Flyer
Equinox, Athenaeum
1994

“Yes, that was 1994. I was a regular at the Athenaeum in 1993 and 1994. Friday and Saturday nights. No DJ, just CD's from a PA system. I saw Ryan Giggs a few times, and once Eric Cantona was there, wearing a raincoat and a baseball cap, back to front. It closed, like all bars and pubs at 11pm, and 10.30pm on Sundays. I was in the bar during that first Manumission night. It took place in a large room next door to the Athenaeum, which was closed off with the old dark wooden doors of the former bank, that it used to be, so access to Manumission was via the doors to the right of the main corner doors, on York Street. it was a popular night. Mike 'Polly the Poof' was the Athenaeum's bar manager, at the time, and Andy 'Manumission' McKay worked behind the bar for a while, too.

Thanks for posting this. I now know that Manumission was split across three venues, and not just based next to the Athenaeum. Mike later became the manager of Metz, across the canal and later, Grinch on Chapel Walks.”