One of the Northern Quarter‘s most legendary pubs has closed down, with Mother Mac’s signs pulled down and builders have already moved in. The Back Piccadilly boozer has stood the test of time, since first opening as a public house back in the 1870s, having most notably seen a gruesome massacre in 1976, when then-landlord Arthur Bradbury killed his wife, her three children and even the pub’s cleaner.
The pub has always been oddly proud of of its macabre history, with a plaque detailing the brutal killings having been long mounted on the wall outside, and newspaper clippings about the murders have been framed inside the pub. It spent 55 years as Mother Mac’s, even with the pub changing hands a few times along the way.
Now it seems the pub has truly closed, its recognisable painted signs pulled down and currently propped up against a window inside. Based on a current licensing application submitted to Manchester city council, it’s set to reopen as The Rat & Pigeon – so appears it will still operate as a pub.
The names linked to the application have a long history with the local hospitality scene, including through the Crown & Kettle pub, so we’re expecting great things from the new occupant of the iconic boozer.
Photos shared on social media show that Mother Mac’s is undergoing a pretty serious makeover now it has officially closed, before reopening as The Rat & Pigeon. The historic site on this Northern Quarter back street has been largely gutted, with exact opening dates and plans for the new venue not yet announced.
With neighbours including Twenty Twenty Two, Calcio!, and The Green Lab, the successor to Mother Mac’s will be truly blessed with a much-loved and popular area, certain to pull in the punters as it always has.
📍 Mother Mac’s/The Rat & Pigeon is located at 33 Back Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1HP, where we’ll join you for a pint once the new place is opened.