The Restaurant, Bar and Club Industry in Manchester

Manchester has always had a pioneering going out economy and has influenced music, clubbing and style around the globe. Through the days of the Hacienda and 24 hour party people, the reputation of these Mancunian features set cornerstones for how the city was to develop. But what’s happening in Manchester now and how are our bars, clubs and pubs progressing.

The Liars Club

Some facts:

  • From 2007 to 2012 the number of licensed premises in council wars covering the city centre has increased by a third. This includes clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, cinemas, theatres, off licenses and private clubs.
  • There are now well over 100 licensed premises in the Northern Quarter.
  • Manchester is the UK’s fastest growing city with the population growing by 20% in the last decade. Specifically, younger people 20-30 have seen the biggest increase. In 2001, 78,301 lived in Manchester in 2001, compared to 123,600 in 2012. Many younger people found themselves in austerity fatigue, and went out to eat and drink in increasing numbers year on year through out the recession.
  • Crime during Manchester’s night time economy has reduced more than any other city in the past 10 years.
  • Smaller night clubs have overtaken larger ones with a broad and diverse offering within the city for every night of the week.
  • Manchester has seen the more regeneration than any other city in Europe.

Bowling Shops

So what has lead to these stellar night time results for Manchester’s bars. There is a broad spectrum of styles, districts and genres in the city. From young professionals flocking to the mainstream areas such as Printworks and Deansgate Locks. To the hip bars in the Northern quarter. This diverse artistic area offers a variety of trendy casual dining restaurants and some experimental club spaces. Large student population flock to oxford road where indie and 90s nights are rife. Furthermore your big hitters see people travel from all over the world to go to the best club in the world (Sankeys, voted 2010) and the biggest party in the UK (Warehouse Project). The recently developed financial district, Spinningfields, is littered with restaurants and bars. Canal street serves up one of the best gay quarters of any city with the largest gay population out of London situated in Manchester. A new area such as Salford Quays is also a heavily regenerated area with an upmarket mix of bars and restaurants on the waterfront. Suburban drinking also has seen a surge in areas such as Chorlton, Didsbury, Fallowfield, Prestwich and others. Bars need to balance a combination of style, drinks, music and vibe to entice different clientele. Its safe to say many have been incredibly successful in this sense within the Manchester area.