Last orders for music institution

RETRO BAR WILL BE DEMOLISHED BUT OWNER SAYS ALTERNATIVE SITES ARE UNSUITABLE

- By ADAM MAIDMENT

A MUSIC institution in the city centre is to be demolished this summer as work on a huge £1.7bn development gets under way.

Retro Bar, on Sackville Street, has been hosting music gigs and live events since opening some 35 years ago. Dubbed the 'official birthplace' of The Chemical Brothers, it has also given platforms to the likes of Frank Turner, The XX and Everything Everything during the early parts of their careers.

Owners of the grassroots venue, situated opposite the University of Manchester campus, have now been told that they cannot trade past July due to works beginning on the 'Sister Masterplan' development, a joint £1.7billion venture between Bruntwood SciTech and the university.