“Arguably the best bar in Manchester, and a true-spirited independent. Expect good beer, interesting music and proper home-cooked food.” – Tony Naylor, The Guardian
Common opened its doors on 20 December 2004, then quickly closed them again and went on holiday, reopening on 7th January 2005. We have been plying our trade from Edge Street ever since, serving up everything from quality beer, cocktails, wine, tasty food, coffee, killer DJs as well as exhibitions. Hopefully those of you that came with us had a good time and have no permanent scars.
To celebrate TEN years of good times with good people we’ve been throwing birthday parties throughout 2014, welcoming faces back from our past whilst also celebrating the future. This December the fun will culminate in a five-day extravaganza.
> Wednesday 17 December – The Common Knowledge 2014 Extra Special (364 days in the making) Xmas Quiz!!! – 7:30pm till 11pm / Free
John and Chris return to Common Knowledge for a one off 2014 Xmas Special – a quiz dedicated to supplying the Common Knowledge faithful, with the best festive questions, puzzles and games this side of the North Pole. Come down on the 17th December and raise a glass to the festive season and knuckle down to the best bi-monthly quiz on a Wednesday night (in the Northern Quarter area).
Get down early, get yourself a team and settle in for beers, general knowledge, spot prizes, the mystery final round and not forgetting whatever Santa leaves under the Common Christmas tree for you.
> Thursday 18 December – Seasonal Making Sense – 9pm till 2am / Free
We couldn’t have a Thursday night party without inviting Stop Making Sense. They’ll be spinning records aplenty and there’ll be a special guest appearance from the Northern Quarter Boys Choir who will be singing Christmas songs to raise money for The Christie.
> Friday 19 December – Space Jam presents ‘Black Hole’ with Sean Canty and John Powell-Jones – 9pm till 2am / Free
John Powell-Jones shows off his Space Jam taking us through slam dunkin’ cosmic jams and heavy riffs in time and space and brings us a super special guest from the Haxan vaults Sean Canty (Demdike Stare).
> Saturday 20 December – Best Foot Forward – 9pm till 2am / Free
As it’s 10 years since we first rolled back the Edge St shutters for the first time, what better way to celebrate than inviting back Best Foot Forward, who are as much a part of Common’s ancestry as Jonny’s Veggie Chilli or a Rob Bailey print! Kev Maguire will be joined by the ghosts/guests of BFF past and present, so bring your Christmas cheer and dancing shoes.
> Sunday 21 December – Aficionado at Christmas with Menage A Trois (Live) – 7pm till Midnight / Free
Manchester stalwarts host a special live perform from Menage A Trois : “an odd mix of pop and underground influences pervade their sound and influence their arrangements; the Bee Gees, 10cc, Doobie Brothers and even Joy Division can be heard whilst there are also subliminal nods to the oeuvre of pop protagonists Ariel Pink and Dean Blunt”. Accompanied by DJs Moonboots and Jason Boardman.
Over the past ten years Common has hosted over THIRTY exhibitions including artists such as Matt Sewell, Jon Burgerman, Ghost Patrol, Rob Bailey, Pete Fowler and many more, the wood chip DJ booth has hosted DJ sets and live performances from Deadalus, Foals, Public Information, Bill Kouligas (PAN) Quiet Village and Steve Mason to name but a few!
We’ve always put an emphasis on being independent, alternative and creative whilst serving up awesome food and drink so come celebrate our ten years as a local in the Northern Quarter, here’s to another TEN.