[3] Originally a school operated by St. Peter's church, the building's top floor had been used as a rehearsal space for the Hallé Orchestra under John Barbirolli, and, from the 1970s, as a home for an alternative theatre company, the Green Room (which later moved to Whitworth St West) .

Sue Langford organised in-house bookings at the Boardwalk,[4] with various independent promoters also hosting shows at the venue (including Simon Moran).

The Man From Delmonte, the Charlatans, Happy Mondays, Female Brothers and Dub Sex, were amongst the many Manchester bands that appeared frequently at the Boardwalk before acquiring international recognition or disappearing into obscurity.

The venue also saw a variety of other acts including The Stone Roses, Hole, Sonic Youth, Chumbawamba, Jayne County, Verve, Bob Mould and Rage Against the Machine.

Funkademia was started by DJ and promoter David Payne at The Boardwalk in 1995 and has since gone on to be Manchester's longest running club night, currently at the Mint Lounge.