Web of intrigue around reopening of popular bar
Social media post ‘tease’ gets positive response
APOPULAR Stockport bar has teased an update about its future following news of its closure last year.
The Glass Spider, in the town centre, was shuttered last year, alongside sister bar Doctor Feelgood, with its owner citing the need to “downsize” in order to weather “challenging times”.
On Instagram, the grid for The Glass Spider, a Victorian-style craft beer bar on Vernon Street, has been updated with a new post.
Simply showing the date 2024 and accompanied by a caption reiterating the date, it’s followed by a shushing face emoji – though Google stills shows it as ‘permanently closed’.
In April last year, Stockport residents were shocked by the news that both The Glass Spider and live music bar Doctor Feelgood near the town’s marketplace would cease trading.
The bars, both run at the time by owner Joseph Patten, closed immediately, with ‘rising costs’ and a ‘lack of people going out spending’ cited as reasons for the sudden closures.
While Dr Feelgood’s former bar manager took over the glam rock venue and rebranded it as Amp, a concept also focused on championing local bands, the Glass Spider remained closed.
But two days ago an update on its future was shared from its social media channels.
On Instagram, the post enjoyed a number of likes and was met with a few comments.
One user wrote: “This would be great”.
Another comment, which was liked by the bar, simply said: “Yes please” and was followed by a smiling face and hands up emojis.
A third shared prayer hands.
On Facebook, the post was met by several likes, while one follower commented with a gif which showed a man shouting “tease”.
The Victorian craft beer and luxury spirits bar first opened in August 2020 and took over from Vinabod Tapas Bar – Stockport’s short-lived Viking-themed restaurant.
It also hosted a kitchen residency with hit tapas concept Abeja Tapas until its closure.
It was the second bar venture from Patten following the launch of The Cracked Actor on Lower Hillgate in 2019.
Following this, he opened Glitch, a games bar on Prince’s Street, with Amy Fletcher in December 2022.
Writing at the time of the Glass Spider’s closure in April, he posted on the bar’s Instagram page: “So long Stockport! Here’s to round two of today’s farewells.
“Glass spider started out as the sequel to The Cracked Actor. When I had a spring in my step and all the energy in the world.
“Sadly I don’t have that any more! So the right thing to do is to pass this lovely unit on to someone who can. If the climate was a little different I’d try again.
“But it’s time to downsize to @the_cracked_ actor where it all began. And @glitchsk! and make sure we can get through these challenging times.”
Ahead of New Year’s Eve, the team at the games bar Glitch gave another clue about the future of The Glass Spider, whilst celebrating one year in business and reflecting on the closure of its sister bars.
They wrote: “We would like to say Massive thank you to everyone who has helped us make it through a very testing first year!
“The epic bands that we’ve had play our stage this year! Wheatus – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Goldie Looking Chain – Thomas Nicholas band – Jon Mahon – soon to be Dougie Poynter! To name a few – we couldn’t have asked for a better line up! (Oh and @capriuk ofc).
“It’s stared out a a very sombre year parting ways with our brain child Doctor Feelgood, but we have well and truly levelled up with Glitch, bigger venue, bigger bands, and 100% family run!
“Next year we have some big bands and big events for you Stockport – sitting still is one thing we don’t do well! Oh and one resurrected bar? @the_ glass_spider_.”
The owner for The Glass Spider have been approached for comment.