A'Fe'We, Royce Road, Hulme. (c) mancky.
The Grants Arms, seen in 1944 and 1973 as a Boddingtons house, was put on the market after a series of landlords had failed. Local resident, Franklin, bought the pub and worked hard to turn the business around, organising monthly African and West Indian themed nights which involved DJs, musicians, dancers and specially prepared food to reflect the theme of the night. He also held regular family fun days outside the pub with a bouncy castle used at these events [1].
Grants Arms, Royce Road, Hulme. (c) mancky.
When the Grants Arms won Community Pub of the Year in 1999, Franklin decided to change the pub’s name to A’Fe’We, which means "For Us" in British Creole. The 1940s’ planners were sensible enough to build the pub a street’s width away from the community it was intended to serve, but in the 1990s, planning permission was granted to build new houses right up alongside and all around the pub. This created an obvious problem for a venue which specialised in hosting live music [1].
A'Fe'We, Royce Road, Hulme. (c) mancky.
In spite of the difficulties, A’Fe’We continued to host music events through the 2000s although complaints from local residents about noise levels led to the imposition of licensing restrictions by Manchester City Council during 2007. Sadly the pub eventually stopped trading in 2010. The A’Fe’We pub was last known to be used as a nursery for local children. However, it's thought that the plot will most likely be sold on eventually for redevelopment [1]. Read more about the pub at mancky - music & culture from a Manchester point of view.
Location of Grants Arms / A'Fe'We', Royce Road, Hulme. (c) exhulme.
1. mancky - www.mancky.co.uk/?p=3443.
I played the piano at the weekends here in the 1960s
ReplyDeleteMakes me sad,Hulme and The Grants pub all gone now. Full of hipster city types. No locals no community anymore. I miss the place
ReplyDeleteMakes me sad,Hulme and The Grants pub all gone now. Full of hipster city types. No locals no community anymore. I miss the place
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the grants arms was on dodworth street, 1960s.
ReplyDeleteMust open as local pub again, where are the great landlords ?. Also bring back original biddies bitter ! Juke box, live artist, pool table, world cup live, even a snug like on coronation Street, you can dream, can't you.
ReplyDeleteBoddies bitter for above, this.
ReplyDeleteThis is so amazing. Great Tips !! Keep publishing the great content for your blog. Keep writing and sharing your thoughts with us.hotels frankfurt oder
ReplyDeleteMy parents met in the Grant's Arms in the 1960's. My Dad was a waiter there and had the night off so he and his mate after a few jars decided to gatecrash the wedding reception in the upstairs room. It was my Mum's sister who was getting married and my Dad met my Mum that night.
ReplyDeleteOmg Franklin was an amazing friend of mine and his sister Jennifer a good friend ❤️
ReplyDelete