New Century announces grassroots music venue Locker opening this autumn

Promising to be a new live music grassroots venue for the city, the 450-capacity venue will open this autumn on the venue’s ground floor.

Date published: 28th May 2026

Manchester venue New Century has announced a new venue set to occupy the space’s ground floor. Locker will open its doors this autumn, and promises to be a new grassroots live music venue for the city. 

The 450-capacity space will reimagine the site’s ground floor space, with New Century Kitchen’s bar remaining, separated from the Locker via a sound-proofed partition. Separate from the upstairs venue, Locker pledges to provide support for emerging artists and opportunities for customers to enjoy live shows.

New Century’s managing director, Abby Mudge, said that Locker “aims to reimagine our ground floor in a way that enables us to support grassroots talent further” while offering opportunities to students at dBs Institute of Music, located in the venue’s basement. Jay Taylor of Music Venue’s Trust called the news an “encouraging addition to Manchester’s live music ecosystem, strengthening our vital infrastructure and grassroots scene.”

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