Entertainment in Manchester
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Sankey's
If you're a fan of techno, electro or any kind of nonmainstream house music, then a pilgrimage to Manchester's best nightclub should on no account be missed. Sankey's has earned itself legendary status for being at the vanguard of dance music (Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk and others got their start here) and its commitment to top-class DJs is unwavering: these days, you'll hear the likes of Timo Maas, Seb Leger and Thomas Schumacher mix it up with the absolutely superb residents. Choon! The best way to get here is to board the free Disco Bus that picks up at locations throughout the city from 10.30pm to 2am Friday and Saturday, and between 10.10pm and 1am the rest of the …
reviewed
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FAC 251: The Factory
Tony Wilson's legendary Factory Records label HQ has been converted into a brand new club and live-music venue part-owned by Peter Hook, ex-bass player of Joy Division and New Order. The club nights have a pretty broad appeal, from Monday's Hit & Run (drum 'n' bass, hip hop and dubstep) to Stoned Love on Saturday, which features the music of the ribald days of the late '80s and early '90s. Ex–Stone Roses bass player Mani is on the decks for Wednesday's Fuel.
reviewed
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Old Wellington Inn
The Old Wellington Inn, one of the oldest buildings in the city, was severely damaged twice by bombing, in 1940 and then in 1996, but this irrepressible Tudor pub still manages to stay on its feet. It's a Manchester institution and a lovely spot for a pint of genuine ale, particularly when it's sunny outside.
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Britons Protection
Whisky – 200 different kinds of it – is the beverage of choice at this liver-threatening, proper English pub that also does Tudor-style meals (boar, venison and the like; mains £8). An old-fashioned boozer with open fires in the back rooms, a cosy atmosphere…perfect on a cold evening.
reviewed
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E
Dukes 92
Castlefield's best pub, housed in converted stables that once belonged to the duke of Bridgewater, has comfy, deep sofas inside and plenty of seating outside, overlooking lock 92 of the Rochdale Canal - hence the name. If it's sunny, there's no better spot to enjoy a pint of ale.
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Temple
This tiny basement bar with a capacity of about 30 has a great jukebox and a fine selection of spirits, all crammed into a converted public toilet. If you want to get up close and personal, this is the perfect spot to do it in. Hardly your bog-standard pub.
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Music Box
Deep in Jilly's Rockworld complex you'll find our favourite club in town and - judging by the queues - almost everyone else's, too. The punters come for the superb monthly club nights, such as Mr Scruff's Keep it Unreal, as well a host of terrific one-offs.
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Bridgewater Hall
The world-renowned Hallé Orchestra has its home at this enormous and impressive concert hall, which hosts up to 250 concerts and events a year. It has a widespread program that includes opera, folk music, children's shows, comedy and contemporary music.
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Lass O'Gowrie
A Victorian classic off Princess St that brews its own beer in the basement. It’s a favourite with students, old-timers and a clique of BBC employees who work just across the street in the Beeb’s Manchester HQ. It also does good-value bar meals (£6).
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Club V
White leather sofas and club nights with names like Angel Deelite and Venus don't always augur well if you're looking for some really good music, but this little basement club defies all expectations with its devotion to garage and funky house.
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Kro Bar
The ice-cool hand of Scandinavian design is all over this terrific bar in the middle of student-land. An excellent bar menu (mains around £7 to around £9) packs the punters in at lunch, while DJs keep it going at night until closing.
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Bar Centro
A Northern Quarter stalwart, very popular with the bohemian crowd precisely because it doesn't try to be. Great beer, nice staff and a better-than-average bar menu (mains £6 to £9) make this one of the choice spots in the area.
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South
An excellent basement club to kick off the weekend: Friday night is CWord with Strangerways, featuring everything from Ibrahim Ferrer to Northern Soul, and Saturday is the always excellent Disco Rescue with Clint Boon (once of the Inspiral Carpets), which is more of the same eclectic mix of alternative and dance.
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Dry Bar
The former HQ of Madchester's maddest protagonists (legend has it Shaun Ryder once pulled a gun on Tony Wilson here), Dry has remained cool long after the scene froze over, and it's still one of the best bars in the Northern Quarter.
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Odd
This eclectic little bar – with its oddball furnishings, wacky tunes and anti-establishment crew of customers – is the perfect antidote to the increasingly similar look of so many modern bars. A slice of Mancuniana to be treasured.
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Attic
This superb venue is at the top of a flight of stairs, in a building beneath a railway arch. Northern Soul nights share space with techno, alt grunge and live-music nights. A student favourite and a great night out.
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Bluu
Our favourite of the Northern Quarter's collection of great bars. Bluu is cool, comfortable and comes with a great terrace on which to enjoy a pint and listen to music selected by folks with really good taste.
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Ra!n
A rival to Dukes 92 for best outdoor drinking, indoors Ra!n is both trendy new-style bar and old-fashioned boozer. Whatever your mood, you'll find the right ambience in this former umbrella factory.
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Temple of Convenience
This tiny basement bar with a capacity of about 30 has a great jukebox and a fine selection of spirits, all crammed into a converted public toilet. Hardly your bog-standard pub.
reviewed
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Socio Rehab
Tiny, supercool and boasting one of the best cocktail menus in town, this terrific bar is the kind that will make you think you're onto a really good secret. You kind of are.
reviewed
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A Place Called Common
Common by name but great by nature, this is a terrific boozer favoured by an unpretentious crowd who like the changing artwork on the walls and the DJs who play nightly.
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Band on the Wall
A top-notch venue that hosts everything from rock to world music, with splashes of jazz, blues and folk thrown in for good measure.
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Moho Live
A new 500-capacity live-music venue that has already proven incredibly popular with its line-up of live music and club nights.
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Manchester Central
A midsize venue that hosts rock concerts by not-quite-supersuccessful bands as well as exhibitions and indoor sporting events.
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AMC Cinemas
A 16-screen multiplex in a retail centre that was formerly a goods warehouse for the Northern Railway Company.
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