Big Hands is an essential watering hole before a Gig or even if you just happen to be in the…read morevicinity. It has a really nice relaxed atmosphere even when it is crammed full of sweaty Metal Heads (as it usually is for the type of Gigs I go to). If I lived near by then it would be my local so that I could go in and play a game of guess who is playing a gig by the punters attire and general appearance. If you happen to pop in to play this game (Soon to be screened on BBC1). and see me in there, then be assurred that there is about to be Metal of the highest quality going down \m/

I have a confession to make in that I've been living in Manchester for 7 years now and had never…read moreactually been to Big Hands until last Friday. Basically it was one of those places where people would say "yeah big hands is great" "oh you know what it's like" - and I'd just nod and smile thinking damn I'll get there one day! Ok so it is pretty out on a limb being up by MRI hospital and surprisingly close to the Manchester Academy music venues, making it pretty popular I guess before gigs. Again I'm not really sure why it wasn't on my horizon before this but basically I would always go to Kro across the road before gigs at the Academy. The bar looks tiny from outside but is surprisingly spacious throughout and has a lot more room in the back. It has a real 'neighbourhood bar' feel about it and the staff were pretty friendly, plus they were playing great music at a volume that you could actually chat over even though it was about 12.30am. A good selection of craft beer and some good beers on tap, it was great to also see the Okells beer from the Isle of Man represented in the bottle fridges.

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..

My family still haven't got over the fact that I chose to celebrate my birthday one year at The…read moreTemple. They would have understood if I'd chosen a restaurant or a nightclub with a dancefloor but a bar that used to be a public toilet? That threw them completely. To digress, The Temple used to be a public toilet many moons ago. In the nineties however, it was converted into Manchester's smallest bar. Accessed via a blink-or-miss-it stairwell off Oxford Street, it's a bustling place with an intimate atmosphere and shabby chic interior. There's a tiny bar with great bottled beers and spirits, a cool jukebox with lots of Mancunian rock and roll, a cluster of seats for about 20 people and standing room for about 20 more. Suffice to say, nights here to be fun and messy - which is why I chose it as the perfect birthday venue!

The place is called Temple, it is a bar which used to be a public toilet, it is underground and…read morelooks very grungy and dark inside and of course serves alcohol ---- I love the whole concept (Note: I was born and raised in a Hindu family and Temple is a place of worship for Hindu's). I would love to bring one of those conservative Hindu priests here just to see his reaction (would be comedy gold). I am a big fan of its sister bar Big Hands and that is one of the reason I decided to visit Temple (obviously the name intrigued me too). They play funky rock music, have a good selection of beers and good enough seating arrangements (don't expect to get a seat post 8 pm on any day). Yes the bar is quite crammed and small but that kind of has its own appeal according to me -- It definitely keeps you warm on a chilly winter night! The beers are reasonably priced, though some may say its expensive for the kind of space it has, but I guess being ghetto and grungy is upmarket these days (explains the price). The crowd is usually quite nice, mostly working professionals around oxford road, you might find the masters and Phd students hanging out here too but definitely not a place where 18 year old's are screaming and shouting! Verdict: You should definitely go there for the novelty of the concept!

There are two entrances to Dive (Tib St. and Oldham), but I came in through the smaller Tib St…read more entrance, which has a "grungier" sort of feel to it. Best way to enter into a place called "Dive" is through the seedy back door, in my opinion. Going down the stairs you see that seedy quickly turns to classy with awesome wooden interior with a slight Americana feel to it. It's a cool mix of cozy and warm while being fresh and new, with an overall laid back atmosphere. Try to picture something being rough but varnished at the same time. Spool-style wooden tables and high chairs are all over the place, so there isn't a lack of areas to sit and rest your drinks. If you want more of a lounge feel, there are a few alcoves - one with its own bar and big screen TV with leather red/brown couches. It's cut off a bit from the main area with a red curtain partially closing it off, so you can get a slight escape from the rest of the area. The Americana feel isn't overly-apparent just by the decorations and atmosphere, but it becomes obvious that's what they're going for when you see the staff dress. Waitresses are dressed in a 80's TV-style casual southern belle fashion, while bar staff is reminiscent of lumberjacks or Rosie the Riveter, even accompanied with leather half-aprons that look like they could double for a new style of utility belt. Cocktails cost £7.50, and are pretty generous with the liquor - definitely not weak, even though they remain flavourful. I started with a Gin and Juice (Beefeater Gin, cloudy apple juice, elderflower), and moved on to ginger beer and Blind Pig flavoured ciders. Even the gin and tonic or bourbon and coke were pleasantly strong without overpowering things. They've got great food to choose from, and good lunch specials if you're wanting a bite without the evening party atmosphere. The macaroni and cheese balls are a cool take on an American classic, but be careful - they're served hot! That's a common theme with the food it seems; the crab cakes were delightfully crispy/crunchy on the outside while the interior was a bit too hot, but creamy and full of flavour. There was a live band the night we went, with Anna Sin playing 50's and 60's jams. Their opening song was Route 66, and they killed it throughout the rest of the night with classic hits. This definitely fit the atmosphere, but I was less enthused by the DJ music. The house music seemed to be an eclectic mix and fairly disjointed, but got better as the night ran on. It feels like it'd be perfectly suited to some jazz or blues music, or 50's to 80's classic American songs. Dive is open until 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, and while the phone reception is poor (usually cuts out as soon as you get downstairs), they've got free wifi so you can connect that way when you get in. As a disclaimer: this is a review based on the launch party I was able to attend. That being said, I've got a strong feeling I'll be back to give an updated review soon! Very tempted to come back for lunch to get a proper meal in.

Came here for the launch party. There are two entrances, one is in Oldham Street and another is on…read moreTib Street. Cocktails are great - I had Gin and juice. It has a very strong American theme, the staff wore plaid shirts and jeans. Some female staff dress very southern like Daisy Duke. American tunes, American drinks - like Bourbon, Root beers, etc. There is one main bar and a smaller bar in the lounge area. A big dancing floor, live band and DJ area. A few big tables in booth style set-up, and some high tables around the bar. It was a fun night but the tunes were a bit off - live band was playing American oldies, DJ was playing was playing random American songs but I feel some rock or 80's would suit things better.

FAB has to be my favourite bar in Manchester. It may seem a little grungy on first inspection the…read morebar is actually very good. The prices are exceptional for Manchester and I have rarely seen it over crowded so there is no 30 minute wait at the bar for a drink. They have a number of specialist and national beers on tap as well as in bottles and bottles of alcopops and shots of spirits. The DJ area is pure genius ... The bridge of the original starship enterprise with Gerard the Dalek protecting it from the side. In the left corner there is a tardis that lights up and the ceiling is full of models from sci if shows like battle star galactica and Star Trek. Near the toilets there is a number of arcade machines and there are arcade tables near the tardis where you can play classic games such as pacman and donkey kong for a small fee. To top it all off there is also a pinball machine present. The bar snacks range from sweets to nuts and crisps and they also provide a simple, classic, student type menu. Through out the week there are various theme night such as games nights but there are a number of board games available at any time and these games can easily be played. The decor is brilliant for fans of science fiction shows and there are a number of posters and signed pictures around the place and there is a glass cabinet of merchandise ranging from classic Star Wars and superman collectables. Next to this here is a table which is a scene from an alien landing and a comfortable booth. Located near china town I always have to visit this bar when I stay over in Manchester. Thereupon are also tv screens located all around that will play classic cartoons, movies and tv shows.

I used to go to the Fab Cafe in Leeds when it first opened and was crazy about the place. 80's film…read moreand TV memorabilia lined the walls and dangled from the ceiling, they stocked an array of 80's confectionery behind the bar (think Dib Dabs, Sherbert Fountains, Space Raiders and even Pot Noodles), tables with the BUILT-IN PACMAN arcade game, decent music and cheap drinks. What was NOT to love? Well, fast-forward 10 years and you suddenly realise that walking into a sticky-floored bar and being greeted by the smell of piss doesn't quite have the same allure anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still think the Fab chain is, well, fab, I just think that the next time I go to the one in Manchester, it'll have to be at the end of the night when I'm pie-eyed and youngsters, smells, dirty toilets and crap dancing don't bother me. Going back to the toilets though - have you read the graffiti on the doors/walls in there? Some of it is hilarious, poetic even! You could be in there for hours just reading. Anyway, I think Fab Manchester deserves a second chance as we went in there quite early on in the evening and I guess it doesn't really come to life until a bit later. I will say that I was a tad disappointed in the state of it though and reckon they could do with putting some money into giving it a revamp, or even just a good scrub. Crikey, I think I'm turning into a snob.

The service was good. Nice selection of drinks and a variety of food. We sat near the open window…read moreto view the street. The bites we had were good. A clean place. We did not dive deep into the menu.

Really great spot that is easy to enjoy. Huge and beautiful space. Multiple bar areas to…read moreaccommodate huge crowds if needed. We simply ordered at the bar and found open seating in the bar area. The 12 hr munich pork sandwich was delicious. The cheese and mustard perfectly compliment the flavor and the pork shines. Served with house fries that were delicious also; crispy, salty and delicious. The bratwurst klassic was also great; exactly what you expect in a brat. Fantastic selection of German and Czech beers to choose from. Service was great, but, it was early on a Saturday and the crowd continued to build even as we were leaving. They had a drag MC that sang requested birthday songs and occasionally had something, ie one question trivia with winner getting a prosecco bottle, to break up between dj'ed songs. It made it entertaining without overwhelming you from enjoying food, beer and conversation. Absolutely fabulous!

How delighted I was to stumble across this little basement by accident, strolling down Half Moon…read moreStreet just because it had a nice name. And there, opposite the fire escapes, and between the back doors and wheely bins...is Corbieres...a welcoming little rectangle of light luring you in and down its steps. And I really do mean 'luring' - my beau and I had said just 5 minutes ago that we didn't fancy a beer, and yet we soon found ourselves at the bottom of those stairs investigating the various lagers on offer! There wasn't a great selection on tap, certainly no names that I recognised, and the barman didn't seem too enthused about what was on, but I got to try a new Czech lager that I was quite pleased with. And there was a good selection of bottled goodies behind the bar as well. The room is rather small, but the atmosphere of the place is just great: exciting yet understated, the kind of place I could imagine both hipsters and die hard football fans could rub shoulders and neither would snigger at the other. That's my kind of place. The jukebox is wonderful. During our brief visit we were serenaded by a mixture of Happy Mondays, Stone Roses (we are in Manchester after all) and some other classic delights. In fact, one of the quotes on the walls (see photo) claiming to be from Ian Brown himself, is that it "always was, still is, the best jukebox in Manchester." High praise indeed. To sum up, my beau and I both left already plotting our return, this time with friends in tow, to show off the cool bar that we found!

Alison's is a pretty good review of Corbieres, covering all the main points. It definitely…read moredeserves a visit. However, she writes that the bar has managed to keep a low profile and that if you get there early, its all yours. In recent months its popularity has absolutely boomed if that used to be the case, and on Friday and Saturday nights, you've often got little chance of getting in, let alone sitting down, or accessing the Juke Box. The Juke Box is an absolute joke, no doubt, as it claims, it's the best in Manchester. The place is in a cool wine cellar which gives in a unique feel and it has a lizard attached to the bar (great idea). There isn't a focus on wine despite being a wine bar and the clientele are indeed much better than your average Deansgate set. Its genuinely one of the coolest bars around and I think its one everyone should try, so I do advise going, just make it a week night...

I stayed at the Indigo Hotel right next door to the Spread Eagle for a week and during this time I…read moreusually started and ended my nights of drunken debotchory at the Spread Eagle. It's a wonderful dive bar with a very diverse crowd of regulars. I had such a great time drinking here and carrying on conversations with everyone I met; quite the cheeky crowd it is. And a couple of the nights I visited they had some really good bands. Definitely worth checking out and relaxing. Just be cool.

Myself and my gf went here as 1 we loved the name and 2 it was right next door to our hotel…read more * Drinks prices excellent! * DJ was spinning some awesome tunes on the Sunday night we first went in * Bar staff very friendly * Nice big beer garden out the back Great little place and will defo be back!

It's hard to believe that a little over a year ago I had never been to The Liars Club! What a fab…read moreplace. I've been many many times since and now I live so close by, it's one of my local bars on a night out. This underground tiki-themed dive bar is small, but always has the best atmosphere. The drinks are all yummy, mainly rum based and the cocktails are a delight to watch being made and to drink! The bartenders in Liars are very friendly and are always up for a laugh. I do find that Liars Club is better during the week than at a weekend - the weekend gives off a different vibe, and gets a little too busy for my liking - but rest assured you'll have a good night in here no matter when you visit.

Me and my homies needed some libations while we gossiped and caught up so I decided this was a…read moregreat place to go after dinner. Plus, I read this place was known for its many types of cocktails so I wanted to check it out! The bar is well decorated and looks like it was taken from a set of the cheap version of Gillian's island or something. The decorations can be considered tacky, but come on... It's a tiki bar! I give props to them for their effort. They have a big cocktail menu so don't come here for just a glass of wine or beer... Nope, you're in the wrong bar for that! When we ordered our drinks, we found out that there was a 2 4 1 deal, so we ended up with one extra drink...score! We ended up ordering the zombie (it had fire so I thought it was cool) and three others I can't remember... Haha. All I remember is the drinks were strings, some were well mixed while others were eh it was ok... Just tasted like alcohol. Though the bar is cool, it does have a smelly funk to it so prepare to close your nose especially if the place is crowded...the drinks are cool, pretty creative but the art of making yummy cocktails is kinda lost because the proportion of the juices and alcohol isn't quite well done. Fun place to go to though if you don't care about that stuff!

I never really went out in Fallowfield when I was at uni - it was studenty but not in a good way…read more The city centre was nice, but expensive and full of 'real people'. So more often than not I'd end up drinking at establishments on, or just off, the Oxford Road. Sometimes this was structured into an Oxford Road pub crawl. On numerous occasions the conversation went like this: Friend: Are you coming down Oxford Road? Kirsten: Where abouts are you going? Friend: We'll start in the Grovel, head to the Oxford, down to the Phoenix, the Footage then down to the Pub, Sand... Kirsten: Which pub? Friend: *THE* Pub. Kirsten: *sigh* It's annoying, in the same way that The Bar in Chorlton is quite an annoying name for a bar. I think a more fitting name for it would be 'Just Another Pub'. It sells beer, it's quite cheap, the jazz saxophonist I once heard play in here was quite good, there are always free tables for when Sandbar's full. Yeah, it's definitely not *the* pub to drink in but it is okay for a quick pint.

How is this place still in exsistance?! Some one please buy it and turn it into the nice bar it…read moreshould be. I hate horrible little pubs that aren't ashamed of being horrible little pubs. This place has cheap drinks but not good drinks. Alcopops and the like. Bleugh. It's right near Zoo, a very popular student night so I reckon that's the only reason it's doing ok. But the with Deaf Institute opposite and the Footage on the corner, why would anyone go here?! The name says it all really, this place can not be bothered being anything other than basic.