MANCHESTER is mourning the loss of one of its most vibrant adopted sons – Tim Bacon. The Living Ventures founder has died aged only 52, after losing his long battle against cancer. It is no exaggeration to say that his fertile entrepreneurship sparked the city’s remarkable food and drink revolution.
Among the first to pay tribute (via Facebook) was chef Aiden Byrne, who set up Manchester House with him: “Feeling empty. The legend lives on through everyone you touched. Good night and God bless from all of us.”
Manchester House was the fine dining pinnacle but is just one of 10 Living Ventures establishments in the city centre – think Australasia, the Alchemists, Artisan, Gusto, Grill on New York Street and Grill on the Alley, the Oast House and The Botanist – with Grand Pacific in what was Room due to join them in the next 12 months.
The brands have spread nationally to encompass more than 30 venues, but their roots remain here. It felt like the wheel had come full circle when Living Ventures announced their latest venture – the late night Red Door bar below The Botanist on Deansgate.
That site was once JW Johnson’s where it all really began for young Bacon after he arrived from Australia via London, working as a barman along the way. He first became boss man when he snapped up that failed bar joint from the receivers.
Back in 1993 the city’s bar culture was stagnant – the Tasmanian typhoon was to change all that. JW Johnson’s was soon sold on (he reacquired the premises in 2014), but the bar/restaurant template was set, to be perfected next door in Living Room, the celebrity-luring magnet that was his Nineties flagship.
Back in Australia Bacon had been an actor, but his greatest stage appearance was surely at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards in 2014. There he scooped a Lifetime Achievement, while Manchester House won Best Restaurant, Best Newcomer and Best Bar – the first time a venue had ever scooped a triple.
He was already battling advanced melanoma but bravely and brilliantly continued to oversee the inexorable rise of Living Ventures, which last year had a £100m turnover.
Long time business partner and LV CEO Jeremy Roberts, said in a statement: "It is with incredible sadness that I have to announce the sad passing of Living Ventures Chairman, Tim Bacon, who died suddenly but peacefully in his sleep, on Friday night following a long illness.
"Tim has had many enduring friendships with people in his private and professional life because of his vibrant, honourable and generous spirit. He gave his all to everything he did, especially to his family and his friends who were incredibly important to him. I will greatly miss him as we all will and I've lost a true friend."