This week Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe celebrated its 25th birthday in the city
Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe in the Printworks
As well as marking the dawn of a new century, the year 2000 saw the birth of several new institutions in and around Manchester. The Corn Exchange reopened as The Triangle shopping centre – part of the city’s big rebuild following the devastation caused by the IRA bomb four years earlier.
As the city centre came alive again after so much of it was destroyed, part of the restructure saw the long-abandoned Printworks complex on the corner of Withy Grove and Corporation Street restored. And what bigger statement for a new era in the city than attracting the first Hard Rock Cafe in England outside of London as its first tenant?
The original Hard Rock Cafe opened in London in 1971. It was launched by two US expats who wanted to create a place that served up the ultimate American burger.
This small venture soon became a regular haunt for musicians, including Eric Clapton. One day, Clapton asked to hang his guitar over his favourite bar stool to “mark his spot.”
In Britain’s golden age of blues and rock music word travelled fast, and just a week later, rival guitarist of The Who, Pete Townshend, sent over a guitar of his own with a note saying, “Mine’s as good as his! Love, Pete.” The Hard Rock’s tradition of mixing music memorabilia and mojitos was born.
The original Hard Rock Cafe in London in March 1989
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In 1978, the second Hard Rock Cafe opened in Toronto, followed with locations in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, and Berlin as the brand expanded worldwide.
In 1990, the London-based Rank Group bought the Hard Rock Cafe and continued the chain’s expansion across the UK. The chain’s second restaurant opened in Edinburgh in 1998.
‘Even though we’re a global brand, Manchester is its own entity’
It was Manchester’s long and impressive music history made it an obvious choice for the iconic brand, and a Hard Rock Cafe opened in Manchester on September 12, 2000.
On the restaurant’s opening night, long queues of music fans anxiously waited outside. People turned up not only to be among the first to experience the global brand whose iconic neon logo adorned restaurants in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York, but also to see Duran Duran kick off the party.
Cocktails at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester shortly after it opened in 2000
Two staff members who were there on the opening night 25 years ago were Gillian ‘Gilly’ Carroll and Adam Smith. Gillian, 48, started as a server and is now the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester’s operations manager. Adam, 50, started the opening night as a chef but is now in charge of purchasing and receiving at the venue.
As of 2025, there are around 170 Hard Rock Cafes worldwide. Yet despite being an internationally recognised brand, Adam believes the spirit of Manchester is alive and well in the city centre venue.
Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe in 2001
“Even though we’re a global brand, Manchester is its own entity,” he said.
Of course, the restaurant’s memorabilia reflects the city’s musical heritage. An entire wall is dedicated to Oasis, including the band’s instruments, clothing, and handwritten song lyrics. But the Hard Rock caters to more than just the city’s big acts.
Adam said: “I think being in Manchester, and the music scene in Manchester being what it is, you definitely see that coming into the restaurant. Probably more on evenings where there’s events going on or the Oasis reunion gigs, etc.”
Hard Rock Cafe Manchester sign at The Printworks
The venue also has live music every Friday, something Gilly says they have done for a long time. It has also hosted a battle of the bands for the last two years.
Of course, established music stars have also graced the Hard Rock’s stage over the years, including The Fun Loving Criminals, Mel C, Wet Wet Wet, Blue, Bonnie Tyler, Bananarama, The Divine Comedy, The Feeling and rock band Feeder. Something for all tastes.
Working at the venue has also meant Gilly has met her fair share of stars. “In the early days we had a lot of football players and I looked after David Beckham with his wife Victoria, and the Neville’s and their partners,” said Gilly.
The Fun Lovin’ Criminals playing Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe
“In music terms, Lemmy from Motorhead came in while gigging in Manchester. Tre Cool, the drummer from Green Day, casually sat at the bar having lunch before a gig at the AO Arena, going unnoticed by his fans.
“And Taylor Swift hosted a meet and greet with fans very early in her career.”
The Hard Rock Cafe may be able to attract the stars and the big names, but lasting 25 years in the tough hospitality industry is no joke. And it’s something that Gilly and Adam see being so for the foreseeable future, as the cost of living and changing social habits impact even global businesses like theirs.
Taylor Swift at Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe doing a meet-and-greet with fans during the early part of her career(Image: Hard Rock Cafe Manchester)
One big change Gilly has seen in those 25 years is how much the culture of late dining and drinking has changed.
Gilly said: “You don’t tend to get a lot of late diners like you used to. Originally we worked until midnight in the restaurant and you’d have people coming in all evening. Now there’s a culture of eating earlier and nothing really happens after 10 o’clock.”
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Another thing Gilly has noticed about Manchester in the last ten years is how much more of a tourist destination it has become.
“We’re lucky that we do have our locals and our regulars, but we’re also lucky that we attract the tourists as well, so it’s a beautiful mix,” she adds.
Being responsible for the purse strings at the restaurant, Adam is fully aware of how the challenging economic climate has changed the industry and how they do business.
Adam said: “Speaking from my experience and my role at Hard Rock, it’s looking at things like food costs. Brexit as well. I know people go on about Brexit, but that’s been a big change in how Hard Rock operates from a procedural and cost way.
Noel Gallagher at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester
“It used to be a lot simpler to get things back and forth. We’re an international brand. Many of our products aren’t all from the UK; they’re from Europe and the US. Brexit has played a big part and made things more difficult and more expensive.
“It’s a lot harder now to keep the place going how we want it to go, and to be able to present ourselves how we want to present ourselves, without having to penalise our guests too much by price increases, things like that.”
Gilly adds: “I always say to the staff, they [customers] picked us. People are very careful about where they spend their money these days. And if they’re celebrating something special and pick us, we need to give them that experience and deliver for them.
“We need to make sure every single time somebody spends their money in here that they are getting the great food, great service, great music, and they’re getting the great experience.”
Long serving Manchester Hard Rock Cafe staff Gillian Carroll and Adam Smith
So what makes for a great experience at Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe? Seeing customers come in and out of the restaurant daily, Gilly feels the restaurant’s unique vibe and its staff are key to making the Hard Rock stand out.
“The staff we have here are genuinely interested in the customers and getting to know them and giving them a great experience,” said Gilly.
“And the building itself, with all its music memorabilia. To be able to have your dinner next to David Bowie’s suit is quite a unique experience.
“And a little thing not a lot of people know, or maybe will get surprised at, is how much we actually make in house from scratch. We smoke the ribs, we make the brownies, we make our own blue cheese sauce.”
Hard Rock Cafe, Manchester(Image: Manchester Family/MEN)
Gilly adds: “I’m very proud of the cafe and the staff, and that we’re part of so many people’s stories. We’ve created experiences and memories for guests and for each other.”
On Thursday, September 11, Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe celebrated its 25th birthday with a red-carpet VIP anniversary party for long-time supporters, local creators, the media, and special guests. The party included an evening of live music, classic cocktails, and a look back at the venue’s first quarter century.
Aneta Jarzmik, General Manager at Hard Rock Cafe Manchester, said: “Opening in 2000 was just the beginning. Whether it be a charity fundraising event or a celebration of music and great food, Hard Rock Cafe Manchester has been here through it all, always serving up burgers, beats, and a place for Manchester to ‘rock out’.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate 25 years with the city that made us feel at home, so here’s to many more years of proud moments and memorable celebrations in one the UK’s most vibrant cities.”