Situated bang in the middle of the Stevenson Square Noho is a bar that pulls no punches. It seems that for the last year it’s been hidden under scaffolding and at last Manchester is able to see the venue in all its glory. Tucked behind huge graffiti shutters in the day, it's evenings and weekends when the shutters go up and the lights go down, that this place really gets going.
The graffiti-clad bar at Noho is the real centrepiece of the Northern Quarter bar.
The Venue
Similar to the exterior, the inside of Noho is covered in graffiti with Chesterfield sofas lining the walls, and low tables and stools giving the venue a relaxed vibe. The bar dominates the back wall of the venue where the city scape graffiti really comes into its own. There’s a DJ booth and cloakroom on the opposite side of the bar and the middle of the venue acts as a huge dance floor at weekends. Think New York mixed with Manchester’s finest and you’d be close.
Old sofas and low tables add to the sunken down, chilled feel of the bar.
The Clientele & Atmosphere
Being in the NQ, the bar attracts a large amount of creatives from the area due to its laidback vibe. It’s a real party crowd at the weekend, and it seems anything goes. There’s no pretentiousness here, it’s got a neighbourly feel, which can be difficult to obtain in this part of town. It’s a good place to grab a drink after work but you’ll be likely to be persuaded to stay and dance the night away. This isn’t for you if you don’t like getting involved – the bar gets packed at the weekend and it’s not unusual to lose your friends and just make some new ones!
The graffiti murals continue on around the venue giving it more of a Brooklyn bar vibe.
The Drinks
Owned by the same guys as Dusk Til Pawn, the cocktail list here doesn’t disappoint – the owners make regular trips to New York to make sure the bar keeps on top of its game with their offering. That said, there are also loads of great deals on bottles of beer, wine and a decent selection of spirits and bottles. I’d recommend trying out their signature cocktail The Noho – vodka, apple, passion fruit and grape. If fruity cocktails aren’t your thing why not sample banana bread beer or ask one of the bartenders to help you out - they're more than obliging.
Summary
Noho is one of my favourite party bars in Manchester. There’s clearly a lot of thought gone into this venue and only makes me want to visit New York more! It’s got a really unaffected attitude – it’s clear the mission is to create a good atmosphere and good drinks as priority and that really shows. It's packed every weekend, so why not check it out when it’s a bit quieter after work to really have a snoop round and take advantage of the bar team's knowledge and passion when ordering drinks? Although for great music and a fun night out the weekends just can’t be missed.
