Nights Out in Manchester

Kate Feld

They say a lot of things about Manchester, but one thing they don’t say is that it’s dead after dark. This is a city that has “up for it” written in its DNA, as the mind-boggling variety of the city’s nightspots attests. We don’t like to brag, but we’ve got it all: peaceful tiled pubs serving cool cask ales, check. Beard-stroking hipster hangouts, check. Giant clubs full of pissed-up students pogoing to Common People, check. Specialist wine bars, bouncer-patrolled footballer haunts, funky dives, indie music halls, real ale bars, jazz joints, karaoke nightbars… we could go on. For chrissakes, we even have a pub in a toilet. Here’s our guide to the city after the sun goes down. Get out there and have fun (and tell ‘em we sent ya).

Our top picks

Albert Hall

Albert Hall, 27 Peter Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 5QR - Visit now

Manchester’s Albert Hall is a one-off kind of a place: a former Wesleyan chapel that spent years slumming it as a low-rent pub before closing. It’s now one of Manchester’s most atmospheric music venues, with cook haus and bohemian bier palace Albert’s Schloss on the ground floor, and a stunning upstairs space that hosts gigs, club nights and even bonkers bingo.

– Polly Checkland Harding

Albert Hall on Peter street Manchester
Image courtesy the Albert Hall.

Dog Bowl

Dog Bowl, Arch 57, Whitworth St West, Manchester, M1 5WW - Visit now

Situated beneath the railway tracks on Whitworth St West, Dog Bowl is a far cry from your average bowling alley. Open till late, this neon-lit venue marries suave cocktails with tenpin pleasure across five full length lanes. Food-wise, think Tex-Mex, with burgers, fajitas, wings and slow cooked meat. Alternatively, head to basement bar Twenty Twenty Two for a spot of ping pong.

– Lizzie Wood

Dog Bowl bowling alley and restaurant Manchester.
Dog Bowl.

Breakout Town Hall

Breakout Town Hall, 14a Brazennose Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 6LW - Visit now

Beads of sweat trickle down your forehead, you snap at fellow prisoners and your head is swimming with clues as the pressure mounts. Experience the thrill of the escape room challenge at the brilliant Break Out: you’ll have an hour to escape using only the combined brainpower of you and your companions. Your abilities will be tested by any one of their range of themed rooms, including Monroe’s Detective Office, Virus and Most Wanted.

– Polly Checkland Harding

Matt and Phred’s

Matt and Phred’s, 64 Tib Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1LW - Visit now

Dedicated to jazz, Matt & Phreds is always a good bet for interesting and innovative independent music. Effortlessly cool – on a good night, the audience will push back the round, Parisian tables and dance to the band. The venue also has a great wine list and knows how to make a good pizza.

– Matthew Britton

matt and phreds sign manchester music

Castle Hotel

Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1LE - Visit now

Merciful lighting, snug seating and a cozy atmosphere to get tiddly in – this is a pub that boasts a parlour-like back room, complete with upright piano. Short though the bar may be, it packs in an impressive array of taps. Wine comes by the glass as well as the bottle, and there’s a healthy selection of whisky arranged school-trophy-style along the top shelf. The Castle Hotel also puts on a roster of excellent live events. Well known for its pack-em-in music gigs, the pub is also making a name for itself via literary events such as Manchester’s spoken word heavyweight, Bad Language.

– Polly Checkland Harding

Castle Hotel pub in Manchester

Where to go in Manchester

Manchester
Gallery
Black Redstart Gallery

Black Redstart Gallery is located in the Northern Quarter and runs a busy programme of exhibitions from emerging and established artists.

texture logo
Manchester
Gallery
texture mcr

Possibly one of the city’s most mysterious art galleries, texture is a small and perfectly-formed independent space in Ardwick.

Stevenson Square
Manchester
Stevenson Square

Stevenson Square, the central hub of bars and cafes in Northern Quarter. Home to some of the best bars in the city.

CUPRA City Garage DJ Decks
City Centre
Café or Coffee Shop
CUPRA City Garage

Already based in Paris, Mexico City, Sydney and Vienna, CUPRA’s international expansion is driven by culture as much as cars, and Manchester’s creative energy has clearly caught their attention.

Ancoats
Restaurant
Bruco

Bruco is a new restaurant in Ancoats, serving up stylish Italian small plates.

Samsi
Manchester
Restaurant
Samsi

Long-standing Japanese restaurant on Whitworth Street in Manchester with a pleasingly affordable menu.

Chorlton
Restaurant
Yane

Friendly neighbourhood restaurant in Chorlton, specialising in authentic Japanese cuisine such as donburi, katsu kare and traditional pickles, made in-house.

Creatures Comedy Club
Manchester
Theatre
Creatures Comedy Club

Whether you’re a die-hard comedy fan or just after a spontaneous night out, there’s something here for everyone. Open 7 nights a week.

The Loft
Manchester
Music venue
The Loft

The Loft is an intimate, industrial-style club tucked away on the edge of Manchester city centre. Known for its impeccable sound system and low-key vibe.

Manchester Visitor Guides

SB_BreweryTour- Distillery Two
Brewery Tours in Manchester

A growing number of breweries and independent tour operators now offer behind-the-scenes access to the city’s thriving beer scene.

Afternoon Tea in Manchester

The finest places in Manchester to sip Darjeeling, eat dainty finger sandwiches and slap extra clotted cream on a freshly baked scone.

Bars in Manchester

The best new bars in Manchester, plus some old favourites for good measure.

Spas in the North West

If you find yourself in the North West of England looking for a spa day, look no further, check out our guide featuring our favourite spots.

Production Two
Brewery Tours in the North

Brewery tours across the North offer more than just a behind-the-scenes look at hops and fermenters. They’re a window into the region’s character.

20 Stories eat outside in Manchester
Places To Eat Outside in Manchester

Looking for somewhere to eat outside in Manchester in these hot summer months? Here's our guide to the restaurants in Manchester with the best areas for al fresco dining.

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Spotlight on

Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield

Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.

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Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North.
Theatre in the North

From outdoor shows to drama in the dark, our theatre guide celebrates genre-pushing work, new writing and contemporary performance.

Author portrait
Literature Events in the North

Our latest round-up features plenty of one-off live literature events to wrap your ears about, so get those diaries ticking over...

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Cinema in the North

August brings a huge LGBTQ+ film festival, plus a reggae classic and a spotlight on Japanese animation.

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Music in the North

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