Step inside Manchester’s legendary Boardwalk with Sue Langford — known to everyone as Sue Boardwalk. In this exclusive interview, Sue shares the inside story of one of the city’s most influential venues of the 1980s and ’90s — a space where Oasis, Happy Mondays, A Certain Ratio, James, and countless others got their start.
Sue talks about how she first began working behind the bar in 1986, when The Boardwalk was still taking shape. Within a year, she was running the place — booking bands, managing the rehearsal rooms, and helping turn it into a central hub for Manchester’s emerging scene. Her journey from bar staff to venue manager is one of passion, grit, and community spirit.
She recalls the early days when local bands were given a chance to perform without “pay to play” deals — nights that gave birth to the city’s next generation of talent. Northside, for example, played their first ever gig at The Boardwalk and sold it out. From C86 bands like The Pastels and The Brilliant Corners to rising acts like Deacon Blue, Roachford, and The Proclaimers, the venue became a launchpad for artists from all over the UK.
Sue also tells the incredible story of the time Courtney Love curled up under her desk at the venue to make a phone call to Kurt Cobain, just before the couple moved into their first home together. Moments like that, she says, were all part of the mayhem that made The Boardwalk such a magical place to work.
Beyond the gigs, Sue remembers the friendships and collaborations that grew in the rehearsal rooms — spaces where artists from different scenes mixed freely. You’d find Nico rehearsing downstairs, A Certain Ratio recording upstairs, and Happy Mondays or Inspiral Carpets dropping in to share ideas. The Boardwalk wasn’t just a venue; it was the heartbeat of Manchester’s creative community.
Sue reflects on the early buzz surrounding Oasis, who started rehearsing at The Boardwalk before their breakout moment at King Tut’s in Glasgow. She also shares stories of working alongside Dave Haslam, whose club nights helped shape the sound of the late ’80s and early ’90s.
The conversation also touches on Sue’s later work tour-managing bands like A Certain Ratio and The Railway Children, as well as her friendship with the late Denise Johnson — a true Manchester legend whose legacy continues to inspire.
This is a heartfelt look back at a time when Manchester’s music scene was built on passion, friendship, and word of mouth.
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