"It's s***e": Sadness and uncertainty hits departing Hatch traders as full site closes

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

At 12 noon yesterday, the final countdown was on for Hatch. Literally. Staff welcomed shoppers, diners, and drinkers into the Oxford Road venue by blaring out the 1986 rock anthem over its PA system.

It was a gloomy but apt welcome for punters, as Saturday (September 30) was the last day for Hatch in its current form. Traders and fans were saddened by the news, only delivered at the start of the month, that owners Bruntwood had passed Hatch over to Stack, a North East firm which specialises in ‘creating leisure hubs out of shipping containers as well as repurposing empty retail properties,’ Bruntwood said in a statement.

After an outcry over the one-month notice, which was spear-headed by Greater Manchester night-time economy tsar Sacha Lord, some traders were given a reprieve. Read More: 'Ring of steel' fencing erected in Manchester city centre as armed police patrol streets ahead of Tory party conference Read More: Get the latest on Manchester city centre here On Friday (September 29), it was confirmed that its courtyard area will remain open from Monday (October 2) until the end of the year, with six existing traders taking residency alongside its microbrewery.

The six given a stay of execution were Pukht, Rio Mex, ASAP Coffee, The Sicilians, House of Habesha, OL brewery, and Suzy Loves Milo vintage clothing.