Sandbar

Charlotte Rowland
Image courtesy Sandbar.

Sandbar is an old favourite for many – but finding it is like turning up trumps if you’ve not yet discovered it.

Going to a new bar is like playing a game of cards. Think about it – in both cases, it’s likely you’ll sit around a table for several rounds, wondering what the chances are of things going your way. And, mostly, both are something you go and do when you’re bored. Which is why Sandbar, an alcove of ale, artful décor and, well, more ale, is the Royal Flush for anyone who hasn’t been before.

Lovingly set into a row of renovated Georgian town houses just off Manchester’s Oxford Road, the bar boasts an independent streak complete with gratifying fireplaces and exposed brickwork. It has a grand drinks selection and a recently developed food menu, offering feel-good meals at feel-good prices – a wide range, from paella to pizza via Shepherd’s pie, is served from 12-9pm.

There’s a lightwood circle bar, backdrop candles in the evening and what look to be a poet or two scribbling musingly in the shadows

Oddities and quirky shelving units decorate the walls, while carriage-like seats salvaged from retro school-buses are mixed in with other assorted chairs. The lack of space feels cosy, rather than crowded. That said, it’s worthwhile having a look at Sandbar’s scheduled events ahead of a visit; with the bar hosting a busy array of life-drawing, music nights and beer festivals, the capacity can hit a peak even mid-week.

On the right night, though, Sandbar is an aesthetically-driven, if a little care-worn hub, with plenty of features to admire. There’s a lightwood circle bar, backdrop candles in the evening and what look to be a poet or two scribbling musingly in the shadows. Coffee, tea, served with a complimentary Caramel Wafer, and larger cakes at teasingly minimal prices make this a conceivable corner-hideout for day hours, too.

Pitch up and drink up seems to be the righteous manifesto of this laid-back, intimately-scaled bar, infused with the sentiment of “anything goes”. Shuffled Deck, decorated with an Ace of Spades, is, appropriately enough, one of the bar’s popular brews. It’s joined by an excellent range of other ales on tap, ciders by the bottle – and even a spirit and mixer or two, if you ask nicely. These, and along with Sandbar’s great whisky selection, can add up to many an evening wasted by accident.

It’s funny how this bar, so understated in the grand scheme of things, is actually host to large-scale events and intimate meetings alike. And this, in a way, is the true spirit of a venue that plays its cards exactly right.

120 Grosvenor StreetManchesterM1 7HL View map
Telephone: 0161 273 1552 Visit Now

Opening Hours

  • Monday12:00pm - 12:00am
  • Tuesday12:00pm - 12:00am
  • Wednesday12:00pm - 12:00am
  • Thursday12:00pm - 1:00am
  • Friday12:00pm - 2:00am
  • Saturday12:00pm - 2:00am
  • Sunday12:00pm - 12:00am

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on near Sandbar

Teenage Dads
MusicOxford Road
Teenage Dads at Deaf Institute

Twisting together new wave, synth pop and early 2000s NYC indie, Melbourne band Teenage Dads are back with a fresh wave of UK dates.

from £15.00
Hedda at Contact
TheatreManchester
Hedda at Contact

Ibsen’s complex tale of power, jealousy and manipulation has been reimagined by the Shropshire-based theatre company Here to There Productions.

from £20.00
Until
ActivityManchester
DJ Gym at Hatch

Learn some DJ and production skills with DJ Gym Manchester, based in the culturally infused surrounds of Hatch.

from £269
Picture of the three band members of Elephant Gym
MusicManchester
Elephant Gym

Elephant Gym bring their patchwork of jazz, contemporary math- and post-rock to Manchester this May in support of their new album, World.

from £17.75

Where to go near Sandbar

Manchester
Music venue
The Deaf Institute

The Deaf Institute is a vibrant gig venue and nightclub for which it is well worth taking a jaunt out of the Northern Quarter.

Johnny Roadhouse store
Manchester
Shop
Johnny Roadhouse

Buffeted by fried chicken outlets, legendary musical instrument emporium Johnny Roadhouse has been serving the local music community for over 50 years.

Manchester
Catalog Bookshop

Find Peter and his Christiania cargo bike around All Saints Park, a hop, skip and a bunnyhop from Manchester Poetry Library.

Manchester
Event venue
The Proud Place

Based in the heart of Manchester on Sidney Street, The Proud Place houses The Proud Trust and serves as a community hub for the wider LGBT+ population across Greater Manchester and beyond.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Eighth Day

Eighth Day is a co-operative shop that sells ethically-sourced food, wine and cosmetics. There’s also café that serves hearty, healthy meals in the basement.

exterior of Contact Theatre building
Manchester
Theatre
Contact Theatre

Following a major redevelopment, the iconic venue on Oxford Road will be reopening its doors to welcome the public back into the building this autumn. 

Manchester
Restaurant
Firebird Hope

They claim to sell the ‘best chicken and vegan chicken sandwich in Manchester’ and they’re absolutely right.

Manchester
Restaurant
Ol Brewery Bar

A nano brewery and keg bar, Ol is a meeting of minds between Takk and Byrne The Cake brewery.

Culture Guides

Teenage Dads
Music in Manchester and the North

Fresh concert seasons, forward-thinking festivals and a revolving door of amazing gigs. Things are looking bright as spring comes into view.