Madchessssssssterrr

There's been a massive power cut in the city today Lou - maybe people have gone home?

Live Bands....hmmm....I'll get back to you on that one. My brother will know.

Glad to hear the move went well and you are settling in! Can't help with nightlife I'm afraid, but how's the shopping?

First recommendation is the Manchester Academy.

Brother also says the venues in and around the Uni but we've both been living away from Manchester for so long we can't remember.

Will try sister - she's still in Manchester but not really a live music fan (apart from Take That and U2)

Oh glad you're having a fab time! No idea about Manchester as I've mainly only been to the airport ?

How's work going? Have you got somewhere to live yet?

Yay! Happy Manchester-warming. I love moving to new places, it's such fun exploring and finding one's good local deli/bar/curry house etc.

Get yourself down to Dukes 92 by the canal for lunch tomorrow and have a massive plate of cheese, pate and granary bread. That should sort out your inevitable hangover (it's saved me many times ?)

Thanks Alison! ? I am checking out academy and ruby lounge, plus apparently morissey pops into the kings arms whenever he's in town to do impromptu gigs, so I'll check that out too!

Work is great, lovely people and I think I'll be busy and happy here. Apartment is just WOW!

THanks la P and baron- I'll check those out! ?

Ahhh, that's so fab! ?

Sorry 'bout this week lovely but see you vv soon!

Have fun! ?

Woohoo!congratulations! i live about 30mins from the centre now, but i used to live in victoria park (nr university) so i feel entitled to welcome you from a distance! ?

would recommend the roadhouse for live bands and cheap entry. you will stick to the floor, but it's very good for the best bands before anyone's heard them. i saw idlewild second on the bill there once <fondly remembers>

if you like cocktails, go to pure space. go to the palace hotel, stand with your back to the front doors. cross to the other side of the road, turn left and go under the railway bridge. turn right immediately after and you go past the font (ok for a drink), then space is on your left just after.

Ooh it sounds so fab, I'm so pleased for you! Mr G is doing a gig at the Academy 3 first weekend in March, come along and sell merch with me, rock chick styleeee ?

Glad you're in Lou, and I hope the move brings you everything you want it to.

WHoooooooooooooooooooooo Louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

Great news, I am sure you'll be up to no good soon ?

Blimey now there's a blast from the past - Is Dukes 92 still doing this? I spent most of my student weekends stocking up on cheese and granary bread there - about £2 for a plate and enough cheese to take home to last the rest of the week! ?

Moomoo, I used to looooof idlewild <joins mm in reminiscing> and I met them last summer when they were playing at a festival in scotland, woo! I will definitely go to that place.

Flumpus, consider me duly recruited!

La P, moi cheesey dancing? Sacre bleu, whatever gave you that idea? ? [wink]

Fab, glad you're all moved down and settling in. Have fun exploring.

Welcome LouM.

I moved here, from Scotland, nearly 6 years ago and needless to say have loved it or I wouldn't still be here.

The recs already given are pretty spot on! Hope you have a fab time exploring! I'm afraid I'm only any good with recommending shops.

Amee
x

Welcome to Manchester! ?

No idea about obscure music, but I reckon you might like Odder bar (two of them, one opposite the BBC, the other is in the Northern Quarter)

Also, i like Tiger Lounge (NOT to be confused with Tiger Tiger!!) and Temple of Convenience for nice beer.

And if you are drunk and fancy a boogie, I would heartily recommend Fab Cafe on Whitworth Street. (I think its there, anyway!!)

? Welcome to Manchester!

No idea about hip places to go, it's been a while since I was hip!

? Welcome to Manchester Lou!!

There is a superb restaurant next door called Albert Shed, seriously it really is lovely and doesn't break the bank. We had our north west Christmas meal there. <drool>

I can endorse Mrs M's recommendation (I was at the same meal) and it was delishus!! The authentic pictures of Albert and his beloved shed are very entertaining on your way down to the loos as well ?

Has no-one mentioned Night & Day Cafe? Another vote for the Roadhouse too.

Manchester Ritz (under the railway arches just off Oxford Road) have a few indie gigs and not forgetting Manchester Apollo for bigger names. Biggest venue of course is MEN Arena but it's far too huge in my opinion and has no atmosphere or soul. I was lucky enough to get tickets to see Snow Patrol at the Ritz on eve of the release of their 2nd album and there were under 1000 people there, it was awesome. Also love the Academies, can't beat intimate gigs.

There's a really cool cafe/bar called Odd, I don't know Manchester that well but it's kind of somewhere in between the Arndale and Affleck's Palace if that makes sense! Well, I think it's cool, it's full of arty student types. They do lots of different bottled beers and gorgeous range food including lots of med stuff, lots of veggie stuff too. Hmm, you just have to try it. I've never been there at night as only discovered it in my post baby days but I think they have open mic/acoustic nights there.

I'd also recommend the Night and Day cafe (although not the ladies loos in there).

The Royal Oak in Didsbury does yummy cheese and pate lunches too and you can go to The Cheese Hamlet over the road to buy yet more yummy cheese if you haven't had quite enough in there!

And I'm afraid my favourite place to eat in Manchester is still Number1 Chinese Buffet - yummity yum yum yum.

Not been to the Academies since bub arrived - have they finished all the building work now??

Second the Roadhouse, Night & Day and Ritz for obscure bands (have to say that as our friends band plays them all!)

Hurrah, so glad the move has gone well so far Lou ?

I'm the other side of the Pennines but last time I was in Manchester I had a great time perving at young, long-haired, dirty indie boys at a club called 42nd Street ?

That's pretty much what I spent my 3 years at Manchester Uni doing! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, happy days!

Yay! Happy new home!! I hope you'll be v.happy in Ingerlund. xx

I'm so glad you posted this Lou! We're off out in Manchester Saturday night and there are lots of suggestions here for if I don't like where the masses end up! ?

Anyone mentioned Mojos yet? is bar, not club. on Black Bridge Street, sort of behind deansgate at House of Fraser end - between deansgate and the canal/bridge over to the Lowry Hotel.

have had lovely cocktails and raucous nights out there. music is great and there seemed to be a brilliant mix of crowd. also, shimla pinks - a fab curry house - is nearby.

(directions may be ropey/require proper map checking as was pie-eyed the last time i went to mojos)

edited to add that now realise you were talking about live music venues and the like. mojo has dead good jukebox which kept me happy while i got drunk(er). people of discerning musical tastes were also happy so would still recommend.