Nightclubs in Manchester have been an essential part of the fabric of English culture for a very long time. In the early 1960s, they were integral in bringing the music of jazz and early rock and roll music from America to the people of North West England, and many who heard these sounds went on to form the bands responsible for a new beginning in popular music across the globe. Decades later, the vast factories and warehouses spaces that remained empty following the decline of the world’s first industrialised city began to be repurposed during the early 1980s to support a burgeoning rave culture with parties for thousands of people.
The legendary Hacienda, one of the most iconic nightclubs of all time, was created around this time and went on to pave the way for a different way of clubbing that the world soon adopted. The regeneration of Manchester that followed through the 1990s and the early part of the 21st Century owes a big debt to the entrepreneurial minds that saw how the prosperous nightlife of a city can lead to big steps forward for everything connected to it. It is no secret then that Manchester loves to party and there are always plenty of new clubs emerging to serve evolving tastes, trends, and scenes. Let’s take a look through our guide to some of the best clubs in Manchester.
The Warehouse Project at Depot Mayfield
The Warehouse Project at Depot Mayfield brings two unmistakably Manchester institutions together for some incredible nights that draw artists and DJs from all over the world to perform in front of 10,000 people. This location was originally a huge railway yard built in 1910 to support the old Mayfield station that lay dormant, overgrown with weeds, and decaying for over 40 years until 2019. It exudes a raw industrial heritage and aesthetic with its original concrete floors and exposed bricks and iron works as far as the eyes can see. The Warehouse Project is a series of innovative events that had been serving Manchester in different locations since 2006 until it finally found a permanent home at Mayfield Depot after ten years of development and planning. With some of the best names in House, Jungle, and EDM regularly appearing here, this is definitely worth booking in advance for a night to remember.
The history of modern Manchester is inseparable from the history of the Factory Records and FAC 251 is their remaining legacy for the nightlife of the city, set in the old offices of the legendary independent record label. Founded by the impresario, Tony Wilson, Factory Records led to the creation of the Hacienda and everything that followed for Manchester. FAC 251 was brought to life as a club in 2010 by Peter Hook of the band New Order, who were co-owners of the Hacienda until its closure. Peter worked with interior designer Ben Kelly and audio specialists Funktion-One to provide a space for weekly events that cater to Manchester’s huge student population. Set across three floors, the club offers multiple events in one night that can be experienced simultaneously with Tech House, Drum and Bass, Indie, and R&B sounds all competing for your attention and bars regularly serving until 3 am.
Soup
Soup is a gig and club events space in the Northern Quarter that seeks to keep Manchester’s progressive and forward-thinking arts and music scenes going strong in the 21st Century. It is set across two floors in the location of the old Soup Kitchen Restaurant & Bar that was such a big part of the bohemian renaissance in the Northern Quarter during the early 2000s. With a capacity of 150, it provides a wonderfully intimate atmosphere and regularly sells out events in minutes for some of the more well-known acts that perform here. Their booking & ticketing policies are dedicated to making Soup accessible to all with price caps on internal event ticketing and a focus on local and emerging artists and talent. Soup is a great antidote to some of the bigger event spaces and clubs in the city, offering a greater connection between the artists and crowds for a more unique night out. A 4 am bar on Fridays & Saturdays means those nights may sometimes turn into mornings too.
On Bar
On Bar sits on Manchester’s famous Canal Street, a place that has been so important for the development of gay and LGBTQ+ culture in the city and around the world for the last 40 years. It has events and shows 7 days a week that provide drag, cabaret, and dancing with fabulous entertainment in glorious surroundings. The terrace that looks out onto Canal Street is the perfect way to watch how this area of Manchester is transformed into a vibrant, pulsing party location whatever the weather and whatever the day, with some amazing cocktails to try as you dance the night away. This club prides itself on its inclusivity, welcoming thousands of revellers each year that represent a mix of tourists and city residents. Their brunch afternoons are fun too, leaving you ready to start an evening out in the best way, right in the middle of the city.
Hidden
Hidden is just north of Manchester Centre in Downtex Mill and it celebrates the time-honoured tradition of the city’s nightlife being carried out from venues built for industrial purposes. This five-floor warehouse space includes an outdoor hangar that is electric in the spring and summer for open-air events that turn dancing days into neon nights. Programmes of predominantly House, Disco, and Techno DJs are here on Fridays and Saturdays with the limited night options helping give this hidden treasure a rather exclusive feel. There is something particularly satisfying about Hidden that connects it to a warehouse party atmosphere while still maintaining a commitment to new music without the familiar nostalgia that can blight so many Manchester clubs. Finding Hidden on a weekend in Manchester just may be one of the most important clubbing discoveries you can make.
Manchester has a wonderful tradition of making new waves, new sounds, and new scenes in the clubbing world. Their philosophy of always looking forward has led to some game-changing events, venues, and spaces that millions of people continue to enjoy across the city. With this guide to help you navigate through the choices on offer, you could soon be looking forward to a perfect night out too.
