When in attendance at the Sounds from the Other City (SFTOC) festival earlier this year I noted they had introduced a new venue to their ever-burgeoning roster which was Hot Bed Press which is located on Cow Lane in Salford.
The business was set up in 1994 by a small group of printmakers and they moved to their current site in Casket Works in 2006. They have grown since to 300 members and are the largest open-access print workshop in the region and as a result were able to buy their own building in 2017 and continue as a non-profit making organisation.
Hot Bed Press. Image Credit britishletterpress.co.uk
The initial access was through the Manchester Hot Bed Press Courtyard where there was a small marquee set up, which was handy in the monsoon rain, and an act called Cal/Rob were playing. You then entered the industrial zone and backdrop of the Manchester Hot Bed Press where there were cold beer cans on sale and a decent size stage set up where a band called Third Kulture was performing. They were a noisy rap/rock crossover trio from Manchester in the mould of Asian Dub Foundation.
Nearby and further down Oldfield Road, past the Peking Duck Chinese restaurant is Manchester Five Four Studios Bar. On the day we arrived there was a delay to the opening time and there was a fair crowd building up outside the building. When the doors opened, we headed to the bar area for a drink and a much needed sit down. It is a communal space for people attending photo shoots or events and is based on a members club lounge layout with very comfy sofas. Whilst we were in residence, an act called Hold Tight were playing.
Five Four Studios Bar. Image Credit www.fivefourstudios.com
There is a slow regeneration happening in this area of Salford and one such establishment is an Italian restaurant called Vero Moderno situated within Vimto Gardens on Chapel Street. Apparently, many premiership footballers visit here which does not itself ensure quality food, but it certainly garners attention.
We then headed over to Bexley Square where there was fortunately a one-hour sun break in the weather, and we grabbed the opportunity to perch at a table outside the Porta Tapas restaurant. Munchies struck at that point and the allure of the outside kitchen pulled us in to purchase a very tasty snack and a ‘calorie free’ Pastel de Nata for dessert washed down with a cold beer! The tapas restaurant did have some music performers on that evening, but we had left before then, but have since visited Porta for a very fine meal.
Bexley Square with the New Oxford pub in the background. Image Credit Manchester Evening News.
Across the square you would the Manchester New Oxford public house which is a three-storey building and dates back to 1850. It has had a variety of names over those two centuries including The Town hall Tavern. The Court Tavern, The Amateurs Arms and the Oxford Hotel. In the Amateur Arms days, it contained a music hall.
It has a plethora of beers to wave a stick at and it remains as one of the few hostelries still operating in the area. On the day of the festival, we saw Shannon from Admin play a set there.