Top Manchester venues.

Manchester is world famous for it’s venues. From The Hacienda to The Warehouse Project, the cities iconic music and art culture has been established in great venues. Today Greater Manchester has over 469 venues that programme music but which are worth going to?

Here’s our list of some of the best venues across the city, from small independents to bespoke concert venues.

Stage and Radio
Based on Port Street in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Stage & Radio provides an intimate setting for both fully charged club music and a more casual listening experience. Hosting an eclectic range of DJ’s, genre’s and promoters, below the stairs we find a basement packing a punch with a full VOID Air Stasys Sound System. Whilst the ground floor features a plethora of Local DJ’s every weekend, showcasing some of the finest talents in Manchester and beyond.

Hidden
Late-night club in a reclaimed mill, with three floors powered by void sound systems. Weekly line ups showcasing the best dance music artists and labels across the spectrum.

The Warehouse Project
The Warehouse Project is a series of club nights organised in Greater Manchester, England, since 2006. Unlike most other clubs, it has a limited seasonal approach rather than running all year.

The White Hotel
An old mechanics garage with razor wire on the flat roof, stripped out and pumped full of smoke. Manchester’s best dance venue, in Salford. 

Matt & Phreds
Tucked away on Tib Street, this back street Jazz Club is open Monday-Saturday, and some Sundays, with Live Music every night their open.

Night and Day Cafe
A cafe, bar and live music venue, opened in 1991 hosting bands such as Elbow, Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Jessie J, Paulo Nutini and many more.

SOUP Kitchen
Multi-award winning Nightclub, Live music venue, Canteen and Bar, in Central Manchester.

Eastern Bloc Records
Long-established store for drum ‘n’ bass, jungle, dubstep, house, techno and electronica, with cafe.

O2 Apollo
Just a stone’s throw away from Spirit, the O₂ Apollo Manchester is a concert venue in Ardwick Green, Manchester, England. It is a Grade II listed building, with a capacity of 3,500.

The Deaf Institute
Landmark building housing plush basement bar, cafe/bar and upstairs music hall with smoking terrace. This iconic Oxford Road venue also hosted Spirit’s Degree Show in 2022.

YES
A four-storey temple of entertainment offering a different experience on every floor.

Off the Square
Off the Square is an independent music and culture project in the Northern Quarter.

Old Abbey Taphouse
The Old Abbey Taphouse is the flagship venue of STEAM MRC, a community interest company creating safe spaces for the community to relax, create and learn something new.

Niamos Centre
A 1900’s theatre turned event space, located in the heart of Hulme – providing access to spaces to create, learn, dance and share. Connecting the local community and artists from around the world.

The DBA
The Derby Brewery Arms sits under the watchful eye of the Strangeways prison tower, among the Grade II-listed buildings, on a busy Saturday night, it pulls in 400 people, easy. The DBA has become a significant part of Manchester’s thriving underground, pumping energy into the local music scene.

The Castle Hotel
The 200 year old boozer has a musical past. The pub’s cramped back room is where you go for live music, the cheap rents and low capacity mean it’s a great testing ground for new bands. Mercury prize winners Alt-J played there, maybe next years winners will too…

Mint Lounge
Host of the city’s longest-running club night, Funkademia, with funk, electric disco and soul.

Band on the Wall
Another of the Norther Quarters multi-awarding winning historic venue. Here you’ll find live music from rock to reggae and folk, with a cafe/bar and box office in a former cinema space.

The Rose and Monkey
The Rose & Monkey is the crown jewel in the city’s local music scene. Not only do the bands perform in the venue, but they also work behind the bar and hang out in it, too.

XLR
Located south of the city centre, XLR is an intimate music venue in the heart of Withington high street.

FUEL
Hustlin’ & Bustlin’ Veggie Cafe/Bar & Venue. Slinging Veggie & Musical delights your way from the Heart of Withington.

The Kings Arms
‘Britain’s most Bohemian Back Street Boozer’ hosting theatre, comedy, gigs, film screenings, poetry nights and fairs. 

Aatma
Intimate music and events venue tucked away down the alleyway called Stevenson Place, above The Peer Hat.

New Century Hall
The legendary venue is back. With its original sprung dance floor, disco ceiling and state of the art sound system, the hall is now hosting an eclectic programme of events.

On the ground floor our resident independent food traders are cooking up a storm with an evolving menu of local and globally inspired cuisines, served alongside local beers, wines, cocktails, coffees and teas.

The Eagle Inn

Gullivers
An iconic, lively and bustling bar with a long history dating all the way back to 1865. Opposite another Northern Quarter venue on our list, The Castle.

Manchester Academy 
Located on the campus of the University of Manchester, in Manchester, England. The four venues are: Academy 1, 2 and 3 and Club Academy.

Albert Hall
A forgotten Wesleyan chapel in the centre of Manchester, restored and resurrected as an unrivalled events venue.

Canvas
Within the heart of Manchester’s innovation district, Canvas is the newest next-generation music venue, social space and late-night bar and kitchen. 

The Bridgewater Hall
Manchester’s international concert venue, hosting over 280 performances a year including classical music, rock, pop and jazz.

Fancy a tour? Follow the link below for our bespoke interactive music venue map for your viewing pleasure. If we’ve missed your favourite nightspot please let us know.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1YCmEfWgqZNsON3Q5ZhegLlWfDhRfN9c&usp=sharing