CityLife

Hula Bar

Hula

THE Northern Quarter’s independent bar scene continues to push its boundaries both physically and conceptually.

The latest growth spurt draws the attention south down Thomas Street to Stevenson Square, where Noho opened earlier this year and newest addition Hula has taken root.

Hula is a theme bar of the highest pedigree, inspired by the cultures of the Pacific. A kitsch UV sign against a backdrop of bamboo adorns the small street-level entrance down to the 200-capacity basement bar.

Designed by the revered Bernard Carroll – of Panacea, Walrus and Sugar Lounge fame – Hula is immediately other-worldly; bamboo and palm tree features, wooden Tiki carvings, island-inspired murals, pufferfish lights and a tropical fish tank set the Tiki-beach scene.

Culturally eclectic

The bar is the brainchild of Mark Andrew, the tradesman-come-bar entrepreneur who owns West Disbury’s M20 and Hula’s close neighbour Walrus on High Street.

Hula stakes a claim for a more mature and leftfield crowd, with a culturally eclectic mix of DJ sets from Wednesday to Saturday, sourcing the best and rarest tunes from soul, rare groove, dance, hip hop, alternative pop and soul, spanning the last five decades.

A quirky quiz night on a Tuesday promises to entertain, but the bar’s main attraction is its vast variety of rums. Hula boasts 120 of the world’s rarest rums, sourced from untapped corners of the Indian Ocean, India, the US and the Caribbean. This gives rise to some colourful cocktails and three-litre sharing casks.

Hula, 11 Stevenson Square, Manchester, M1 1DB (0161 228 7421).