Sounding out suburb

After the closure of yet another bar Sophie Halle Richards monitors the mood in Withington

- Sophie Halle Richards

ON a gloriously sunny morning in Withington, the high street is bustling with students in-between lectures, friends drinking coffee, and young professionals hunting a cafe to work from.

The south Manchester suburb, nestled between Didsbury and Fallowfield, has long been a popular spot for those wanting to live on the fringes of the city centre. Residents have often been attracted to its diverse offering of pubs, bars and shops and its friendly sense of community.

Pubs like the Orion, The Victoria, Red Lion and acclaimed cafes and bars, Fuel, Toast and Southside have become staples for locals, who are made up of a diverse range of students, families and older residents.

But for some newer venues who tried to bring something new to the area, things just haven't quite worked out.

A former District Bank building on the high street underwent a huge refurbishment summer last year, reopening as all-day restaurant, bar and music venue, Libertine. Picked up by the team behind much-loved city centre spots, Cottonopolis and the Edinburgh Castle, it was thought to be destined for success.