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24 Lever Street (Northern Quarter off Piccadilly Gardens)
Open Wednesday to Saturday, between noon and 6pm for delicious food, enlightening books, free computer use and art.
tel: 0161 2371832
email: mustsocial@yahoo.co.uk
by Sophie Parkes
How could a place in the centre of Manchester possibly be tranquil and a hive of activity? The Basement of Lever St, which runs parallel to Oldham St and is perhaps better known for its bus route, is just that.
The independent radical bookshop sells books, magazines and newspapers concerned with social change, from annuals by the infamous SCHNews to handmade zines by local people. The bookshop also stocks anti-sweatshop clothing in the form of t-shirts and the wonderful No Sweat trainers which, for a mere £25, come in black, red and pink and look very similar to student favourites, Converse.
The Basement also boasts an organic vegan café. “We use locally sourced organic food in the café, and try not to buy food from supermarkets,” Julia, one of the many founding members of The Basement, told me. An organic vegan café sounds expensive, but the prices are unbelievably low as The Basement is an entirely not-for-profit establishment, and is driven by its voluntary workforce. It is, in fact, possibly the cheapest place to eat in central Manchester, given that the menu mainly consists of healthy options, such as hummous in pitta and tapas, of generous portions. “When I add customer’s orders up and they have loads of food, I always have to have a rethink when it comes to only £3, or something. You know, toasties, a salad, then a cake on top…” Jeff, another volunteer, laughs.
As well as serving an array of teas and coffees plus smoothies and juices, The Basement supply cans and cartons, such as organic cola and soya milkshakes, which offer an ethical alternative to the big brand names of the confectionery and snack world. Visitors to The Basement, however, are not obliged to buy anything. “Things are free here,” Jeff is keen to point out. There is a free library with book and video hire, plus a number of computers for use, each with internet access, which also don’t cost a penny. “Yeah, people can just hang out,” Julia adds.
And it is a great place to chill out in the centre of town. The Basement, in its neutral colours, always seems cool and peaceful, despite its industrial surroundings and the regular roar of buses overhead, as well as the loud and amicable chatter of the large amount of visitors the centre attracts each day. The salvaged furniture is creatively decorated and has the ability to keep your attention for a long time, as you spend more time reading the table rather than eating your lunch. It is worth having a look at the photographs on top of the battered piano which show the founders’ dedicated and lengthy battle to turn a ‘disused mess’ into the friendly place it is now. Opened officially on 12th December 2004, it took months of preparation, planning and searching for a suitable venue before refurbishment could even begin.
And The Basement owns possibly the best loo in Manchester, where each visitor is actively encouraged to write their thoughts on its walls with the provided chalk. The exhibition space provides new and underground artists to expose their work, from displays of local graffiti to photography of Hackney housing estates. And The Basement hopes that art projects and events will become more frequent in the near future when evening gigs, concerts and performances can become a reality.
But that doesn’t mean nothing is going on at present. Campaign groups of any kind, providing they are not affiliated to a political party or of a discriminatory nature, can use The Basement and its facilities for free. Currently, well-known charities, such as Oxfam, and radical information organisations, like Manchester Indymedia, use the space on a regular basis for meetings and training. Manchester’s Anarchist Bookfair also took place on Saturday 30th April. Volunteers are central to The Basement, so more are certainly welcomed. Volunteers spare a few hours to work in the café or help out in the library and bookshop, and get involved in any of the groups who will, in the near future, be planing and organising the events and exhibitions in the space.
So next time you are choked up by the fumes, sick of the same overpriced coffees and all the rest of the corporate bullshit, check out the ‘haven away from capitalism and discrimination’ that is The Basement.
Note: http://shortcutz.nologic.org/thebasement/
Sophie Parkes
issue 22/ 16 May 2005
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