Manchester Jewish Working Men’s Club and Public Hall, Cheetham

MANCHESTER JEWISH WORKING MEN'S CLUB AND PUBLIC HALL - This building, to be opened this evening has been erected in Knowsley Street and Exchange Street, Cheetham, in the centre of the Jewish working men's colony. It is designed to provide rational amusement and recreation, as well as instruction, for the members of the club. The building is divided into two portions - the club premises and the public hall. These can either be used together or separately, the object being when the members do not require the large hall to let it off for concerts, meetings, etc. and thus provide a source of income. The buildings have been put up in a plain but thoroughly substantial manner at a cost of £2,640. Messrs Goldsmith and Son architects, of 63 Faulkner Street, have designed and superintended the erection of the buildings, the builders being Messrs Burgess and Galt of Ardwick. The club is entered from Exchange Street by a 6 foot corridor opening into a spacious hall 23 feet by 21 feet (with entrances into the public hall). Leading out of this hall is the smoke-room, committee or classroom, reading room and bar; also back entrance leading to the lavatories etc. From the hall a 5 foot stone staircase leads to the first floor which contains a handsome billiard-room 73 feet by 26 feet and 25 feet high, furnished with four tables and fixed raised seats all round. There is also a chess-room, a classroom, and detached lavatories etc. The public hall is entered from Exchange street by a corridor 10 feet wide opening into an anteroom. From this opens the large hall, 80 feet by 40 feet by 25 feet high - a fine room with a barrel-shaped roof especially designed for perfect acoustic properties. At the far end of this hall is a stage, with store-room under, and, at the back of the stage, are ladies and gentlemen's retiring rooms. The basement is utilised for kitchen purposes and serving rooms connected with the large hall, as well as for the heating apparatus, wine cellar, etc. A caretaker's residence is provided and the vacant land will at some future date be utilised for a gymnasium. Special care has been taken to provide ample means of exit. [Manchester Guardian 4 February 1891 page 7