Top 6 Manc Nights-Out

Thomas Barker collaborates with BIMM Student

Chris Linton to provide you with a list of the best clubs for students yearning to experience something close to the Haçienda.

By Thomas Barker

If vinyl’s your thing—Night and Day, and Eastern Bloc

Night and Day’s sound system is so powerful that the venue has been involved in a noise dispute since 2022 - so bring earplugs if you go! With club nights running twice every week until 03:00 AM, Night and Day is recommended only to those who can handle a long night out. Each night has a different DJ on the decks, including famous faces like Tim Burgess, but they usually play only old school beats on vinyl.

Eastern Bloc Records has offered good coffee, and great music, since 1985. The rival of the Haçienda, this multi-purpose location has stuck around because people realised this place had to stay. Although still shifting vinyl, the club caters to a wide range of genres: drum & bass, jungle, dubstep, house, techno and electronica. It is a relatively small venue (it can hold only 50 people) adding to the feeling of exclusivity.

Eastern Bloc Location: 5a Stevenson Square, Manchester M1 1DN

Night & Day Location: 26 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JN

Want to save cash? XLR, Factory, and Hidden:

XLR is a club based in Withington, which predominantly plays garage, a genre that has revived itself in the past five years. This basement venue is a nice, little club popular with students with cheap drinks on offer. It is perfectly structured for upcoming artists to experiment, with the regulars generally more interested in the ‘night out’ experience than the musical excellence of the DJs.

Hidden is a club that plays different genres of music on each of its five floors, although the venue emphasises electronic music in line with the current Berlin-esque trends. But, stamina and deep pockets are a must, as Hidden often stays open until 4AM and a weekend ticket will set you back £22.

Factory - AKA Fac251 - builds off the Haçienda and Factory Records. As Mancunian as Vimto, Factory’s home is the renovated Factory Records’ headquarters located on Charles Street. This is the place for student nights: tickets go for as little as £1 on Monday, to totally free on Tuesday - with a sprinkling of student deals thrown in for good measure. As Factory is so cheap tickets sell quickly, so get them in advance to avoid disappointment! House, R’n’B and Tech is on the decks every Tuesday, with Hip-Hop and Drill every Monday.

Factory Location: 112-118 Princess St, Manchester M1 7EN

Exclusively mysterious—White Hotel:

Located on the same business estate as Hidden, White Hotel attracts up-and-coming underground artists from across the UK. It represents the Hacienda more than anywhere else, because of its exclusivity and tight-knit community. What makes White Hotel a must-visit is the extent to which it values the concept of exclusivity: No photos or videos are permitted, with lockers provided for personal items. This is because performers at the venue either value their anonymity or prefer to have their music speak for itself. As a result, each visit will yield a unique and personal experience.