The Ruby Lounge

The Ruby Lounge is a brilliantly unassuming live music bar and club space on the edge of the Northern Quarter. The humble entrance opposite one side of the Arndale doesn’t do justice to the gem in the basement below; it’s the kind of place you can walk past for years without really bothering to find out what all the fuss is about. When you do venture through the door and down the stairs though, you’ll find a surprisingly smart L-shaped New York-style club, with a low, loud stage and a lighter area with plenty of casual seating just around the corner.

There are live bands and DJs on most nights - music is at the heart of the Ruby Lounge, and its indie and acoustic-based listings make it popular with both students and early twenty-somethings looking to dance the night away and drown out the day’s sorrows with sounds from the mega PA system! The price and opening hours vary with what’s on (so check on the day before you head down), but they have a 4am licence at weekends. Entry is cheap, but the bar (especially shots) can get expensive (and very, very busy). A great place to really let your hair down.