Details confirmed for funeral of much-loved Star and Garter licensee Andy Martin

Details have been announced for the funeral of one of the most popular figures in Manchester's music scene. Andy Martin, licensee of The Star and Garter, died aged 52 following a short illness last month.

Tributes poured in for the long-serving publican from the likes of New Order star Peter Hook and The Warehouse Project founder Sacha Lord. More than £11,600 has now been raised to support Andy's family with funeral costs on a JustGiving page.

Andy had been licensee at The Star and Garter since 2003. He leaves behind wife Helen Kitchen, who he married last year, and their two young daughters, Jasmine and Georgina.

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His funeral has now been confirmed for Thursday, May 2, at 2pm. It will take place at Blackley Crematorium, before a wake at The Star and Garter, with a request for donations to be made to a charity which help secured the venue's future following the pandemic.

Sharing the details on Facebook, Helen said: "We are asking for anyone planning on sending funeral flowers to instead donate to the Music Venues Trust. Without the help of this charity, the Star and Garter wouldn't have reopened after Covid."

Andy died on March 29, having suffered with a suspected ear infection which is believed to have developed into sepsis. He suffered a cardiac arrest in hospital and unrecoverable swelling on the brain.

In a moving tribute to her husband, Helen told the Manchester Evening News: "We were this family unit, with so much love in this house. Nobody could really hurt us. Honestly, it was just a dream."

She added: "This person was everything to our family, he did everything for our kids." The JustGiving page is still accepting donations, click here to find out more.