Dominic Clancy has acquired the former Amba bar and restaurant on Ashley Road in Hale. The new venue, called Stockyard, will open on 27 February following a £400,000 refurbishment.
The son of Aidan Clancy – whose company Hale Leisure brought Jabez Clegg, Barca, Prague V, Reform and Dry Bar, among others, to Manchester – Clancy currently owns Morley Cheek’s in Chorlton.
Morley Cheek’s specialises in burgers, hot dogs, and runs a ‘bottomless BBQ chicken wings’ for £10 night every Thursday.
Clancy said the ‘brand new’ Stockyard concept, heavily influenced by America’s Deep South, has been two years in the making. He believed that a gap in the market appeared in Hale following the closure of the American Bar last summer.
US beers
Stockyard will offer American craft beers, cocktails with a bourbon influence, burgers, hot dogs, ribs, steaks and lobster, which, according to Clancy will be “all good quality but at an affordable price”.
Boddingtons will also be sold – a beer Clancy felt is due a revival.
He said: “Four-fifths of the ground floor will be given over to a bar area that will seat 65 people plus standing areas, while the back fifth and downstairs will comprise a 64-seat restaurant area.
Clancy added: “We’ve imported an authentic food smoker from the States, there will be oak flooring throughout, Canadian maple bar top, exposed brickwork and vintage shutters. Hale is crying out for somewhere like this.”
Roll-out
Clancy said should the concept prove successful he would look to roll it out, “but only once Stockyard has been established”.
More than 30 full and part-time staff will be employed at Stockyard.
The 3,500 sq ft property was secured on a 25-year lease as an off-market deal with the help of leisure specialist Jenics.
Jenics also advised Hale Leisure last year on the sale of famous Manchester student bar Jabez Clegg.