Last post for a city legend that always delivered for customers

Regulars lament 'end of an era' as last Crown Post Office closes its doors

- JOSEPH TIMAN

IT’S 5.45pm and the sun is setting in Manchester city centre - and on one of its oldest institutions.

The gates of the Post Office in Spring Gardens are already half shut, but some customers are still trying to get in before it closes. They are turned away by staff on the door who tell them it’s too late - Manchester’s last remaining Crown Post Office has now shut forever.

The building itself, complete with large post-war style modern murals that hang above the counters, dates back to the 1960s. But as the only branch left in the city centre that is directly managed by the Post Office, its lineage can be traced back to the 17th century.

The Post Office has blamed its landlord for the closure. Bet365, which bought the Zenith Building in 2018, occupies offices above.

But the Post Office, which has had a rolling lease for the ground floor since its previous agreement expired in 2021, has been criticised for its decision not to replace the branch. In total, 19 members of staff are affected by the closure, with some opting for redundancy.

Meanwhile, the future of the iconic murals is still unclear, with all but one panel which has now been removed remaining in the building. The Post Office says they will be ‘safely and securely’ stored while they consider the best place for them to be displayed.

Staff, who are instructed not to speak to the press, are none the wiser about the murals. But they tell curious customers that the branch will be turned into more office space for Bet365 - claims that the company is yet to confirm to the Manchester Evening News.