Bosses at a city centre pub have issued a plea for help following a ‘ruthless art heist’ in which a print was stolen from the wall.
Port Street Beer House, in the Northern Quarter, has been hosting an Art of Cask exhibition by illustrator David Bailey since September. As the pub’s first exhibition in almost four years was prepared, the walls were adorned with artwork prints by the Stockport artist.
Staff later discovered one of the prints from the exhibition has since been ‘half-inched’ from the wall. Posting on Monday (November 20), the venue said it was appealing for the public’s help in tracking the missing artwork back - with ‘no questions asked’.
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In an Instagram post, the pub wrote: “We have been the victim of a ruthless art heist and need your help. Some racketeer has half-inched one of our @bathedailey prints from our beautiful new exhibition.
“We’re not mad, we’re just disappointed. If you know where the print is located, please point us in the right direction so our sleuths can get on the case. Or if you took the print in a drunken kleptomanial haze please return it. We just want it back. No questions asked.”
The art work in question features illustrations based around keg and cask ales, featuring slogans like 'this ain't your grandmomma's beer' and 'subtle positive vibes'. It also includes drawings of a person on a skateboard and a man wheeling a pennyfarthing.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, artist David wrote: “STOLEN CARGO. A bounder (with exquisite taste and a keen eye for the arts) has stolen one of my Art of Cask prints right off the wall from Port Street Beer House. Eyes peeled for a framed cutting edge satirical keg vs cask print hanging out of someone’s back pocket.”
David also added that the print in question is currently available on his online shop, meaning that whoever stole the pub’s artwork can have their own version anyway.
Earlier this year, the Port Street venue was listed as one of the 50 best pubs in Manchester by the M.E.N - describing it as ‘a place to get slowly lost in’. The pub has also become a favourite drinking spot for American pop band the Jonas Brothers after they were spotted having a pint during their last visit to Manchester.
Anyone who has intel on the missing artwork is asked to reach out to Port Street Beer House via Facebook or Instagram. Or, better yet, the artwork can be returned to the venue directly on 39-41 Port Street (M1 2EQ).
