Hidden away just off Princess Street, Charlies is fairly non discript from the outside and is…read moreeasily missed unless you're looking. Whether its postioning was tactical or not I've idea but what I can tell you is that this little gem has a fantastically fun and friendly atmospere that is helped hugely by the fact that it's not somewhere idiots stumble into accidently on a ramdom crawl. Offering entertainment throughout the week including Karaoke and a 70's, 80's & 90's chart club night, Charlies plays host to the hugely popular 'Heart of Soul' club night on Saturdays, playing R'n'B, funk and Sweet Soul music. Everybody there is a have-a-go hero, X Factor it isn't but Y-not Factor it certainly is! Get your tonsils warmed up and get down there.

Charlies is a guaranteed goodnight. Bit of a mixed crowd , dodgy bar and no card machine at the bar…read moreis only negatives. Good song range, great atmosphere but have a few somewhere else before to get you on your merry singing way. I hate singing but i love it at charlies and even i sing every now n then!!

I used to love coming here, my group of friends and I went on the 23/4/23 guy with a black cap on…read morebackwards was running the karaoke, he only put our group on once, despite us booking individual songs, he then proceeds to put the same group of people up 2 times in a row and other people. We waited two hours to go up on stage, ended up leaving because he refused to put our group up. There was legit like 8 people in there, which is quiet compared to other days. As long as the guy in the black cap is running it, I wouldn't recommend going

Its certainly not the best karaoke in town but it ain't half fun in Vina some nights. Its open late…read more- until half two every day except Fridays and Saturdays when you won't be chucked out until half three in the mornings. Very cheap drinks as standard in places like this - but if you're skint, you're skint. You should still be able to have fun (!). I'd definitely recommend this place for a great late night out, if you want somewhere a bit different. They have karaoke in both English and Chinese which is ve-ery entertaining - come with a group and you won't stop laughing. Plus its absolutely free to sing. Their DJ plays the standard: RnB and Funky House to get people dancing. Not for everyone i.e. not for pretentious posers who care more about what they/ other people/ the bar looks like than having a laugh..

I'm completely comfortable with my love for The Northern, a cheeky little pub-slash-club. I…read moregenerally go there to dance the night away. It plays plenty of soul, funk and motown type stuff that's perfect for getting you bopping with your boo and buds. And there's a great vibe to this place, from the moment you realise that the entrance is on a separate street from where you actually saw the place, to going down what feels like a secret corridor to get in there. Covert operation, hmm. Intrigue! It's that wonderful, intangible mix of chilled out and lively, and having never been there during the day I'm desperate to try out the food I've been hearing so much about. Expect an update. The decor is sophisticated and retro, with a little dance floor just at the edge of the bar on which to do your thang. I remember heading there on my birthday once, after my evil stilettos had caused me to scrape my poor knee on some Manchester cobbles. I can assure you that my weepy pout was gone within half an hour of entering this bar. Vince Noir of the Mighty Boosh stated that it's impossible to be unhappy in a poncho. It's been proved to me so far that it's impossible to be unhappy in The Northern. Whenever I get the urge to boogie, this is where I take my tush. You should too.

The Northern calls itself a pub but lets be honest its more of a bar - its just too goddamn modern…read moreto be a pub. Very girl-friendly because it is clean and cosy. Lets hear how The Northern describes its clientele: A pub for romancers, dancers, soul boys and beat kids, young go getters & should know betters. Hmm. Bit posey for a pub really isn't it - trendy Northern Quarter bar that charges a leeetle bit more for drinks in exchange for proximity to quirk, yes.

Despite the rather unapealing name, the Old Grapes is neither soggy nor squelchy it is just a good…read morepub. Due to its close proximity to business district Spinningfields, 6pm on Fridays usually sees it get crammed full of office workers up for a laugh over a few relaxing pints and as such is generally a good natured and inviting place be. Its al fresco drinking area is a really fantastic sun trap during the warmer months and the cosy and traditional pub decor inside means the Grapes is just as enjoyable a place to be as the dark evenings draw in.

This one is a definite must guys. What I missed when I moved to Manchester I pined for the friendly…read morelittle pubs I used to go to dotted around Liverpool. I was in desperate need of a substitute for my local 'The Grapes' and now I have found one....'The Old Grapes'...how reminiscent. This place serves reasonably priced drinks and has a fantastic Location near Spinningfields. I may be an old man at heart but I am a sucker for cosy traditional pubs and this place is just that. Well done to the 'The Old Grapes'.

I was happy they had Boddingtons on tap! We watched horse…read moreraces on tv There was karaoke in the back, but we were in a different area, which was nice to not have one big space where the singing took over.

Now this is a fukin proper pub with christmas lights n shit…read more You can find pints of cask ales, crews of lovely lasses talking shit, and loud lads smokin outside. Aye. Old Nags Head

A private members club open to people that work in the media and a few other public sector…read moreorganisations like the Police and Fire Department. Unless you know what you are looking for you simply won't find the Press Club, a small nondescript doorway with two small and discrete signs one saying 'Manchester Press Club Founded 1870 and the other 'Members Only, All Other Callers Must Use Lloyd Street Entrance' are the only clues you'll find to its existence. Now, I understand the need for such a club- it was originally opened for those working in the media that would finish very late and want somewhere to go to wind down after work, people like newspaper printers working till the early hours- but as I've stated in many other reviews, I abhor anywhere that is separative or elitist. Sure the club may want to keep idiots and trouble causers out... but isn't that what door-staff are for?

This is one of the very few bars in the city centre to remain PRIVATE. Currently only people who…read morework in press/media or are teachers can get in . Easy to miss and very difficult to get this place it is easy to see why this place has turned into a bit of an Urban Myth. Positive : This place is open really late. Negatives: Full of big egos with too much money and you cant take all your friends.

Orchid Lounge bar is open late and as we now all know, this attracts all types. It being a karaoke…read morebar above a Thai restaurant, you know that this is not going to be a standard Manchester night out anyway. The staff here are really friendly and it is very cheap - wow I feel like I'm making excuses for the place now. You've got to see it to believe it, I mean appreciate it, really. Because they really do let ANYONE up to sing here for their brief moments of glory. Good for a laugh at weirdos who think they can sing or if you want to get up there yourself and prove everyone wrong.

Manchester has limited karaoke nights, this I am sorry to say is a fact. A cold hard fact. So this…read moreis my excuse for going to Orchid Lounge and staying for most of the night ....on three occasions (the shame). Orchid Lounge is a small musical wonderland. I don't think as I could describe the crowd here as they are all ...well....so very different in there own way. Aside from being harassed by a girl who was making x signs with her arm in my face and telling me to Simon cowell would love my Tina Turner, I was also come on to by her own father who was at least 75! To add to this I was sitting next to my fiance at the time. I suppose all of this is just part of the rich tapestry that makes the Orchid Lounge so very ...individual.

It's always nice to find a city centre pub that feels like an old man pub, but has a certain…read moresomething. I guess, as James points out, that Churchills' something is the eclectic group of customers who drink harmoniously alongside each other. Yes, as an ex-student and generally quite bourgeoise fool, the sight of a scally strikes the fear o' gawd into me. But it really needn't. At Churchills, everyone is friendly and nice, or they keep to themselves. Though it's a couple of minutes off the main thoroughfare of Canal Street, it still gets sufficiently busy, and never feels empty. That's probably down to the staff as much as the punters, as they are always friendly, and will have a bit of banter with pretty much anyone. As Alexandra says, it's always nice to find £3 doubles in the city centre, and even nicer when they're done well. I had a cracking G&T here a few weeks back, and will certainly be returning for moe. Though perhaps not on a Sunday. Once you've seen a 6'5" drag queen do Back to Black, your karaeoke mojo somewhat shrivels...

To be honest, I'm not really sure if this is a really good pub or a really good novelty…read morekind-of-straight-Canal-St pub. It doesn't really matter, because when I see skinheads and scallies enjoying a pint next to drag queens and leather wearing elderly chaps (no pun intended) it always brings a tear to my eye. What a progressed and civilized gang of drunks we are. Karaoke, cask ale, pub food, pub decor- ohhhh yes. Word of advice- do not approach the DJ, I'm sure he bites.