‘I can’t believe people are this bothered about a colour’
Kennedy’s Irish Bar, in Altrincham, is opening a new site in Didsbury this summer(Image: Kennedy’s)
The owners of a new Manchester Irish bar have allegedly been told they can paint their building ‘any colour they want’ after local residents shared their thoughts on the upcoming plans.
Kennedy’s, who already has a popular venue in Altrincham, will be opening in Didsbury this summer by taking over the former CAU and Zizzi spot on the corner of Barlow Moor Road and Wilmslow Road. Many will also know the Didsbury venue for its past history as the Clock Tower pub.
Known for its traditional Irish fare, the owners of the bar said opening in Didsbury ‘just made sense’, with some residents sharing their excitement at the upcoming arrival.
Planning documents for the venue have suggested the site will ‘have a traditional theme’ akin to its Altrincham venue, which will be reflected in the ‘internal and external decoration and design’. Many will also know the Didsbury venue as the former Clock Tower pub.
The proposals also include plans to repaint the ground floor bricks of the building to red, something which has divided some residents in the area.
An artist’s impression of Kennedy’s Didsbury(Image: Kennedy’s)
One person asked the venue: “Please paint it an Irish green colour.. the red isn’t good.” Another described it as a ‘red eye sore’, whilst one other simply commented: “Terrible colour.”
Another person also said: “What on earth was the reason to paint a beautiful building in a conservation area that really awful bright red!? And how was permissible granted!? It looks hideous.”
However, others stated that it . One person commented: “I’d rather it be red than empty for another 10 years.” One other wrote: “Makes the village look more colourful.” Another said: “I can’t believe people are this bothered about a colour”.
Other residents shared the significance of the colours, with one person pointing out that ‘red and black are the livery colours of the coat of arms of the Kennedy clan’, which came into existence many years ago.
The Didsbury Civic Society, which represents the interests of residents in Didsbury East, Didsbury West and Burnage, has said that one local councillor told the group that the venue does not require planning permission and therefore can be painted how bosses want.
Member Mary Christie cited the councillor as sending in a response to the group to say that ‘planning Department are adamant that it does not require PP [planning permission], and they can paint it any colour they want’.
Kennedy’s Altrincham has become a popular Irish bar in Greater Manchester since first opening in 2021(Image: Kennedy’s)
The group told the Manchester Evening News that it has ‘received a number of concerns regarding the choice of colour for the building exterior paintwork’, which is sited within a Didsbury Heritage area. The Didsbury Civic Society added that they are addressing the matter with the council’s Planning and Licencing team.
A spokesperson for Manchester City Council told the M.E.N: “The Council does not have planning control over the paint colour of a building, should an owner decide to change it, even when a building is within a conservation area.
“The Council is in discussions with the developer about a planning application submitted for other works on the premises and have asked whether further consideration can be given to the colour of the painting of the building.”
Kennedy’s in Altrincham first opened in 2021 and has since gone on to be a popular fixture of the area. Last September, the neighbouring space next to the bar became home to The Irish Deli, which is run by the same team behind Kennedy’s and sells a variety of Irish produce, including fresh cheese and Tayto crisps.
Speaking about the decision to expand into Didsbury, owners said: “From day one, the support from the local community was incredible — and it’s that energy that’s helped shape who we are today. It didn’t take long before we realised we had even more to offer.”
Kennedy’s has been approached for comment by the M.E.N.