Pubs of Manchester

All pubs within the city centre and beyond.
A history of Manchester's hundreds of lost pubs.

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Ranch, Dale Street


The Ranch, Dale Street, 1977. (c) Kevin Cummins / Getty Images [1].

The Ranch on Dale Street is often mentioned as the true home of Manchester punk (Buzzcock Pete Shelley is being carried out of The Ranch in the above snap!) [1].  It was beneath Foo Foo's Palace and was connected to the Foo Foo's by a door behind the bar [2].  As well as playing the staples of Bowie and Roxy Music, The Ranch also was host to bands like Buzzcocks, The Fall and The Distractions.


The Ranch, Dale Street, Distractions flyer, 1977. (c) FranDaman at MDMArchive [1].

Manchester photographer and one-time young punk, Aidan O'Rourke remembers "non-stop cutting edge punk records played at a deafening volume until 2am every night.  The toilets were absolutely disgusting. There were 'punkettes' in their fish net stockings, big hair, heavy make-up a la Siouxsie Sioux and ripped shirts [3]."  Fellow Manc photographer, Kevin Cummins, also took many photos in The Ranch, some of which can be seen here at the Getty Images site [1].

Formerly The Ranch, Dale Street. (c) googlemaps.

1. www.gettyimages.co.uk.
2. www.mdmarchive.co.uk/archive/showartefact.php?vid=240.
3. http://www.aidan.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php?t-328.html.

5 comments:

  1. it was next to,not below foo foo's,and the door was next to the bar not behind it,i was in one night when it kicked off and foo foo stormed in full drag and started throwing people out.happy days lol.

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    Replies
    1. You're right, Foo Foo's was in the basement, nothing below so it was next door.

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    2. I first went to the Ranch in 1976, I was 17. My usual place to hang out was PIPS. I refused entry on my virst visit because when asked by the doorman, I think he was called Gerry, which other clubs I went to I said PIPS and Placemate. I was advised by a friend to say next time I was asked to repmy" I don't go to clubs, I go to parties"; worked like a dream....

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  2. Definitely next door, you had to knock on the door , and a letter box type opening was pulled aside to check who you were before you could get in :)

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  3. Happy days, we used to spend many Friday nights there and yes, it was next door to Foo Foo's. We also had many good nights in the Cyprus tavern opposite the Garret pub on Princess St I think(?).

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