People’s help wanted to secure future of Denton venue

OWNERS of a Denton bar hope a crowdfunding scheme can secure the future of one of the town’s central sites.

Amy and Jack Howard have endured several issues since opening their venue on Manchester Road – not least Covid-19, Brexit, a cost of living crisis and a house fire.

Now they hope to become one of the area’s first crowdfunded businesses as they look to save what was known as The Post Room, on Albert Street.

And if their appeal to raise £10,000 is successful, they will turn the venue now called Market Square Social into a place Denton can call its own.

They said: “The reason we are crowdfunding is because we opened 15 weeks before Covid-19 and battled through that, to then fight with Brexit and rising inflation costs.

“Last January, we had a house fire and lost everything, left homeless and had to use the small bit of money we managed to make after all of this to get back home.

“So with this in mind, we need the public’s help.

“And it would make history as one of Tameside’s first crowdfunded businesses, that we know of, and help save a beautiful building and bring the community together.

“We have spent the last three years giving our donations, raising money with local causes, supporting so many small businesses grow while trying to grow ours.

“It would be great to show people you don’t have to a social media icon or based in Manchester centre to get the support from locals.

“People have supported us through the pandemic, turning the bar in to a deli. We fought throughout and have been lucky enough to somehow come out of the other end.

“This is all because we have the continued support of our amazing customers.

“We have always wanted a second site and people are always asking where or when. We did have some plans but then we got hit with the house fire.

“We really do hope people support our dream of expanding and finally getting the break we have worked so hard for.

“While being a deli, we helped seven small businesses now open their own shop or restaurant due to the support of you guys and the help of us.

“We regularly get asked to support local causes and donate. Now it’s our turn to ask for help.”

If the crowdfunding is successful, Amy and Jack hope to still operate Howard’s Neighbourhood Bar as a drinks only establishment, while food would be done at the Market Square Social site.

And they have other plans in mind.

They added: “This site has a more practical and larger kitchen for us to be really adventurous with the menu.

“And our future aim is to host monthly food and drink festivals on the square, like are happening in neighbouring towns.

“They would support more small businesses when they do events on the market, create more jobs and keep building our little community we love at Howard’s.

“We have this all in place but will be easier to navigate when we have a premise on site.”

*IF YOU wish to donate to Amy and Jack’s crowdfunding scheme, you can do so by clicking: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/market-square-social-1?fbclid=PAAaYx4PCEDf2aJf-noB9AC6mf5mmQI0S7FT9z-UCoHrwaTY5hPd5MV2zCy-4_aem_th_ARi7Haz4Cri-TrXIfXW1N9Ss-oMVTNY6l114PM-vx7twXwJ4i2kBTVsFI3a8rMToYtk