Roger Hannah brings Bernard Manning’s Embassy Club to market

Bernard Manning Jnr has appointed Roger Hannah & Co to market his late father's commercial building for sale or to let.

Offers are invited for the 5,000 sq ft Embassy Club in Rochdale Road, Harpurhey, Manchester. Bernard Manning opened the venue in 1958 and established it as a popular attraction for regular cabaret nights. Artists including Cilla Black and Tom Jones performed there.

After Manning's retirement in 1999, the family re-focused the operation with a pub at the front of the building and the former club, at the rear, being used for private functions.

Bernard Manning Jnr said: "The original idea was to let someone else take over the function room, but I'm now open to all types of options. It could be a restaurant or a family pub…We've been in the Embassy Club for 56 years but my children don't have any interest in the place…maybe someone else could take advantage of 56 years of goodwill. It is an iconic building and is very interesting with lots of history."

Manning Jnr said that his father, who died in 2007, held a pragmatic view toward the long-term future of the Embassy Club stating "business is business, don't worry about it…if it works for you and the family then make the decision."

Stuart Cooper, director of Roger Hannah & Co, advised: "Our client would prefer to lease the function room at the rear but will strongly consider all options to sell either part or whole of the building. An opportunity to be involved in deciding the long term future of such an iconic venue is rare and one we are looking forward to. Finances are not the main consideration, the end user must also be a good fit with the community."

The property, with its accessible location, is being considered suitable for retail and leisure uses.