A guide to Manchester

Bar Life

Manchester has always had a thriving bar scene. The early days spawned the likes of Horts Henry’s and the edgy Dry Bar. However no one could have predicted just how much influence the bars, restaurants and clubs would have in the regeneration of the city centre.

The opening of Deansgate Locks changed the drinking landscape of the city in 2000. The Sugar Lounge had a good three year run but even that has become more of a student hang out along with the rest of the locks bars. Northern Quarter (for all you media types!) is providing the most cutting edge and excitement, with bars like Odd, Bluu and the lovely Socio Rehab well worth of a visit.

For those that like their bars to be full of glitz and glam, the recently opened Manchester 235Casino in the Great Northern Warehouse is proving very popular. The addition to the Manchester bar scene of our first Skybar Cloud 23 at Betham Tower on Deansgate has been very welcome. It really gives you a feeling that Manchester has arrived as you sip the most extravagant cocktails the city has to offer. Both thes two attractions are within five minutes walk of our Deansgate apartments.

Manchester's number 1 bar has to be Panacea on John Dalton Street. It was Manchester’s first £1m bar and is still as popular as ever for the wannabe wags and champagne Charlie’s. You need to be there for no later than 10.30pm as it has not one but three queues! It has never had a rival until now as Arnie Hiras new cutting edge restaurant and bar - Ithaca - also on John Dalton Street - has opened for business and has a decor never yet seen before in Manchester. Its cuisine is a rich mix of asian fusion with so much passion it is well worth a visit. Both these bars are within five minutes walk of padhotels Deansgate apartments.

Manchesters old favourites like The Living Room have not lost any business and still remain as popular as ever. Get in there!

My personal favourite bar has to be Mojo’s just behind House of Fraser on Bridge Street. The music is so varied, current, classic rock and cool that it never fails to please. The punters are all ‘real’ people not a Wag Chav or Charlie in sight….. bliss. Rammed on a Saturday but Sunday is very relaxed as most of Manchester’s bar staff go on this night. Keep it to yourself eh!

Restaurants

It has been said that you could eat out in Manchester every night for a month and never taste the same food twice. The Manchester restaurant scene has always been excellent and at the forefront of the UK’s culinary elite. This tradition continues to thrive and we now have fine dining equal to that of London and Paris.

San Carlo now operates in six UK cities. It has to be one of the best and most authentic Italian restaurants in the whole of Europe. If you are used to the best then head to the San Carlo! The service, quality and overall buzz about the place is something I have only seen in Italy or the South of France. If you visit Manchester then you must book a table at the San Carlo restaurant on Kings Street west off Deansgate.
If you're looking for an Indian or Chinese restaurant you should be heading for Manchester's Chinatown or Rusholme. The latter is located at the end of Oxford Road, a five minute taxi ride from Manchester city centre, and it's home to over thirty Indian restaurants and take-aways.

Manchester's Chinatown, located in the City Centre has an impressive selection of eateries. However our best Indian restaurant Akbars is to be found just a three minute walk from our Deansgate apartments, off Deansgate on Liverpool Road. Not only is it the best ever Indian food but for service and atmosphere I would say it is definately one of the best restaurants the city has to offer.

Our favourite top five in order of preference… (and I have eaten at all of them)…...are as follows:

Enjoy !!!
Gary Hymanson
padhotels

Club Guide

Manchester's nightlife has matured since the 'Madchester' era of the Hacienda. Although the feeling that you were part of ‘making history’ has evaded us all for quite a few years now!

Clubs that are still causing a stir would be The Circle off St Annes Square, One Central, Sankeys in the East and Twisted Elegance at the Ampersand club off St Johns Street. For a more ravey scene of the likes of yesteryear go online and check out The Warehouse Project currently in Piccadilly.

New ground breaking events like Electric Chair, Music Box, Romp, Tribal Sessions & Sankeys Saturdays both at Sankeys and the Warehouse Project are places to be seen. The indie clubs like 5th Avenue, 42nd Street and The Venue are as popular as ever, covering house, hip-hop, and everything in between.

One Sat night act that’s certainly packing them in is the Caged Asylum (see above photo) at the Ruby Lounge this is a Rock Club with a vampish twist…. Need we say anymore!

The Village - Piccadilly

Complimenting Manchester’s diverse population is the equally diverse Gay Village, located minutes from Deansgate, and a stones throw from Piccadilly Station.
A vibrant mix of old fashioned pubs meets lively clubs, with the option of classic and stylish restaurants intertwined, the area has much to offer and cannot be experienced in just one night.