Live music
The Spirit of Manchester Distillery
Manchester City CentreThree Little Words is housed under the arches at the lesser-visited end of Watson Street, near Beetham Tower. Inside you’ll...
The Cavern Club
Cavern QuarterIt may be a while since The Beatles graced the stage of The Cavern Club but you’ll still find live...
11 Central
Salford Quays11 Central is another venture for Seven Bro7hers, only this time their Sis4ers are on board too so the bar...
The Bridge
PrestburyLocated in a Grade II Listed building from 1626, The Bridge is full of charm, whether you’re going for a...
Exhibition
Manchester City CentreExhibition is one of Manchester’s cluster of exciting multi-kitchen concepts (read: food halls) that just seem to be multiplying. In...
AO Arena
Manchester City CentreIf you’re in Manchester to see a big name music act, chances are you’re seeing it at the AO Arena.
Frederiks
Georgian QuarterOne of the buzziest spots in the Georgian Quarter, Frederiks models itself on the neighbourhood bars of Brooklyn. Think casual...
Hallé St Peter’s
AncoatsHallé St Peter’s provides a rehearsal and recording space for Manchester’s renowned orchestra as well as being home to the...
Manchester River Cruises
Salford QuaysWant to fall in love with your city all over again? Take a boat tour from Manchester River Cruises, and...
Pong & Puck | Great Northern
Manchester City CentreGet your game face on with an afternoon of pool, shuffleboard and table tennis at Pong & Puck in The...
Aloft Liverpool
Cavern QuarterAloft Liverpool is a popular hotel with visitors and business travellers. Part of the Marriott Bonvoy group, it’s a mix...
Seven Bro7hers Media City
Media CityA stone's throw from their brewery and taproom, Salford alemeisters Seven Bro7hers have a beerhouse and kitchen with outside space...
Freight Island
Manchester City CentreFood hall meets music festival is how we’d describe Freight Island to anyone confused about what they’ll find at this...
SK1 Records
Stockport Town CentreSK1 Records is more than just a record shop. It’s an important part of the town’s current buzz and it...
International Beatleweek Festival
Cavern QuarterThe International Beatleweek Festival draws Beatles fans from all over the world. It’s pretty hardcore too – a full week...
YES
Oxford RoadYES is a gargantuan place with four floors of fun. Despite that, it still has a low-key cool and something...
Rough Trade Liverpool
RopewalksAny self-respecting indie kid will know the Rough Trade name; a trip to the Covent Garden shop used to be...
The Bierkeller Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreThe Bierkeller Liverpool is one of the best bars in Liverpool if you’re looking for a lively party atmosphere or...
The Cracked Actor
StockportThe Cracked Actor is a small blues bar on Stockport’s Underbanks. It looks like a little old boozer but inside...
Irish World Heritage Centre
Cheetham HillThe Irish World Heritage Centre (IWHC) in Cheetham Hill is a social and cultural hub for Manchester’s Irish community.
Ye Hole In Ye Wall
Liverpool City CentreYe Hole In Ye Wall is not, as you might imagine, an ancient times ATM, but it is Liverpool’s oldest...
Hard Days Night Hotel
Cavern QuarterThe concept might seem a bit naff but to be honest there are no hard days or nights at this...
The Jacaranda
RopewalksSerious Beatles fans will know all about The Jacaranda. This bar and gig venue was opened by their first manager...
On The Waterfront
WaterfrontOn The Waterfront is a four-day open air festival on Pier Head. It kickstarts the summer festival season in Liverpool,...
Depot Mayfield
PiccadillyDepot Mayfield is an events venue with raw urban grit and cultural cachet. Manchester’s former railway station, it has been...
Albert Hall
Manchester City CentreThe upper floor of this Grade II listed Wesleyan chapel lay empty for 40 years before Mission Mars bought the...
O’Neill’s Printworks
Manchester City CentreO'Neill's in the Printworks is a lively bar (some would say too lively) that's known as a decent place to...
The Red Lion Inn
WhitworthThe Red Lion's location in Whitworth, Rochdale is semi rather than fully rural but in terms of character and style,...
The Rose & Crown Knutsford
KnutsfordThere's no shortage of ye olde pubs in Knutsford. The thatched roofed White Bear is the most ancient with a...
The Blues Kitchen Manchester
Manchester City CentreThe Blues Kitchen Manchester is the first opening outside the capital for Columbo Group, which also owns the Jazz Cafe...
Co-op Live
BeswickAfter a few false starts, Co-op Live, the UK's biggest indoor arena, opened on 14 May 2024. With a 23,500...
The Daisy
Northern QuarterDescribed as 'late night escapism', The Daisy is a subterranean haven of a cocktail bar in the Northern Quarter. Find...
Side Street
St John'sSide Street is another one of those all-day creative spaces that segue (relatively) seamlessly between morning coffee and late-night events....
Aviva Studios, Factory International
St John'sAviva Studios is the new home of Factory International, the producers of Manchester International Festival. The impressive building was conceived...
Pavilion Gardens Buxton
BuxtonIt's the variety of attractions and things to do that make Pavilion Gardens Buxton special. This elegant Victorian park and...
The Fitzgerald
Northern QuarterThe Fitzgerald, appropriately enough, channels those Great Gatsby vibes with its vintage stylings, and its 1920s glassware sets off the...
Parklife Festival
PrestwichIt's the big one, at least for the under-25s amongst us. Parklife is a huge two-day music festival held every...
The Brunch & Cocktail Club
RopewalksBrunch Club by name, brunch club by nature – and those in the know make sure they book a table;...
O’Sheas
Manchester City CentreO'Sheas on Princess Street has become one of Manchester's most popular Irish pubs since it opened in the nineties. And...
Buckle and Boots
MarpleThis annual weekender on the edge of Stockport won the 'Best Festival' award from the British Country Music Association in...
Hummingbird
Liverpool City CentreArt Deco-style cocktail bar Hummingbird is one of Liverpool's hippest spots for a chilled night out.
Diecast
PiccadillyDiecast is a party venue and 'creative neighbourhood' five-minutes' walk from Manchester Piccadilly station.
Mulligans
Manchester City CentreIf you're a fan of cosy pubs with good beer and great craic, Mulligans will be right up your alley....
Camp and Furnace
Baltic TriangleCamp and Furnace is a huge events space with a capacity of 2200. With its two warehouse spaces, this place...
Manchester Pride
Gay VillageHeld annually over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Manchester Pride is a joyful, loud and proud celebration of queer identity...
The Castle Hotel
Northern QuarterThe Castle Hotel is one of the big names on Manchester’s gig circuit. This 18th century pub, covered in brown...
Little Hardware
RopewalksLittle Hardware takes its name from the not-so-little Rapid Hardware store that used to take up a sizeable chunk of...
TribeGaia Conscious Events
Manchester City Centre
Via Manchester
Gay VillageFormerly Via Fossa, generally know as just ‘Via’, this is probably the most long-standing go-to bar on the main strip...
Cassidy’s
Heaton MoorEstablished in 2004, Cássidy's is styled as a traditional Irish bar, and is a popular meet-up spot in Heaton Moor.
Puffin Rooms
Liverpool City CentreBe transported back in time with a visit to Puffin Rooms; Liverpool's specialist whisky and cigar bar. With over 200 rare...
Sounds of the City
CastlefieldSounds of the City is a summer season of outdoor gigs by big name acts at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester.
Radar Festival
Trafford ParkRadar Festival is a three-day celebration of boundary-pushing rock and metal held at Victoria Warehouse. It’s a relative newcomer to...
The Whiskey Jar
Northern QuarterSurely one of Manchester's most inviting-looking bars, The Whiskey Jar gives you that warm, all-is-well feeling even before you've taken...
Danny Mac’s Tavern
Liverpool City CentreThis narrow, cosy corner pub is one of many Irish drinking dens along Renshaw Street. With its dark wood furnishings,...
Canteena Bar & Grill
SaleBased in the unit of Stanley Square that was once home to Sale Food Hall, Canteena Bar & Grill is...
Farmageddon
OrmskirkFarmageddon is the big one. Every year it’s a sellout, welcoming thousands of willing lambs to the slaughter. There are...
Festwich
PrestwichFestwich is the music festival with all the biggest names, from Elvis to Amy Winehouse. Ok, so they’re not the...
Mersey Ferries
WaterfrontHave you even been to Liverpool if you haven’t crossed the Mersey on a ferry? Mersey Ferries not only cross...
Liverpool Sound City
Liverpool City CentreLiverpool Sound City is an independent music festival held every spring. It stands out from other music festivals with its...
Piccadilly Records
Northern QuarterWhen it comes to music in Manchester this place is the absolute business. Piccadilly Records is the coolest square footage...
Boxpark Liverpool
Baltic TriangleIt’s a transplant from that-there London but at least Boxpark Liverpool is full of local food names. This food hall...
Big Hands
Oxford RoadThe original Manchester dive bar, Big Hands is a rock n roll institution and the site of many messy nights...
McCooley’s Concert Square
Liverpool City CentreThis cavernous tavern on Concert Square fills up fast on weekends and match days. But there's big screens throughout so...
Gino D’Acampo 360 Sky Bar & Terrace
Liverpool City CentreSituated on the 18th floor of INNSiDE by Meliá on Old Hall Street, Gino D'Acampo 360 Sky Bar and Sky...
Manchester Holi Festival
PrestwichManchester Holi Festival 2024 might well be the city’s most colourful celebration. The Hindu spring festival celebrates love and new...
The Peer Hat
Northern QuarterThe Peer Hat is an odd combination. This Northern Quarter bar and gig venue mixes a cutting edge assortment of...
L’Aperitivo
RopewalksModern-day Bold Street in Liverpool and Via Veneto in 1960s Rome could be an example of time-travelling city twinning.
Temple at Victoria Warehouse
Trafford ParkIf you want a night out of dancing and connection and good times, without the hangover the next day, Temple...
Manchester International Festival
St John'sManchester International Festival, or MIF, is the city’s biennial arts festival. It’s two weeks of the year where you’re never...
Chetham’s Library, Chetham’s School of Music and The Stoller Hall
Manchester City CentreChetham’s combines history, education, music and culture. The institution comprises Chetham’s library, the internationally-renowned School of Music and The Stoller...
Victoria Warehouse
StretfordVictoria Warehouse has been a fixture on Manchester's industrial skyline for almost a century. Once used to store cotton, it's...
Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025
Sefton ParkBBC Radio 1's Big Weekend comes to Liverpool for its 2025 showcase of big names, new music, dance and emerging...
Wax and Beans
BuryWax and Beans is a vinyl and coffee combo where you can indulge all your passions at once. Affectionately known...
The Salmon of Knowledge
Northern QuarterThe Salmon of Knowledge is an Irish bar in Manchester’s Northern Quarter providing drinker’s wisdom at the bottom of a...
Sounds from the Other City
SalfordSalford is doomed to be the other city, standing in Manchester’s shadow when it comes to name recognition and cultural...
Lanigans Irish Bar
Liverpool City CentreJust by Liverpool Central on a strip of Irish pubs on Ranelagh Street, you’ll find Lanigans Irish Bar. It's a...
The Lawn Club
SpinningfieldsThe Lawn Club is a summery Spinningfields paradise with lots of outdoor space and fantastic cocktails. It’s also a winter...
The Deaf Institute
Manchester City Centre***Bar and kitchen currently closed***
Manchester Punk Festival
Oxford RoadFor all the noise, Manchester Punk Festival is a friendly and inclusive event that takes place over the Easter weekend...
The Rembrandt
Gay VillageOne of the originals of The Village, The Rembrandt, or Rem Bar, has been welcoming in Manchester's gay community since...
O2 Ritz Manchester
Oxford RoadThe O2 Manchester Ritz on Whitworth Street has seen better days but it still knocks most venues out of the...
Band on the Wall
Northern QuarterSo called because the performers used to play on a stage situated halfway up the wall, Band on the Wall...
O’Connell’s
Oxford RoadO’Connell’s is a new Irish bar which has opened on the site of the former Thirsty Scholar. This area just...
Night & Day Cafe
Northern QuarterWithout Night & Day Cafe, the Northern Quarter as we know it probably wouldn't exist. It was places like this,...
Einstein Bier Haus
RopewalksIf it's dancing, drinking and Deutschland-inspired plates of schnitzel and wurst you're after, you've come to the right place. Described...
Pogue Mahone Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreSituated on the booze-soaked Seel Street, Pogue Mahones is a long-standing, much-loved spot for Saturday night shenanigans (or any night...
Kennedy’s
AltrinchamKennedy's is a characterful Irish bar located in the heart of Altrincham, just opposite the market.
Mother Marys
Oxford RoadMother Marys is an Irish bar with a big focus on live music. There are two stages plus an impressive...
The Windmill
Whiteley GreenThe Windmill is a country pub with beautiful views and traditional British food that is definitely on the gastro end...
Lost and Found
KnutsfordLost and Found, an elegant restaurant and bar in the old town hall in Knutsford has mastered the art of...
DryWave
Manchester City CentreThis registered charity works on a number of projects related to sober and drug-free living, including the massive DryWave sober...
The Denbigh Castle
Business District (Liverpool)The Denbigh Castle is a characterful pub on Hawkins Hey, one of Liverpool’s most distinctive streets. Dating from 1815, the...
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival
LiverpoolLiverpool Arab Arts Festival is the UK’s longest-running Arab cultural festival championing the best homegrown and international artists. With visual...
The Mobberley Ice Cream Company
MobberleyThe Mobberley Ice Cream Company specialises in a back-to-basics approach using milk, cream and sugar. No powdered flavourings, no artificial...
Baltic Market
Baltic TriangleLiverpool’s Baltic Market is the city’s first food hall, built on the redeveloped Cains Brewery site. It’s the sort of...
Baltic Weekender
Baltic TriangleBaltic Weekender is Liverpool’s dance festival, held at venues around the Baltic Triangle. Featuring big-name DJs and local selectors, it’s...
Gravity MAX Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreHome to two floors of immersive activities, Gravity MAX is Liverpool’s biggest multi-entertainment venue.
Opera Grill
ChesterHoused in a Grade II Listed building with a neo-classical facade, Chester's Opera Grill is a grand, 400-seater restaurant from...
Mamasan Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreSouth Asian cookery is on the cards here, or "a vibrant culinary offering", if you prefer. Three floors are accessed...
The Warehouse Project
PiccadillyIf you’re into EDM or club culture you’ll know The Warehouse Project as one of Manchester’s biggest nights out. It...
Gorilla
Greater ManchesterGorilla is tucked under a railway arch, it has a slightly industrial vibe but it’s comfortable for all that. The...
Fitzgerald’s Irish Bar
Liverpool City CentreThe smaller, sister bar to Lanigans on Ranelagh Street, Fitzgerald’s Irish Bar has an authentic feel and a friendly atmosphere....
Manchester Psych Fest
Manchester City CentreManchester Psych Fest certainly packs it in. It's a one-day deep dive into the alternative music scene that marks the...
SOUP
Northern QuarterSOUP is the place for leftfield live music in a lo-fi but friendly setting. It’s not fancy but SOUP (formerly...
Royal Institution Bar
RopewalksThe Royal Institution Bar was created for 'those who enjoy the finer things in life' and serves up well thought-out...
Blackstock Market
VauxhallBlackstock Market is a huge all-in-one food, bar and entertainment destination. It’s absolutely massive and incorporates Liverpool’s largest food hall...
The Bridgewater Hall
Manchester City CentreThe Bridgewater Hall is where Manchester gets serious about music. The international concert venue was built in the 1990s and...
BOX Deansgate
Manchester City CentreBOX is all about big-screen sports, booze (including two-for-one cocktails) and blokes singing – ‘bandeoke’ is a thing and it...
Manchester Jazz Festival
Manchester City CentreManchester Jazz Festival brings the best new emerging jazz artists, homegrown talent, and living jazz legends to the city centre...
6 Music Festival
Manchester City CentreThe BBC’s 6 Music Festival is a celebration of up-and-coming talent, emerging acts and the cool elder statespeople of alternative...
Albert’s Schloss Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreAlbert's Schloss Liverpool is a Bavarian bar that mixes tongue-in-cheek fun with a dedication to high quality food and drink....
