Stockport bar that suddenly closed to reopen as Irish bar with pints of Guinness and live entertainment

Just over a year after shutting its doors, a Stockport bar is preparing to reopen under a new guise. The spot, formerly known as The Glass Spider, will relaunch as an Irish bar this Thursday evening (May 2).

The former Victorian-style craft beer bar on Vernon Street, just down from Stockport’s historic market hall, will reopen its doors as The Banshee Irish bar, and is promising a ‘huge’ roster of live music from open until close every night.

The Glass Spider and its sister bar, Doctor Feelgood shuttered last April, with owners citing the need to ‘downsize’ in order to weather ‘challenging times’. Stockport residents expressed their shock at the decision, as the bars, both of which were run by business owner Joseph Patten, closed immediately citing ‘rising costs’ and a ‘lack of people going out spending’.

READ MORE: Viral TikTok sensation Miami Crispy bosses ordered to CLOSE new shop

While Dr Feelgood's former bar manager took over the glam rock venue, and rebranded it as Amp, a bar concept championing local bands, the Glass Spider remained closed, but back in January a post from the bar’s social media channels teased a return.

Stockport’s new Irish bar located in the heart of the town’s historic marketplace is the brainchild of Joseph’s partner Amy Fletcher and her family, who will oversee the running of the space and its event programme. They’ve said that the new bar will focus on creating a ‘friendly’ and ‘cosy’ Irish pub vibe with some well-known tipples on tap.

As well as Guinness, they’ll also have Murphy’s Irish Stout and a range of Galway Hooker beers for punters too, alongside Birra Moretti, Estrella and a range of house lagers and ciders. Guinness will be served at £4.50 a pint, Murphy's at £4.80, and the dearest will be below £5.50, as owners aim to keep prices affordable for locals and visitors.

Speaking about the new bar, Amy said: “I wanted to create an Irish bar after travelling to so many of them around the county and always finding them to be the friendliest of places and the top tier of pubs when done properly. It was important for us to create an Irish bar, not an Irish-themed bar.

“The previous bar in this unit already lent itself to being an Irish bar in so many ways so myself and my family and friends, who I drafted in to help have reutilised all of the original features of the Glass Spider and moved them around. We’ve still kept the stained glass windows and the lighting from Agapanthus, but we’ve also gone on the hunt for original pub memorabilia.

“Myself and my family are happy to be swinging back open the doors to 6 Vernon street after a year of hibernation. Everyone has embraced The Banshee with open arms so far.”

Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 12pm until late every day, the new bar will also feature live music on evenings and weekends. The kitchen in the space will also be opened in the coming weeks, offering up pub grub and Irish breakfasts, and live sport will also be shown in the near future.

The Banshee opened for a soft launch during last weekend’s Foodie Friday event on the marketplace, and it will open its doors fully this Thursday with a huge opening weekend.

The former Victorian craft beer and luxury sports bar first opened at The Glass Spider in August 2020, taking over from Vinabod Tapas Bar - Stockport’s short-lived Viking-themed restaurant. Up until Glass Spider’s closure last April it also hosted hit tapas concept Abeja Tapas.