The Hunting Lodge opened in 1971 at corner of Oxford Road and Hulme Street. It was something of an informal club as it wasn't open during the day but Margaret Emmot at the Manchester District Music Archive remembers "frequenting the Hunting Lodge many times in the '70s and early '80s. Stairs led you up to a large room with a bar, pool table, dart board and football table. Don't recall seeing any live bands there just a jukebox in the corner" [2]. This great shot of Oxford Road from the 1960s doesn't quite show the place. The Hunting Lodge closed at some point in the late '80s, and is now Cotswold outdoor clothing shop, as shown below.
Former location of Hunting Lodge, Oxford Road. (c) googlemaps.
The 1975 guide mentions the gaudy neon Watney's Red sign that used to light up the street outside. Inside were jukeboxes, TV table tennis, a colour TV and a piano. The ground floor bar served Watney's and Wilson's beers, while there was a restaurant on the first floor with a night club / disco above that [3].
1. The Old Pubs of Hulme and Chorlton-on-Medlock, Bob Potts (1997).
2. www.mdmarchive.co.uk.3. The Manchester Pub Guide, Manchester & Salford City Centres (1975).
My father was manager of the Hunting Lodge. It is now Cotswold outdoor clothing. It once had distinctive small windows with rings (like the bottom of wine bottles). I'd like to see some pictures of it, but there don't seem to be any.
ReplyDeletewas your father's name Ricki Satori, because I worked hre 1973 - 1975
DeleteI remember frequenting this many times in the '70s and early '80s. The entrance was located on Oxford Road tucked away in the corner just after the railway bridge opposite the old Refuge building. Stairs led you up to a large room with a bar, pool table, dart board and football table. Don't recall seeing any live bands there just a juke box in the corner!
ReplyDeleteMargaret Emmott
(I reposted Margaret Emmott's message from another source)
ReplyDeleteThanks for confirming it was in the Cotswold rather than Maplins building. Shame that so many of our lost pubs have seemingly have no pictorial records; and even the ones we have exteriors of rarely have interiors photos. That is unless there are private collections out there...
ReplyDeleteLoads of Football lads went in here......sadly there were no camera phones or digital cameras in those days
ReplyDeleteAny memories of these places mate? Happy to add them.
ReplyDeleteYes, my father (the manager) was himself an ex-footballer for a Spanish team. He died when I was 3 so I don't know much else. I know Matt Busby used to drink in there on occasion. Anyway, I'm sure a photo will turn up online at some point, it is Oxford road after all.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
Hi,
DeleteI have only just seen this webpage, hence the delay in reporting.
My father was co-owner of the Hunting Lodge from its beginning in 1969, to its untimely end in 1983!
I remember your father well, though i wasn't aware he was an ex-footballer! If you would like to correspond, i would be more than happy to.
Manager - Ricky Sartori and owners Brian Stockton and Padraic McNamara
DeleteMy father is Padraic McNamara & talks about the hunting lodge a lot, I would love to see some photographs.
DeleteWas he called Jesus? We used to go in 1983/4
DeleteYes. Although most of the staff called him ‘Zeus’
DeleteBrian Stockton 'Stocko' is still alive & well. He was my dad's best friend. Lovely bloke, bit deaf so when he rings you have to shout down the phone!
ReplyDeleteI used to go in the Hunting Lodge under age as my uncle, Frank Roe and his wife Bernie managed the Hunting Lodge for a while, before taking the Gardeners Arms in Rusholme on a tenancy. Both also worked for Bill Pilling at the Auto Club prior to that. Both sadly passed away now
ReplyDeleteSad to hear that. Frank was a great character who looked after me and my mates in 1980 to 1983. He used to sneak us into private discos on top floor. And we followed him to the Gardners Arms in Rusholme. We met his 2 daughters there and I think he had a son called Patrick
DeleteHere is a picture of The Hunting Lodge whilst up for sale showing the distinctive circular windows on 7 September 1988 https://www.flickr.com/photos/dg11061959/6565803685/
ReplyDelete