ReplyDelete1976/77 i saw Eddy and the Hot Rods here. Another time arrived late and missed the Slits gig, my favourite band at the time.......
ReplyDeleteMet my future wife in 1966 in the Oats , we've been married 55years
ReplyDeleteMet my husband there first night I went in 1973 together 46 years. Best times dancing in the disco
ReplyDeleteUsed to go there on the 70s DJ Dave Faversham always ended the night with Long After to Night Is All Over, had him for our wedding at the Royals in 1975. They ruined the Oaks when they changed it to a sports pub along with the Royal Oak Baguley.
ReplyDelete