Last orders? Call to save iconic Ducie Bridge in city centre from demolition
- A petition to save the Ducie Bridge pub has reached 3,500 signatures
- It has been revealed that the UK is losing 28 pubs each week
The Ducie Bridge, located on Corporation Street dates back to 1892 and has been host to acts such as Alias Kid and Death to Strange.
The pub, currently owned by NOMA, an £800 million scheme partnered with The Co-operative Group, sadly called last orders back in 2015.
Ex-landlord Dave Foran says he is ‘devastated’ that the city will lose another landmark.
He said: “It’s such a shame because I have done so much in 15 years with bands here. I knew it was coming and it’s business at the end of the day.”
Liam Howard from Hydes Brewery said that pubs are not given enough support: “There needs to be changes in VAT and alcohol duty to favour pubs ahead of supermarkets so it becomes more affordable to go to the pub.
“Visiting the pub is still one of the top things people like to do in their leisure time but it is currently much cheaper to drink at home.
“It has to be remembered that pubs employ a lot of people”
User-inspired civic movement Manchester Shield started the petition to prevent the demolition of the pub and protect Manchester’s heritage.
Adam Prince from the group said: “The Ducie Bridge is not only important in its own right but is also symbolic of so many different things wrong with how planning is undertaken in Manchester. I have been there several times of the live music venue and also think the 1892 pub is beautiful and certainly is not beyond repair.
“NOMA gave me a very convoluted story and can’t give me any figures for repair or what is wrong with the building. Their vision is bland and short-term where the people’s history does not matter.
“The notion this building has to be demolished so they can be landbanked the future development, which people probably won’t even get a say in, is appalling. The political support has been appalling. Emails are ignored and the petition has received no political support either from local councillors.
“The approach is as disingenuous as it is short-sighted and we learn every day of new pending demolitions. It is a disrespect of heritage, history, businesses, idiosyncrasy, the live music scene, the streetscape and assets that could be used by communities.”
The NOMA vision is to create a ‘new 20 acre neighbourhood where you can live, work, create and innovate’ with 250,000 sq ft of offices, shops and homes across the road from Victoria Station. In 2011, The Crown and Cushion on Corporation Street was also closed to make way for the NOMA project
A spokesperson for NOMA said: “An extensive assessment revealed this building to be highly unsafe leaving us with no choice but to demolish it.”
To help save the Ducie Bridge and stop the destruction of Manchester heritage click here.