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~ PRINT-FRIENDLY VERSION ~ |
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The Northern Quarter Bar Crawl |
| This Northern Quarter bar crawl takes in some of the best bars in Manchester. Wiith so many to choose from, we advise picking and choosing which ones suit you best, given your time scale and drinking tolerance (see our not as Print-Friendly version here) or split it up over more than one day. Obviously, we encourage responsible drinking and ask that you pace yourself accordingly. This being the Northern Quarter, most bars serve food of some sort and there's some great non-alcoholic drinks like Root Beer, Dandelion & Burdock and Cherry Tree Cola to be had at nearly all of the bars en route. Most bars will refuse entry if you're too intoxicated so please drink responsibly. Don't forget to submit reviews of each bar you visit and show this bar crawl before placing your order to enjoy exclusive special offers (where applicable). |
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key:  = real ale,  = cocktail menu,  = food served,  = disco,  = live music,  = open after 2am  = beer garden,  = NYE,  = pool table |
,  = stag/hen parties welcome,  = gay bar  = karaoke ,  = quiz nights,  = kids welcome,  = popular with united fans,  = popular with city fans |
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| You can start this Northern Quarter bar crawl in three places. Either the first bar on the route, the invite-only HQ of The Liquorists, located in the railway arches of the Redbank industrial estate, or at the Park Inn by Radisson hotel next to the MEN Arena. Alternatively, you can start at Shudehill Interchange, missing out the first two bars... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE | INVITE ONLY ~ |
| A mixed use venue from drinks experts The Liquorists, available for private parties and used as one of the destinations in The Liquorist's Trails and for their Masterclasses amongst other events. Located in the Green Quarter, just a 5 minute walk from the Northern Quarter, there's a full premium spirits bar manned by international award-winning cocktail makers, a whisky lounge, photographic studio, full professional kitchen, a banquet dining area, table football and table tennis. As this is an events venue with an invite-only bar, you will need to book ahead. |
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| 5 mins walk ~ Turn right out of RedBank and take the first left, up the hill past the apartments on Lord Street to the busy main road (Cheetham Hill Road). Once at the main road, turn left and the Park Inn by Radisson hotel, home of the next bar, is on your left... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Located on the edge of the Northern Quarter in the residential 'Green Quarter' area, you'll find the RBG cocktail bar at the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel with its suntrap terrace, perfect for summer drinking. With the Manchester Arena located just across the road, it's a popular pre-concert destination. |
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| 10 mins walk ~ Turn left out of the Park Inn and walk along the busy Cheetham Hill Road, over the railway bridge, until you get to The Ducie Arms pub at the huge junction with Corporation Street. Turn right here (heading into the city centre) until you get to the tram tracks at the pedestrian crossing (Victoria Station is on your right). Turn left here, following the tram tracks until you get to Shudehill Metrolink stop. |
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| 1 min walk ~ Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing at Shudehill tram stop and turn left. Then Turn right on to Thomas Street (opposite Shudehill Interchange) and you'll find your first bar on the right... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Amongst antique pharmacy cabinets, which give it an almost gothic feel, this multi-award winning Northern Quarter bar serves some of the best cocktails in Manchester. Fantastic DJs pump out everything from Fleetwood Mac and Paul Simon to the Hot 8 Brass Band and Snoop Dog whilst a downstairs bar is also attached to Dough Pizza Kitchen by an underground tunnel. |
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| 1 min walk ~ Turn right when leaving Apotheca and, at the crossroads, your next bar is just across the road (to your right)... |
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| ~ SMART CASUAL DRESS CODE ~ |
| This recently redesigned kitsch cocktail bar is spread across two floors and offers great cocktails, world beers, wines and ciders. At weekends, it's one of the Northern Quarter's most popular night-spots with DJ's spin everything from classic motown and Northern Soul to fringe-pop and modern classics |
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| 1 min walk ~ Turn right when leaving Walrus and, back at the crossroads, turn right and your next bar is just there... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| This Bohemian bar, set over two floors on Thomas Street, represents the Northern Quarter better than any other bar - an unpretentious place to relax with regular live folk music hosted by The Travelling Band, a fantastic jukebox, and DJs from Piccadilly Records, amongst others, spinning everything from funk, soul and blues to psych, Kraut and garage. Throw into the mix a great pub quiz and an amazing selection of ales and spirits, and you can see why this is one of the most popular bars in Manchester. |
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| 2 mins walk ~ Come out of the door aoff odd and head straight down the tiny Brick Street to the left. Keep walking down, past the Muslim Youth Centre, until you reach Manchester Buddhist Centre with its Earth Vegetarian Cafe (Turner Street). Turn right here until you get to the end of the road (Oklahoma cafe and shop will be on your right). Turn left on to High Street and turn left again, following the tram tracks. The next pub is on your left.... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Located in the Northern Quarter, opposite the Arndale Market and a block away from the main shopping area, this large High Street boozer is, as the name suggests, the most 'English' of venues. Leather sofas, bookshelves, prints on the walls and lots of dark wood set the tone for you to sup the wide variety of traditional cask ales, browse the decent wine list and enjoy great British food. |
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| 3 mins walk ~ Turn left out of the door of the pub and then turn left again at the traffic lights (Church Street). The next bar is on your right at the junction of the next set of traffic lights... |
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| ~ SMART CASUAL DRESS CODE ~ |
| Extremely popular New York inspired speakeasy, diner, nightclub and pool hall all rolled into one. Situated in a basement underneath the famous Affleck's Palace in the heart of the Northern Quarter, it's open until 4am every day, boasting great cocktails, five pool tables, table football, a hidden VIP room, live music and DJs spinning hip hop, disco and house. This is one of the most popular bars in town so you should expect to queue around the block in the evening. |
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| 1 min walk ~ Come out of the door of Black Dog and cross the road on to Tib Street opposite you (the multi storey car park will be on your left). The next bar is on your right, raised slighty above you off the road.... |
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| (before 7pm) ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Opened in 2001, this is one of the original Northern Quarter bars, located next to the soul record shops on Tib Street. With a New York neighbourhood cafe feel, it remains just as popular today thanks to award-winning bouteque cocktails, a great import beer selection and tasty American food. |
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| 2 mins walk ~ Turn right out of Simple and cross the road at the junction (staying on Tib Street). The next bar is a few doors up on the right.... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| This no gimmicks Northern Quarter boozer opened in May 2012 and embraces the history and tradition of the area, combining a vintage pub design with contemporary features. Independently owned by three of the leading names in Manchester's bar scene, it’s not attempting to be a theme bar and just offers a good old fashioned selection of beers, spirits and wines with TV screens showing an array of NYE over its two floors. There's also a live acoustic music night once a month. |
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| 1 min walk ~ The next bar is on the left of the short cul-de-sac, directly opposite you as you come out of Tib Street Tavern.... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| One of the Northern Quarter's original bars boasts a recently refreshed interior which provides a popular meeting place for the creative types that flow through its doors. There's a fantastic choice of ales, a large whisky collection, artistic showcases and some great live music, open mic and DJ nights plus a beautiful white tiled wall basement, which is used as a creative events space. |
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| 2 mins walk ~ Turn right out of the bar and turn right again (back on to Tib Street). At the junction (with Thomas Street) turn left and then at the traffic lights, turn right (on to Oldham Street). The next bar is on the opposite side of the road.... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Ever since Factory Records and New Order opened this historic venue on Oldham Street in 1989, it has overcome the changes of the years, stood the test of time and still remains one of the Northern Quarter's prominent bars and live music establishments. Both Shaun Ryder and Liam Gallagher were infamously once barred. Today, DJs spin everything from indie, Madchester and 80s electronica to 60s, 70s, funk, soul and Balearic beats. Downstairs you'll also find Dry Live, a popular live music and nightclub space. |
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| 1 min walk ~ Turn right out of the bar and turn right again (Hilton Street). The next two bars are together on your right (behind the bus stop). There's even a secret door that connects the two... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Located on Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter, this dimly lit great little gem of a bar offers comfy Chesterfields in which to sit and enjoy some of the best cocktails in Manchester. A very popular bar with a young creative crowd, graffiti lines the walls with artsy murals of skyscrapers and cityscapes, whilst another wall is transformed into a movie theatre with old films screened during the week. Resident DJs turn it into a dancing den at weekends with the bar becoming a cool place to party. |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Opened in December 2012 by the same people as NoHo, next door. This is a true Northern Quarter speakeasy, concealed behind the vintage guitars and televisions on display in the metal-barred windows of an old-fashioned pawnbroker's shop. Specialising in bourbon whiskies, the cocktails are amongst the best in Manchester and a free jukebox offers classic soul, blues, folk and rock. |
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| 1 min walk ~ Turn right out of Dusk Til Pawn and then turn left at the junction (Lever Street). The next bar is on your left (behind the bus stop)... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Opened in 2011 by the same people behind Apotheca and Dough Pizza Kitchen, this very popular European style bread and wine bar offers traditional ales, cocktails and an impressive wine list with over 70 bins to choose from. In keeping with its Northern Quarter location, this is a friendly and unpretentious place to sit and enjoy freshly baked bread and great wines without feeling like a novice. |
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| 1 min walk ~ You can either go out of the back door of Bakerie (through the smoking area) or turn left out of the front door and turn left again down the first side street (Faraday Street). Your next stop is a Pie and Ale Store by Bakerie (on the right)... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Opened during May 2013 in the building behind its sister bar Bakerie, this excellent pie and ale bar is the perfect place to try new ales and eat unique pies all made in house. Bakerie Pie and Ale has a weekly changing menu., always something new to try! |
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| 2 mins walk ~ Turn right out of the door of the shop and turn left back on to the side street. Turn riaht onto Newton Street (Bakerie will now be on your right) and Cross over the road continue walking down Newton Street turn left at the crossroads (Stevenson Square). You'll soon come to the next bar, in a basement on your left.... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| This wild late-night 1950’s inspired Tiki bar in the Northern Quarter offers great cocktails, over 100 rums and even more hedonistic fun. Early doors, relaxed beach tunes and tropical fish whisk you away from the Manchester rain above to a Polynesian paradise before all hell lets loose when the flame throwers hit the Zombies and the resident XFM DJs get the party rocking. Open late every night, this is one of the busiest bars in the Northern Quarter, so expect to queue. Look out for the free rum tasting sessions. |
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| 1 min walk ~ Climb back up the stairs and turn left out of the door (on to Hilton Street). Cross Newton Street at the traffic lights (staying on Hilton Street). The next pub is just on your left... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| This traditional pub turned modern bar in the Northern Quarter offers a good choice of real ales and draught beers, all complemented by a pool table, rooftop terrace and live sport. Owned by the same people behind the neighbouring R'House, Lammars and Lola's Bar, it has recently been refurbished with their trademark touches including an ice white bar lit by changing neon colours. |
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| 1 min walk ~ Come out of the same door you entered the pub and continue along Hilton Street. Turn right at the crossroads with Traiff Street and the next bar is behind the first door on your left... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| Opened in December 2012, this very popular Northern Quarter blues bar offers an evergrowing list of whiskies, Pieminster pies, local ales and a fantastic cocktail list. The exposed brick walls of the old textile mill, in which it stands, add the perfect ambience with leather Chesterfield sofas, clever lighting, a piano, two dart boards, a live music venue in the basement and an outdoor heated seating area. |
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| 1 min walk ~ Turn right out of the Whiskey Jar. Turn right again at the crossroads, back on to Hilton Street. The next bar is on the opposite side of the road... |
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| ~ SMART CASUAL DRESS CODE ~ |
| This vibrant bar, hidden away in the Piccadilly Basin area of the Northern Quarter, is named in tribute to legendary Manchester drag queen, Frank 'Foo Foo' Lammar. A hidden gem that became one of the busiest bars in town after being voted the Pride Of Manchester Awards 'Best Bar in Manchester' two years on the trot (2009 & 2010). DJ's playing motown, soul, 70's, 80's and disco attract an eclectic crowd, which includes everybody from bearded Bohemian types and fancy dress hen parties, to dressed to impress models from the agency next door, or those heading to the nearby gay village. Expect to queue (and pay) to get in at weekends. |
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| 5 mins walk ~ Go straight across the road out of the door of Lammars (down China Lane). Turn left on to Dale Street. At the end of the road, turn left again on to Ducie Street and walk past The Place Apartment Hotel. The next bar is a little further up on your right... |
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| ~ NO DRESS CODE ~ |
| This sports bar in the Piccadilly Basin area of the Northern Quarter, just next to Piccadilly Station, boasts 12 large indoor golf simulators which also double as huge screens for NYE, XBox 360 games, private karaoke screens or Microsoft Kinect bowling lanes and dance booths. There's also pool and table football offering the full sports experience. Previously known as Golftorium. |
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| 5 mins walk ~ Leaving the bar, turn left. At the traffic lights, you can either turn left for Piccadilly Station or turn right for Piccadilly Gardens and the city centre. |
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| We hope you enjoyed your Northern Quarter pub crawl and have submited reviews of each bar you've visited. Don't forget to have a pint of water before bedtime! |
| Please contact us with feedback on this bar crawl, especially if you got lost at any point, so that we can improve it for others. |
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