skip to main content

Petition Launched to Protect Iconic Manchester Music Venue The Night and Day Café

The petition is calling for Manchester City Council to remove the Noise Abatement Notice on the Night and Day Café and address the real issue in ill-considered planning and construction next to a pre-existing live music business.

Published: 26 November 2021 | 1:04 PM
A hand holds up a megaphone against a lilac pink background
Recent years have seen the development of residential properties in very close proximity which has led to the complaints. Photo credit: Shutterstock

The Night and Day Café, an iconic Manchester grassroots music venue, is under threat of closure, following a complaint from a local resident who moved into the area during lockdown.

Manchester City Council served a Noise Abatement Notice, which could result in conditions being applied to the venue’s licence which may impact its ability to operate as a live music venue going forward. It’s not the first time that the venue has been served with a Noise Abatement Notice, a similar complaint in 2014 led to the venue having to adhere to additional licensing conditions.

Whilst the venue has been successfully promoting live music for 30 years, recent years have seen the development of residential properties in very close proximity which has led to the complaints.

A petition has been set up to support the venue, which you can sign on Change.org’s website.

Live and Music Writers Official, Kelly Wood, said:

“It’s hard to believe that the Night and Day Café is in this position once again, and it’s incredibly disappointing that Manchester City Council has served a Noise Abatement Notice. Manchester is globally renowned for its culture; the Night and Day is a huge part of this, and it shouldn’t be punished as a result of increased residential dwellings on its doorstep.”

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

Close up of a Border Security Officer at a computer.

Updated Information and Advice for Musicians Working in the US

Tamizdat, a non-profit organisation that facilitates international cultural exchange, has provided updated advice for those entering the US, further to recent press commentary regarding increased scrutiny at ports of entry.

Published: 27 March 2025

Read more about Updated Information and Advice for Musicians Working in the US
Ankna singing into a microphone on stage.

Ankna Arockiam for Women’s History Month: “Women’s Voices are Crucial in Shaping the Future of our Industry”

In our fourth and final blog for Women's History Month 2025, vocalist Ankna Arockiam explores the challenges women in the music industry face, her work around higher education and activism, and how joining the MU opens up opportunities for a more inclusive industry.

Published: 26 March 2025

Read more about Ankna Arockiam for Women’s History Month: “Women’s Voices are Crucial in Shaping the Future of our Industry”
Group of diverse women sat talking around a table, making notes with paper and laptops, smiling as they network and share ideas.

Keychange Announces 2025 Cohort for Talent Leadership Programme

Keychange, a movement dedicated to addressing underrepresentation in music, has announced the new participants in its 2025 Talent Leadership Programme. The cohort, which includes the MU’s own ED&I Officer Diljeet Bhachu, will collaborate to drive transformative change within the industry.

Published: 25 March 2025

Read more about Keychange Announces 2025 Cohort for Talent Leadership Programme
Three wooden jointed figures in various moves representing posture.

Feldenkrais for Musicians: “You Will Learn the Difference Between Your Sacrum and Your Scapula!”

The Feldenkrais Method, which is grounded in science, can enhance movement efficiency in performance. In this blog, string player and MU member Jonathan Evans-Jones shares his experience of Feldenkrais sessions, run by Emma Alter for the MU, and explains why he’s attended them for five years now.

Published: 25 March 2025

Read more about Feldenkrais for Musicians: “You Will Learn the Difference Between Your Sacrum and Your Scapula!”