26/06/2025
So sad to see such an iconic building be destroyed.
Hotspur House was the a place I built my dreams of owning my own laser business. A small studio serving students, artists and crafts people of Manchester. It is where I met amazing people who are still friends.
The building roof was like a colander and we never knew if we would have electric after a heavy downpour. It could be damp, musty and full of mice in places but we didn’t care. It was cheap and we could do almost anything we wanted.
Creativity wrapped around the building with lots of people just trying things out and have fun in their own practice. I feel that it is everything that is missing in the New Manchester.
What I thought about when seeing the images of it burning down was John. John was Hotspurs caretaker who had worked there since being 16 and was in his 70’s when they shut it down in 2015. We had a chat everyday about anything and everything. The stories of a Manchester gone. He’d come in with his flask and would be sorting bits out with a nail here and a plank of wood there that would be holding the building together. His whole life was part of that building and I was lucky to of met him.
I’m lucky to be able to walk on a piece of Hotspur everyday as I lifted the dirty floor boards of my studio and took them home (with the help of John) Grime removed they are the most beautiful Maple planks, that are in my living room.
Thanks for all the good times Hotspur!
