Lisa Higginson
It brought a fairy-lit moose to the Northern Quarter four years ago and since then Odd bar has never looked back. In fact, its eclectic interior and laid-back vibe proved so popular with the boho-boozers in this part of town that two years later Odd decided to share its strangeness with peculiar-loving punters on Oxford Road - thus Odder was born. Now it is time to welcome the Oddest bar of them all.
When Cleo Farman dreamt of opening a bar in Manchester that reflected her passion for travel and culture, she never envisaged just how popular it would be. But Oddâs weird and wonderful charm has captured the hearts of so many that its success has now led to a new venture in Chorlton.
âWhen I first started out, my ambition was always to have an Odd, Odder and Oddest but I always wondered if I would ever really manage it,â? said Cleo.
âOdd and Odder have gone from strength to strength and are doing really well, so it seemed like a good time to open Oddest and Chorlton seemed like the logical place to take it. Itâs quite a creative place and I think it fits in with what we do.â?
Oddest will take up residency on Wilbraham Road (in what was formerly Polar Bar) and certainly promises to live up to its name. âI have been trawling antique fairs to find crazy things to put in the new bar and it will definitely be the oddest of them all,â? said Cleo. âMy inspiration still comes from my travels and I love to mix things up by bringing in things from all different countries. We have completely changed the interior from what it was and itâs going to be a really comfortable place.â?
Oddest will also boast an outdoor seating area for up to 50 people, making it an ideal suburban drinking destination for summer. Cask ales will sit alongside a huge selection of world beers on the drinks board and a new seasonal menu of home-made food (including childrenâs dishes) will also be on offer. Tunes will be at the touch of a button with the juke box and live music and DJs will bring the bar alive at night.
Cleoâs sheer excitement and passion for what she does is inspiring and is sure to shine through in Oddest. âI am really looking forward to opening in Chorlton and Iâm so excited to see what people think,â? she enthused. âItâs about always thinking and trying to keep things new and fresh while still providing good quality so that is what we try to do!â?
Oddest is due to open the week commencing Monday, July 6.
Oddest, 414-416 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 OSD
W: www.oddbar.co.uk