Parkers Hotel, Corporation Street. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.
Parkers Hotel was converted into flats in the mid-1990s, after a brief number of years as a soul venue, opposite the Ducie Bridge and up from the lost Crown & Cushion. The building was listed just before its conversion and its architectural merit is detailed at British Listed Buildings [1]. Built in the first decade of the 20th century on an island between the railway and Corporation Street, it was formerly offices before conversion to Parkers Hotel.
Parkers Hotel, Corporation Street. (c) Mancky [1].
In January 1990, it was the unusual choice to host soul nights, and revellers would travel from all over the country, often staying over in the hotel afterwards. One or two basement function rooms of Parkers were used for the sixties soul and jazz club until about 1994, nights which have since passed into Mancunican folklore. As befitting of legendary clubs, there was a Parkers Reunion a few years ago at the Band on the Wall [3].
Hi Dan,
ReplyDeleteThis place looks like a pub called the Top Cat Tavern that we went in on 28 March 1987 it was a Wilsons tied house.
I took a photo of it at a later date when it still had the Top Cat Tavern signs in place but it was closed by that time.
I remember going to the fantastic film festival held at this hotel in 1990 , where ray Harryhousen (who did the models on clash of the titans/ Jason and the argonaughts) and Hammer Horror actress Ingrid Pitt ( countess Dracula/ Vampire Lovers)were both guests of honor telling stories.
ReplyDeleteI lived here and I also worked building the new part of the building (over the old car park at the back). Had a poltergeist encounter on the 3rd floor one evening. Very strange.
ReplyDelete