Manchester’s first alcohol-free bar, Love From, is closing after less than a year due to financial challenges and competition.
The bar, aimed at transforming the UK’s drinking culture, opened in January with high hopes.
Love From, Manchester’s pioneering alcohol-free bar, is set to close its doors less than a year after opening. The bar, launched in January on Aytoun Street, aimed to challenge the UK’s drinking culture by offering an alcohol-free nightlife experience.
Despite initial success, founder Karl Considine, 39, announced its closure in July due to financial difficulties and intense competition in the city centre.
A Bold Start
Inspired by the growing trend of sobriety, particularly among Gen Z, Love From sought to prove one could enjoy a night out without alcohol. The bar offered alcohol-free cocktails for £7.50 and 0% beer for £6.
Initially, the bar thrived, capitalising on the estimated 8.5 million Britons who abstained from alcohol during ‘Dry January.’ However, footfall dwindled as the year progressed.
Challenges Faced
Considine noted that many extended their ‘Dry January’ into the following months, with customers noticing the benefits of a month without alcohol.
However, warmer weather saw people prefer outdoor drinking, and events like the Euros packed nearby bars while Love From remained empty.
Sober-Curious Demographic
The bar aimed to attract the ‘sober-curious’ demographic, with research indicating that 18 to 24-year-olds are nearly twice as likely to be non-drinkers compared to older groups.
Despite this growing interest in reducing alcohol consumption, the trend did not translate into sustained patronage for the bar.
According to a Drinkaware study, many believe ‘everyone’s alcohol-free now,’ yet there’s a disconnect between that perception and customer behaviour.
Considine explained that people aren’t necessarily choosing alcohol-free bars, highlighting a world of moderation and choice.
Online Backlash
Considine, sober for over three years, faced online negativity for his venture.
Comments such as ‘you couldn’t pay me to go there’ and ‘he’ll be opening a vegan butcher’s next’ reflect the resistance to alcohol-free establishments.
He emphasised that a mindset change is needed for such ventures to succeed.
Despite the closure, he remains committed to promoting alcohol-free lifestyles through pop-up events at festivals and corporate functions.
The Future of Alcohol-Free Venues
Considine believes there is a growing trend towards alcohol-free lifestyles, though not necessarily full sobriety.
He plans to continue hosting pop-up events to promote this trend despite the bar’s closure.
Such events can help gauge public interest and provide insights into the viability of alcohol-free venues in the future.
Conclusion
Love From’s closure highlights the challenges faced by niche bars in a competitive market.
Despite its end, the venture has sparked conversations about sobriety and the potential for alcohol-free nightlife.
The brief journey of Love From underscores the difficulties in establishing an alcohol-free nightlife.
However, its efforts have contributed to the growing dialogue on sobriety and alcohol-free entertainment.