Weird and Wonderful Bars In Manchester

While Manchester may pride itself on being at the forefront of cool, we like to think that a dash of the unusual goes a fair way in our dapper city. With a plethora of bars in MCR coming up quirky trumps, we've cultivated a list of weird and wonderful drinking endeavours in the city; from toilet bars to warehouse dens. Check out our recommendations for some of the most weird and wonderful bars in Manchester, discovering a treasure trove of quirky whims and peculiar liquid wonder. 

Last edited by Kavita Singh

Last updated on 6th October 2023




Dog Bowl

Doesn't get more weird than a bowling alley in a bar now does it? Nope, we don't think so. Where else can you plough through plush American chow, get hearty with a selection of cocktails and craft beer, then dally down a lane, competitive spirits in tow? Only Dog Bowl, that's where. An infamous bowling bar in the heart of the city, this could be one of your most unique nights out in Manchester yet. 

Richmond Tea Rooms

Hark back to the Edwardian era thanks to this darling den of botanical whimsy. A plush plot in the heart of Canal Street, Richmond Tea Rooms is a weird and wonderful dream of kitsch whimsy, boasting its own indoor conservatory, lace tablecloths and vintage furniture. A must for cocktails and afternoon tea alike, Richmond Tea Rooms is an unusual dabble for liquid fare in the city. 

Dusk til Pawn

A pawn shop may not be your first inclination for a tipple in the city, but c'mon pal, money's of a tight nature. Just kidding, it's all a damn facade. Hailed as one of the best secret bars in Manchester and perfect for those that hanker for the unusual, Dusk Til Pawn is cleverly concealed behind a barrage of neon lights, boasting prohibition style interiors with a dash of contemporary cool.

The Temple

Who'd have thunk it, drinking where people were once, erm, piddling. A famous bar in the heart of Oxford Road, Temple Bar is infamous for one thing and one thing only, the fact that it was once a toilet. Yup, you heard us right. It may be one of Manchester's smallest and brimming with dated 70s wares, but Temple is packed with more weird and wonderful history than many will ever know.