Bars And Stars

He’s an actor and pub owner so who better to take over the Royal Exchange Theatre restaurant in Manchester? Rupert Hill is more than ready for the challenge, as Janet Reeder discovers

WHO better than an actor to transform a theatre restaurant and not any old thesp but one who has a track record of producing award winning bars in the city?

Take a bow Rupert Hill. The one time Corrie heartthrob has raised the curtain on his recent production The Rivals, a bar and venue at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre.

It’s a long-overdue make-over that aims to transform the vast space at one of the city’s most iconic theatres into something that little bit special and Rupert is having to pinch himself after he and business partner Goska Langrish have been handed the opportunity by the Royal Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frank come.

‘A 15 year tenancy had come to an end and they knew they wanted something different,’ says the 39-year-old whose portfolio includes the Castle Hotel and Gullivers in the Northern Quarter, the Eagle in Salford and Bakers Vaults Stockport, all run as limited companies with different partners.

‘It had been run by an external company but they wanted more of an internal partnership and because I own a few different pubs and am also an actor Sarah suggested me.’

‘Exciting’ is a word Rupert uses a lot in relation to the venture, not least because of the potential to create a culturally significant venue as well as one devoted to good food, good drinks and good times.

‘We are going to be doing so many events and artistic endeavours. That’s part of the appeal for us,’ says Rupert.