From sports favourite to unique meeting place: how Seven Oaks transforms overnight

We speak to the Manchester pub about its fascinating story

A traditional pub that’s stood in the heart of one of England’s industrial strongholds for two centuries is now one of the last of its kind. The Seven Oaks in the heart of Manchester is arguably the last remaining ‘old-fashioned boozer’ in the UK that serves customers around the clock.

Owner Patrick Smith took over the red brick, end of row venue almost 20 years ago with a vision of making it a meeting place for like-minded drinkers to gather 24/7.

A normal drop-in pub serving cask ales by day, it becomes a private members’ club after midnight with around 2,500 people currently paying a six-monthly fee to sign up.

“There used to be a few pubs like this around the country close to where people worked into the early hours. But when those places shut, the all-night pubs went with them.”

- Patrick Smith, Owner (right)

The night owls

The lure of attracting twilight hours customers to a modern-day speakeasy was a major selling point for Patrick.

As Manchester’s vibrant club, casino and bar scene grew in recent years with investment and development, so did demand for a safe, friendly place for hospitality workers to relax after a shift.

The Seven Oaks might be a “no frills, no airs and graces pub”, but its unique membership model attracts like-minded people happy to pay for access to an exclusive early hours bar.

Almost all are bartenders, health workers, retail staff, bouncers, aviation workers, people in the entertainment industry plus journalists and crew from Salford’s Media City.

Members only

A six-monthly membership – which works out on average between 20p and 50p per visit – can only be approved with an official payslip, ID sent online or via a QR code.

It means the team can vet applicants who can enjoy well-kept beer at prices that can’t be beaten almost anywhere in the city centre.

Once the day bar closes, guests gain access by knocking at a side door with a castle-style grille through which they show their credentials.

On an average weeknight the venue will host 60 or so people from midnight, many of whom settle in until dawn. It’s more at weekends.

Sport and culture are winners

The wet-led pub, a stone’s throw from the city’s St Peter’s Square hub, hosts regular evening events to make the transition from day into night more seamless.

Comedy nights, gigs, writers’ groups and whisky-tasting sessions in the upstairs bar slot in around an endless calendar of sport from around the world, downstairs.

The venue was even a location for acts in the Manchester Fringe earlier this year as well as staging pub theatre performances.

Leighton says: “Sport is a big draw. We’re signed up to the Fanzo sports bar finder which lets people know what we’re showing – it definitely pays its way.

“We get a lot of Man United fans in here and some City, but we’re also recognised as an official northwest Spurs pub and get a regular flow of supporters in for their games.”

Fans of cult German side St Pauli have made The Seven Oaks their home from home, women book in for Lionesses games and a group of 30 ladies take the upstairs bar whenever the F1 is on.”

The pub shows everything from cricket and rugby to American Football and baseball – and even the intriguingly named Marble League.

Experiment with stock

Having a day and night pub running consecutively is a bit like having two pubs in one. But it works, insists Patrick.

The venue regularly updates prices to compete with a well-known chain while customers can order takeaways from delivery services or bring their
own, with Seabrook and Salty Dog crisps available on the bar.

“We tried food but we couldn’t make it work, so we turned the kitchen into another bar to stage events,” says Patrick.

That’s where the membership reaps rewards. A pint of Becks at £4.35 is cheap enough but members can get it for £3.75. Their best-selling stout, £9 elsewhere in the city, is £5.90 here.

Happy Hour prices – there are three across the 24 hours – also bring in guests seeking a house cask ale for £3 and double-spirit shots with mixers for £5.

“In the early hours we do a lot of blue raspberry vodka and have offers on shots and bombs which are incredibly popular,” says Night Supervisor Daniel Spearing.

“We constantly add extra lines to see what sells because the market changes all the time and we’re not afraid to stay ahead of the trends.”

Staffing

Night and day teams operate independently, but with a smooth handover that ensures they get their work-life balance right.

Five regular bar staff make up the day team before the four-strong night crew take over in a model that Daniel says means there are no complications.

“We always know what we’re working but the atmosphere is so good here sometimes we come in to catch the end of the day shift,” says Daniel.

“Staffing is never really an issue because it’s a great place to be and we’ve all been here a long time. It’s like Cheers – everyone knows everyone and there’s usually something going on.”

Best Sellers

Beers:
Madri in the day bar, stout and Tiny Rebel overnight

Spirits:
Vodka, rum and whisky

“If you came in at 3am and sat by the bar, someone would talk to you because you all have that shared experience. People come in for a drink after their shift and end up staying for hours because as you try to leave, someone turns up that you know.”

- Gumisai Mukusha, a bartender studying for a psychology and counselling degree