Manchester Academy / Club Academy

Manchester Academy 1, 2 and 3, plus the Club Academy, are all part of Manchester University’s Student Union, and host a huge variety of live bands and DJs throughout the year. Gig ticket prices vary with the acts, but entrance to the main bar is free – although the prices of drinks (ESPECIALLY on the nights that big names are playing) more than make up for that…

Academy 1 can hold up to 2,300, then head upstairs and you’ll find the slightly smaller Academy 2 within the union's first floor Main Debating Hall. Up one more flight and you’ll find Academy 3, much smaller and usually for local bands or more intimate gigs only. Then, of course, there’s the Club Academy down in the basement which houses some of the biggest names in the music industry with a crowd fit for bursting.

The calibre of names that the venue has attracted over the years is seriously impressive – and although predominantly a gig venue, the sizeable public bar off the main foyer is pretty decent too. It comes complete with casual tables, banquettes and pool tables galore and although understandably hugely popular with students, the type of crowd on the night depends on who’s playing.

One of the drawbacks is that the bar doesn’t stay open beyond the end of most gigs – but then you can always nip next door to Big Hands for a bit of celeb-spotting; a popular post-gig bar for many of the live acts!