Student Guide to Manchester

New Century

New Century is the home of dBs. Our teaching facilities are located in the basement and in the two floors above us, there is a kitchen and social space packed full of amazing independent food vendors as well as an 1,300-cap venue which will be connected to our studios to allow real-time recording, mixing and mastering of live shows. Steeped in music heritage, the regeneration of New Century will ensure it becomes a hive of creative activity for the future.

Sadler’s Yard

Just outside of New Century is Sadler’s Yard - a public square with sitting areas, rotating art exhibitions and pop-ups and the Sadler’s Cat - our very own local! It’s the perfect place to chill between lectures.

The Angel

The Angel pub is a stone’s throw away from New Century on Angel Square and known locally for it’s excellent selection of real ales, quiz nights and cozy surroundings.

‍National Football Museum

Manchester is arguably the most famous city on the planet when it comes to football. Home to two of the world’s premier football clubs, it’s apt that England’s National Football Museum is based here - and it's only a short walk from our campus!

Angel Meadows

When the sun is out, St Michael's Flags and Angel Meadow Park is a great spot for our students to take in some fresh air in between lectures. Located just a short walk from our campus, it’s a perfect spot for a short walk or a picnic in the heart of the city.

Allpress Espresso Café

NOMA in Manchester is one of the newest locations for the New Zealand coffee chain Allpress Espresso - and it’s conveniently located around the corner from our Manchester campus for those early morning lectures and workshops on-site

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Soup

One of Manchester’s best clubs, Soup often welcomes some of the best DJs in the country and abroad through its doors. It’s intimate, award-winning and prides itself on being accessible for those with disabilities.

The Castle Hotel

Located in the heart of the Northern Quarter, The Castle Hotel is a popular pub with a long history and an 80-cap live music venue. It’s become a favourite for music lovers in the city and it’s not too far from New Century either!

Purezza 

Purezza is a pizza chain specialising in vegan pizza, but, even if you’re not vegan, you don’t have to feel like you’re missing out. Instead of focusing on meat substitutes, they lean into the flavours that complement the vegan diet and their dough balls are INCREDIBLE.

33 Oldham Street

If you’re looking for a chilled-out bar in the Northern Quarter, 33 Oldham Street should be firmly on your list. As well as running live music events, it’s also a go-to spot for bottomless brunch, bagels, burgers and beer.

The Bay Horse Tavern

Like a trendy pub with good food, great beer a regular open mic night and quiz night? The Bay Horse Tavern in the Northern Quarter is a popular haunt and ideal as a location to chill out with mates after uni.

‍Matt & Phreds Jazz Club

If you’re looking for an intimate space to listen to tunes in the heart of the city’s most famous area, Matt & Phred’s Jazz Club fits the bill. Head there for smooth jazz, pizzas, cocktails and a chilled evening.

Salt & Pepper

Salt & Pepper is an institution in Manchester, where you can get Chinese-inspired British food in a classic takeaway style. It won’t break the bank either!

Wolf at The Door

£1 tacos should be all we need to say to get you to Wolf at The Door. With plenty of incredible dishes to choose from at reasonable prices in an effortlessly cool setting, Wolf at The Door is a must-go spot for a quick bite and a drink.

‍Band on The Wall

Band on The Wall has been helping shape Manchester’s vibrant live music scene for years. From DJ sets to reggae, folk and world music, the historic venue showcases it all and they have a learning centre where you can join classes and workshops in everything from filming to jazz.

Common & Nell’s Pizza

For great beer, cocktails and New York-style pizza slices, head to Common - the home of Nell’s. Open from noon until late every day of the week, this place is a guarantee for a great evening out with your mates.

Sinclairs Oyster Bar

The oldest bar in Manchester, Sinc​​lairs Oyster Bar is one of the best places to have a drink in the sun across the whole city. It’s reasonably priced, is in a great location and you’ll be able to bask in one of the remaining echoes of the city’s great past.

Manchester Craft & Design Centre

If you enjoy craft and design as well as producing music or developing games, you can join the Manchester Craft & Design Centre community by hiring one of their studios, attending an event or setting one up yourself! Keep an eye out for their exhibitions, events and workshops if you want to delve into the design and art heritage of the city.

NQ64 Northern Quarter

Head down to NQ64 for a game-themed cocktail, retro arcade machines and consoles to play on. It’s a booze-filled, sugar-rush of nostalgia and perfect for people who love classic arcade games.

Afflecks

Afflecks is an eclectic indoor market that sells everything from collectible toys to clothes, jewellery and records. Bustling on a weekend, it’s one of the most popular shopping areas in the city and includes an LGBTQ+ bookshop and a tattoo parlour.

‍Gooey Bakery + Café

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Gooey is the perfect breakfast spot. Their french toast is famous - or infamous - and incredibly decadent and it’s only a stone's throw from the campus as well!

Night & Day Café

Another of the Northern Quarter’s best live venues, Night & Day Café has live music most days of the week, as well as rolling art exhibitions from local artists with paintings that are hung around the venue and rotated every few months. It’s a relaxed and interesting place to hang out and has its finger on the pulse of the local music scene.

‍This & That

This & That is a charming family-run curry house that’s one of the city’s favourites. Tucked away on Soap Street, it’s easy to miss, but well-worth seeking out!

Pixel Bar

Level up your night out at Pixel Bar! You can book your own booth, play the latest consoles and enjoy some incredible cocktails and beers.

The Lowry

Named after Laurence Stephen Lowry, the painter who was inspired by the industrial landscapes of the North West, The Lowry is one of the premier exhibition spaces, galleries and theatres in the North West. They also have a range of creative learning programmes for anyone who wants to flex their creative muscles outside of the studio!

The White Hotel

Another one of the coolest clubs in the Greater Manchester area, The White Hotel is intimate, industrial and unassuming and brings in some of the best up and coming electronic music producers and DJs in the country.

Salford Museum & Art Gallery

For a free afternoon of art and history exhibitions, the Salford Museum & Art Gallery is definitely one to check out. It’s not too far from the city - just a 30 minute walk from New Century - and has excellent exhibits on rotation across the year.

HENRYKK

HENRYKK is a hidden gem of a club and a relative newcomer to the live music scene in Manchester. It’s definitely one to check out if you find yourself out in Salford.

Eagle Inn

The Eagle Inn is one of the most popular watering holes for the hipsters of Manchester, but it’s also one of the most well-trodden venues in the city circuit, too! As well as being a venue and a pub, they also have rehearsal rooms that can be booked out affordably for up and coming bands and artists.

The King’s Arms

Described as “Britain’s most bohemian backstreet boozer”, The King’s Arms is just a 10-minute walk from Deasngate and has a calendar filled to the brim with eclectic live music, pub quizzes and comedy nights.

Salford Lads Club

The Salford Lads Club is one of the most iconic buildings in the city. It’s a location synonymous with The Smiths, as they posed in front of it for the inside sleeve of their record 'The Queen is Dead', and has become emblematic with the music culture of the city. The club is still open for tourists and is part of a music tour of the city.

Salford Arts Theatre

If you like more independent minded art, rather than the bigger exhibitions at national institutions, the Salford Arts Theatre is a great place to check out. From open mic nights, small-scale theatrical performances, poetry readings and much more, there’s tonnes on offer.

Worsley Woods

Located on the western edge of Salford, Worsley Woods is an area to depart from the hectic rhythm of life in the city. The perfect spot for a walk on a summer weekend!

The Warehouse Project

The Warehouse Project is, without question, one of the best clubs in the country - arguably even Europe and the world! The curation of nights there is second to none and the calendar isn’t saturated - there isn’t something on every weekend which only adds to the excitement. This place is a must if you love electronic music.

Factory 251

Set in the old building of the infamous Factory Records, Factory 251 is another one of the city’s best clubs. There are nights for everyone, from straight-laced commercial dance music to more eclectic electronic music.

Joshua Brooks

Owned by event specialists JBM Music, Joshua Brooks is part bar & kitchen and part underground club, with some of the best DJs in the country heading down into the intimate basement for extended sets. During the day, the beer is cold and the food is delicious and it doubles up as a sophisticated place to have lunch.

YES

Set across four floors, YES is a cultural centre with everything from club nights, to live music and a relaxed bar. It’s one of the many old warehouses that have been repurposed into important cultural institutions for the city.

‍Hello Oriental

Spread over three floors, Hello Oriental is Manchester’s newest food market where you can grab a quick bite to eat or stay for a drink. It’s a must-visit location for lovers of Asian cuisine.

Peveril Of The Peak

This pub is a cult classic in the city. It’s a no-nonsense pub in a Grade II listed building and known as one of the most beautiful boozers in the city.

Hatch

Much like Boxpark in Shoreditch and Cargo in Bristol, Hatch is a shipping container village in Manchester that has some excellent independent food vendors, cafes, bars as well as a packed events schedule.

Gorilla

Many of the venues in Manchester make use of the old industrial buildings that were so important during the Industrial Revolution and Gorilla does it as well as any other. Located under the railway arches, the bar, club, live music venue and restaurant has embedded itself, quite literally, into the brickwork of the city.

The Loft

The Loft isn’t technically in Ancoats, it’s further up the Oldham Road in an industrial estate. However, it’s still well-worth a visit. It’s an intimate nightclub that’s off the beaten track, but feels raw and takes DJ bookings from across the spectrum of electronic dance music.

Ancoats General Store

A corner shop isn’t usually the kind of place we’d usually be recommending as a place to hang out, but the Ancoats General Store is a corner shop with a difference. As well as all the basics, the shop is packed full of craft beer and items you won’t see at your local Tesco. As well as that, they sometimes even host impromptu events!

Hip Hop Chip Shops

Hip hop and chips. Need we say anymore?

Elnecot

Elnecot is an effortlessly cool food and drink spot in Ancoats that’s inspired by British cuisine. It’s not the cheapest place in town, but the food and atmosphere are great and it’s definitely worth checking out.

‍Hope Mill Theatre

The Hope Mill Theatre is another of the city’s smaller, independent-minded theatres with small-scale productions from local actors. It aims to bring new and exciting performances to the city and is located in the perfect neighbourhood to do so!

New Islington Tram Stop

The New Islington tram stop isn’t an official location per-se, but its become a hugely popular place for people to chill out, have a picnic and a couple of beers in the sun. Perfect for one of the (rare) days when the sun is shining in Manchester!

The Molly House

The Molly House on Richmond St is the least-well-kept secret in the Gay Village. It’s a well-trodden bar and restaurant in the area, but it remains popular for a reason! The tapas is great and it’s a welcoming spot for everyone.

G-A-Y Manchester

G-A-Y Manchester is arguably the epicentre of the Gay Village when it comes to bars and clubs. It’s open until the early hours and is almost always filled to the rafters!

Vanilla

Vanilla has been described as the ‘lesbian Mecca of the North’ and is easily the premier lesbian bar in Manchester. The award-winning bar has a calendar stacked full of events and club nights.

Canal Street

Canal Street is the main artery that runs through the Gay Village. As the name suggests, it runs alongside the Rochdale Canal and is peppered with some of the best bars, clubs and cafes in the city.

Hidden

Manchester is one of the best cities in the world when it comes to reusing and regenerating buildings to serve a purpose completely differently to the one they were built for. Hidden is another of the city’s industrial night clubs that does just that with a packed calendar of techno, electro and the full spectrum of electronic music.

The Yard

The Yard is a creative hub in Manchester; a space for some of the most creative minds in the city to work, collaborate and hang out in. As well as acting as a work space, it also hosts events including fashion fairs, club nights and more.

Spinningfields & St John’s <Collapsible section>

Spinningfields is Manchester’s financial centre and a popular location for shopping, but there are also some hidden gems and great cultural hotspots to check out.

Aviva Studios

Located on the banks of the River Irwell, Aviva Studios is the home of Factory International, and is a, “Landmark new cultural space for Manchester and the world.” Aviva is the home of everything from spoken word, poetry and performances to creative workshops and seminars.

Everyman

If you’re a film buff, you can’t do better than Everyman. With meals and cocktails served to you as you watch the latest movie, as well as sofas to sit in, Everyman provides a more glamorous experience when going to the cinema.

Lock 91

“Your local on the locks,” Lock 91 is a historic venue in Manchester’s city centre - located in an old lock keeper’s cottage. The exposed brick and wooden beams give a warm atmosphere to the place and it’s a great place to stop off for a drink in Castlefield.‍

Rebellion

Rebellion is the city’s best alternative music venue, showcasing the best in hardcore, punk as well as electronic music at their regular club nights. During the day, it’s also one of the most popular bars in the area!

Castlefield Gallery

The Castlefield Gallery is one of the best contemporary art galleries in Manchester. Located just outside Deansgate station, it’s within walking distance of the Canal Basin and has a wealth of rotating exhibitions, workshops and talking events from international artists.

Canal Basin

Perfect for a summer afternoon, the Canal Basin is a thriving area of Castlefield that’s peppered with pubs, cafes and water-side restaurants. The warehouses that used to line the water here have now been converted into swanky flats and bars, but they have managed to retain the industrial heritage of the area.

Corbieres Bar

Corbieres is a secret, low-lit wine bar which is steeped in local history and tucked away just off St Ann's Square. It’s a Manchester institution with a brilliant atmosphere.

Manchester Art Gallery

Located in Chinatown, the Manchester Art Gallery is completely free to enter and has some great exhibitions for you to check out and get inspired by.

John Rylands Library

Founded in 1824, the John Rylands Library is housed in a beautiful Neo-Gothic building in the heart of the city and “Promotes research in the humanities and sciences using the astonishingly rich special collections of the University of Manchester Library.”

Pho Cue

If you’re a fan of Southeast Asian cuisine, Pho Cue is one of the very best eating spots in the city. Head there for a hot, warming bowl of Pho, noodle salads or Vietnamese tacos.

Pot Kettle Black

Mancunians pride themselves on being able to make a banging cup of tea, so if you’re looking for a great brunch spot and a great cuppa in the city centre, you can’t go wrong with Pot Kettle Black.

Old Trafford Stadium

If you’re a Red Devil, the Theatre of Dreams is a must-visit. As one of the most famous football grounds in the world, it’s a must-see for any football fan.

Tibetan Kitchen Manchester

Are you an adventurous foodie? If so, Tibetan cuisine is a lovely treat. The Tibetan Kitchen in Manchester is a great spot for something different and the momos are stunning.

Charlton Club

Set in the heart of the Whalley Range area, the Charlton Club is a great spot for a chilled drink and a brilliant music venue south of the city.