Diversity is the Name of the Game in Manchester
Whether you’re looking for a song and a dance, or a quiet chat with friends, a night on a budget or a night of extravagance, relaxation or a night of a more rowdy nature, or perhaps to mix and match, with a fantastic array of pubs, clubs and bars of varying themes, Manchester is the destination for your ideal night out!
Do you enjoy experiencing different cultures? With so many represented in the Manchester area, there is always something new and exciting to whet such an appetite. The Black Dog Ballroom in the Northern Quarter will give you a taste of New York City, whilst you can sample a bit of that famed Irish charm at Mulligans on Deansgate. Get yourself down to the Printworks and throw yourself into all things Bavarian at the Bierkeller, home of Shooters Sports bar and The Amazing Bavarian Stompers, or Hula on down to the Northern Quarter’s Hula Tiki Lounge and be transported to the tropics in a beach-hut styled eclectic bar with a magnificent range of rum and cocktails. There are also a number of bars that are perfect for those looking for an old-fashioned traditional English drink, such as that of the Nags Head towards Spinningfields, with a great selection of real cask ales.
Regardless of your music tastes, drink tastes, or the state of your wallet, there is always some place to suit in Manchester. With a selection of £1 drinks, 5th Avenue on Princess Street is the perfect place for the Indie fan on a budget, whilst the Venue on Jacksons Row offers a slightly more expansive music selection with a similar pricing scale. Though a bit pricier, the Hard Rock Café at The Printworks is excellent for American rock enthusiasts, enjoy a hurricane cocktail, and take home the glass! There are a number of fantastic wine bars, such as that of Mudcrab on Chapel Walks, and Cocktail bars, such as Cloud 23 on Deansgate, where you will also be exposed to jaw dropping views of the city (hence the name!), and if you like to treat yourself once in a while to a lavish night out, to do some celebrity spotting, there are a number of places to go, such as that of Bijou on Chapel Street.
There are a number of incredible bars in the city of Manchester that go above and beyond that expected of a drinking establishment, the most unique being Spinningfield’s ‘The Alchemist’, with cocktails presented in little flasks, smoking away like something out of a science lab, the chemistry of it’s name is reflected to perfection. For the bowler in you, look no further than the Dog Bowl, situated in the Oxford Road area. This New York style venue holds five ten-pin bowling lanes, perfect to let off a little steam and get one over on your mates! Taps Pour House is another that can offer an experience that is almost unrivaled. Situated in the Deansgate area, their ‘self-service’ concept, whereby you are given your own beer pumps to use at your leisure, is as convenient as it is unique. No more waiting to get the attention of the wait or bar staff, merely pay your tab at the end. Just make sure you keep an eye on how much you’re spending!
There is also a fantastic selection of bars just a tram ride away. From the city centre, get off around the Salford Quays area and you’ll find the Matchstick Man, a ‘value for money’ pub that is fantastic on a budget. Further along you’ll find the new up and coming area of Salford, Media City. In this area you’ll find a nice, simple looking bar called the Dock Yard, with light background music and a chilled out atmosphere, and with BBC and ITV just around the corner, you might just run into some of your favourite TV stars! Across the road is the somewhat more lavish ‘Lime Bar.’ With a resident DJ and an extensive cocktail and shooter menu, you can expect a livelier atmosphere than that found at the Dock Bar, but you’re wallet will go through a bigger work out! Travel further down the line and you’ll get to Eccles. Here you’ll find a row of old-fashioned, traditional English pubs, such as that of the Eccles Cross, owned by the Wetherspoons chain, though you will also find a continental style Café-bar in the form of ‘Café Vintage Bar.’
Whether your wallet is bursting with twenties, or littered with cobwebs; whether you’re into this music or that music, or just looking for something different. No matter the situation, Manchester will have the answer.
By Calum Dewsbury