Is there only so many times you can listen to the same chart hits across a standard-looking nightclub? Thought so.
Whether you choose a dark hollow built for alternative music or a tropical tiki paradise that'll make you instantly forget the cold, cold North, you're about to find out why this city is a clubbing mecca. Take a look at our list of quirky Manchester clubs and get stuck into a really different night out.
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Bring a bit of Latin spice to your clubbing experience with Revolucion De Cuba, where drinks are rum-heavy and the music is loud. There's two floors of tunes to get your hips moving, alongside dancers ready to shake their tail (and head) feathers.
A bar, theatre and restaurant all under one roof, Impossible is the place that you go to for a truly quirky night out in Manchester. Think jaw-dropping performances, unique drinks and a lineup of immersive entertainment.
If a side order of burlesque, drag, cabaret and more would really top off your quirky night out, then it has to be gay bar and club The Brewers. This Canal Street location also has live music to boot, alongside DJs and 2 for 1 cocktails.
From small plates restaurant and cocktail lounge by day to dancefloor-ready at night, BLVD is your one-stop shop come your unique night out. Expect performers strutting their way across the stage, including firebreathers and other daring acts.
Delving out slow 'n' low cooked meats and other New Orleans-inspired grub in the day, before letting you loose on the dancefloor to DJs or live jazz performers once the sun goes down, Blues Kitchen is a night out like no other. Plus, there's some heady cocktails to accompany and special Friday nights dedicated to hip hop, RnB and afrobeats.
Whether you kick things off with some of the city's best drag events or a bottomless brunch, you're still bound to be dancing until dawn at On Bar, which is a stalwart in Gay Village. Sashay your way to this Canal Street spot to find out more.
Albert's Schloss is what happens when you combine a bier hall and a cabaret parlour to create one of the most quirky nightclubs in Manchester. This den of debauchery is host to entertainment from Oompah bands to burlesque dancers, many of whom will dance on the tables. Then, the lights turn low and the music up, so you can boogie 'til the early hours.
Mosey over to this Tib Street jazz club for live acts. When music with a lively atmosphere and party vibe is what you're after, Matt and Phred's is the place to be, thanks to everything from burlesque performances to blues jams and salsa bands.
The venue for the punk rockers, metal heads and goths of the city, this unique pick of the best quirky clubs in Manchester offers cheap drinks, two bars, and even a statue dedicated to the devil – so you pretty much know if this is the crowd for you. Heavy music and a party crowd are the orders of the night at Satans Hollow.
Alternative clubs in Manchester don't get more fun than Night People. Not only do they attract a unique crowd, but they host live bands three times a week, as well as a series of (mostly retro) club nights. The drinks are cheap and the atmosphere is friendly but fun.
If you hadn't already guessed from the name, Soup serves up the warming meal alongside other laidback lunch plates in the day. But, you can also head down to the basement gig venue and dancefloor for the best in underground DJs.
In Manchester's nightlife scene, a quirky club is one where the experience goes beyond a standard dancefloor and DJ — the venue itself, the entertainment programme or the crowd makes the night feel different.
Manchester has two standout alternative club options for punk, rock, metal and goth nights. Satan's Hollow is the city's most iconic alternative club — established in 2000 and the only dedicated haven for rock and metal lovers in Manchester. Night People is the other key alternative club option on this list, offering a similarly non-mainstream crowd and music policy.
Blues Kitchen in Spinningfields is the strongest live music club option — a 600-capacity New Orleans-inspired venue with live jazz, soul and blues performances every night of the week, plus free Friday club nights dedicated to hip hop, RnB and afrobeats until late.
