Newsagents kiosk turned into the world’s smallest bar for one weekend only

It can sit just six people and one turntable

The world’s smallest listening bar is in Greater Manchester this weekend(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)

A tiny newsagents kiosk underneath the stairway of a shopping mall in Greater Manchester is to become the world’s smallest listening bar for just one weekend.

Taking over the News Rack at Stretford Mall today and tomorrow (Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1), the listening bar will come from local pop-up Rainy Heart as part of this weekend’s StretFest celebrations.

Founders Ruf Dug and Dan Hope, in collaboration with Stretford town centre and the mall owner’s Bruntwood, have created a space that sits just six people at a time, with room for just one turntable behind the bar – making for a unique and intimate setting. There will be music spanning genres and quirks, all from Ruf’s personal collection.

“The most important thing in spaces like this is the people,” Ruf, whose real name is Simon Hindle, explains to the Manchester Evening News. “The music is sometimes secondary to it all. It’s about having the right people, and then you consider the space and the atmosphere. But you have faith that the music is going to be amazing.”

Thankfully, Rainy Heart has been able to prove its credentials in that sphere. From opening a listening bar on Chester Road to hosting underground parties and raves in disused Boots stores, they have built up a reputation for their good events and even better atmospheres.

People can forget they’re inside Stretford Mall for one hour and be transported elsewhere via the world’s smallest listening bar(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)

Speaking of the start of Rainy Heart, Ruf says: “The concept all began in lockdown with the realisation that, as a DJ who travels a lot, it often felt like it wasn’t a very sustainable career, let alone for someone touching on 50 with a kid.

“It was about doing world-class things on our doorstep. With the bar, it was generally just something to do for a laugh for a few weeks, to be honest, but we ended up having it for six or seven months. There was just something special about it all that it resonated with people.

“The people of Stretford absolutely loved it – I got to meet more of my neighbours in those first two weeks than I have in the previous five years.”

And so, following takeovers, pop-ups and those aforementioned raves, we end up with the tiny listening bar under the stairways in the middle of Stretford Mall. “Listening bars are a concept that emerged in Japan about 70 years ago where, after the war when they were sort of rebuilding the nation, people really got into jazz music but nobody could afford to buy records,” he explains. “Enthusiasts would set up bars with record players where people could go and hang out.”

Rainy Heart founders Ruf Dug and Dan Hope(Image: Lau Christou)

And whilst Stretford is certainly a far stretch away from listening bars in Tokyo, the concept has been created to make you feel like you’re not in a former newsagents opposite Heron Foods.

The bar is covered in blackout curtains, the lights are dim and Japanese magazines are dotted around. “It’s about transporting people a million miles away from home,” Ruf explains. “It’s about giving people just a really cool hour in their day and a really pleasant experience. It’s almost like going to a spa or a cinema for music.

“We’re really going to lean in the personal service, this is more of a concept store. We’re going to do table service, we’ll give people bills at the end and we’ve got a Polaroid camera where we’re going to take everyone’s photo. We just want to give people that experience where they step back outside and are like ‘woah, where have I been for the last 60 minutes?’.”

Ruf Dug will be taking over the decks with his expansive music taste(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)

And its certainly proved to be a success so far. Only a very limited number of tickets remain. Alongside brews from local independents Pulp Coffee, there will also be a selection of drinks available from Cloudwater Brew Company, including a special alcohol-free negroni sour collaboration with Rainy Heart.

The bar is being held to coincide with the annual StretFest – which takes place on Saturday. The event includes a host of free events, including a special Stretford Socials event. Usually held each month, the festival-themed social, running from 12pm to 4pm, will include stalls from local makers and groups, alongside free family-friendly activities at Stretford Mall.

There will also be a series of family films being screened at Victoria Park, and a range of story-times, poetry workshops and craft sessions at Stretford Library. In addition, there’s also a tenth anniversary celebration of Stretford Public Hall’s transfer into community ownership, which will feature cake, live music and an evening party with live DJs from inclusive Manchester club night Nite School.

The bar is situated inside a former news kiosk under the stairs in Stretford Mall(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)

Other venues across Stretford will also be hosting a range of special events and activities throughout the day, including the likes of Bakehouse32, Head bar, Longford Tap, BrewChimp, Gigis, Colby’s, Reel Round the Fountain records and Clay.

Rainy Heart’s pop-up at Stretford Mall will be open between 4pm and 11pm today, reopening again from 3pm to 11pm on Saturday. Due to its tiny nature, people must book in advance and can only reserve a one-hour slot. In the past, Rainy Heart have hosted underground parties and pop-up alcohol-free bars playing live vinyl across Stretford.

Bookings cost £7 for the hour session and includes a drink. Tickets can be purchased online here.