Stables Tavern: Manchester's Historic Pub Reborn

A Pub With a Past

Tucked behind Piccadilly Station, the Stables Tavern has been pouring pints since the Victorian era. Originally built to serve the railway workers who made Manchester's industrial heartbeat possible, the pub has survived two world wars, the Arndale bombing, and decades of redevelopment pressure. It is, in every meaningful sense, a survivor.

But in early 2025, the Stables faced a threat that bricks and mortar alone couldn't withstand: a planning application that would have seen it converted into yet another mixed-use development. The kind of glossy, soulless box that has swallowed so many of Manchester's independent venues in recent years.

"Pubs like the Stables aren't just buildings. They're living rooms for communities that have nowhere else to go."

The Campaign

Within weeks of the planning notice going public, a coalition formed. CAMRA's Central Manchester branch — which I chair — worked alongside local residents, heritage groups, and regular patrons to lodge objections and raise public awareness. Social media played its part, but the real work happened in person: at council meetings, in conversations with councillors, and through a sustained letter-writing effort that demonstrated the breadth of community feeling.

The campaign drew support from across the city. Neighbouring branches rallied. The Manchester Evening News ran coverage. And critically, an application was submitted to list the Stables as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) — a legal designation that gives communities a right to bid if a listed asset comes up for sale.

What is an Asset of Community Value?

The ACV system, introduced under the Localism Act 2011, allows community groups to nominate buildings or land that they believe further the social wellbeing or cultural interests of the local community. Once listed, the asset is protected by a six-month moratorium period during which community groups can prepare a bid to purchase it.

For pubs, ACVs have become one of the most effective tools in the preservation arsenal. CAMRA has been instrumental in encouraging branches to nominate their local pubs, and the Stables was a textbook case: a venue with deep historical roots, active community use, and no viable alternative in the immediate area.

• Over 200 pubs across the UK are currently listed as ACVs
• The moratorium period gives communities 6 months to organise a bid
• ACV listing also triggers additional planning protections against change of use

The Outcome

The planning application was refused. The ACV listing was approved. And in a development that surprised even the most optimistic campaigners, the pub's owners announced a commitment to a full refurbishment — not as a gastropub or a "concept bar," but as a proper, community-focused local.

The Stables reopened with cask ale on the bar, a revamped function room for community events, and a renewed sense of purpose. It's not a fairy tale — there are still challenges ahead, not least the ongoing pressure of business rates and the cost-of-living squeeze on hospitality. But for now, the Stables is alive, pouring, and welcoming.

What This Means for Manchester

The Stables campaign is a case study in what's possible when communities organise quickly, effectively, and with the right tools. It also highlights the importance of CAMRA's branch network — not as a nostalgic drinking club, but as a frontline advocacy organisation with real local knowledge and the capacity to act.

Manchester has lost too many pubs in recent years. The Lass O'Gowrie, the Circus Tavern's near-miss, the slow erosion of the Northern Quarter's independent pub scene — each loss diminishes the fabric of the city. The Stables' survival doesn't undo that damage, but it proves that the tide can be turned, one pub at a time.

What You Can Do

• Nominate your local — check if your favourite pub is ACV-listed, and if not, consider starting the process through your local CAMRA branch or community group.
• Attend planning meetings — council decisions are influenced by public attendance and objections. Your voice matters.
• Join CAMRA — membership supports campaigns like these at every level, from local branches to national policy work.
• Use your local — the most powerful act of preservation is simply showing up, buying a pint, and being part of the community that makes a pub worth saving.

The Stables Tavern isn't just a Manchester story. It's a template. Every city, every town, every village has pubs that matter — pubs that are more than the sum of their fittings and fixtures. The tools exist to protect them. The question is whether we'll use them before it's too late.