The space that housed The White Hotel is set to reopen after the beloved Salford venue and nightclub revealed it would be closing in January 2027.
Announced via a post from the Instagram account @bastionmcr, the space is changing hands to Franceska Melia and Will Maull, the team behind The Bag Factory, a small-capacity venue and studio situated on the same site as The White Hotel. The new venue will be called BASTION.
The cryptic launch post for BASTION showed an image of the venue’s exterior and its coordinates. The post calls the new venue “a fortress of the underground”, looking to fill the gap left by the White Hotel’s off-kilter programming, late night opening times, and focus on grassroots music.
On their website the Bag Factory describe themselves as “a living, breathing platform for underground music, community storytelling and [its] culture”, “for ravers, by ravers.”
Commentators online are skeptical. Under music magazine MixMag’s Instagram post that covered the story, users speculate that the original post’s illustration was created using generative AI. It was an “awful and tasteless launch”, one comment read.
A Reddit thread also critiques what they believe to be an “AI slop poster”, the use of generative tools seen here to undermine attempts at presenting the new space as authentic and “underground”. “I think it’s okay to let an amazing thing come to an end”, a user said.
One user points out the irony of supposedly using AI whilst simultaneously announcing support by “the Strange Art Collective CIC”, a small-scale company incorporated just over one month ago.
Another user suggests that the use of AI provokes unfortunate, though inaccurate, assumptions that the venue is associated with a “private equity firm” or “a franchise who will start hosting generic ‘alternative’ nights.”
Others are worried that The Bag Factory’s focus on drum ‘n’ bass and techno won’t live up to the White Hotel’s diverse programming, which encompasses dance, electronic, punk, contemporary classical, art shows, and lots more. A comment mourned what was a “destination with cultural capital and allure on [their] doorstop [sic]”.
Despite criticisms surrounding the launch, new co-owner Will Maull hopes its authenticity persists, “We’re really grateful that the space is going to remain a space that’s really art for art’s sake”, he told the Manchester Evening News.
The White Hotel’s closure on account of flood risks and redevelopment from Salford Council means that the new venue’s future is uncertain. BASTION’s opening date and programme is also yet to be confirmed.
What seems certain, though, is that The White Hotel will continue to be a source of grief for Manchester’s music scene.
BASTION/Bag Factory were contacted for comment but did not reply.
