Your Own Private Steak Restaurant at Hawksmoor
Hidden round the far end of Hawksmoor is their brilliant private dining room, a space that fits up to 15 people and is perfect for intimate celebrations where all you want to do is eat the best meat in the city while drinking some great wine and cocktails. Everyone knows that Hawksmoor does THE BEST steaks in the city so if you’re looking for somewhere for a swanky party – with oysters, steak, champers and more – Hawksmoor is nigh on unbeatable.
Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
thehawksmoor.com
@gillyatkinson70
BBQ & Blues in a 1950s Airstream Caravan at The Blues Kitchen
The Blues Kitchen offer up their very own private dining room for up to 14 people – a truly beautiful space featuring stained glass windows salvaged and shipped all the way over the Atlantic from Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in New Jersey. There’s also their huge 1950s Airstream Caravan that’s been transformed into a private hire party space for up to 30 people.
The Blues Kitchen, 13 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN
A Feast Fit for a Maharajah at Zouk
They can accommodate group bookings from 10 people right up to 200 people over at Zouk – not only do they have ample space but they’ve also got the experience and the know how to pull off anything! Probably one of their most impressive group offerings is their brilliant Whole Stuffed Lamb, a huge feast that can feed up to 20 hungry people. Give them 48-hours’ notice for them to cook it for you and you’ll have a feast fit for a king (or Queen) – a whole lamb stuffed with rice and vegetables and smothered in Zouk’s signature spicy gravy. I’ve had it – it’s the best!
Zouk Tea Bar & Grill, 5, The Quadrangle, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5QS
zoukteabar.co.uk
Gin-Making & Distillery Tours at Three Little Words
A bar and restaurant with a distillery on site, Three Little Words would be mad if they didn’t open up their gin tank space for groups and parties – but they’ve gone one further by also creating a Gin-Making Room that’s perfect for birthday parties. Featuring a load of small stills and tonnes of botanicals, you can sit and make your very own gin here, whilst enjoying cocktails and the expert knowledge of the distillers.
Three Little Words, 12-13 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP
0161 519 4400
An Instagrammer’s Dream at Tattu
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to celebrations over at Tattu. Not only does everything look absolutely spectacular (ensuring those extra brownie points) but you can tuck into some of the most delicious and impressive dishes and cocktails this city has to offer. Sitting down in one of their stunning spaces, with a ton of dry ice all over the place is an Instagrammer’s dream – so if your other half (or friend) is never off the bloody thing – Tattu is the place for them. Their Rose Garden is particularly impressive – with space for up to 60 people, or, if you’re really popular you can just book out both floors of the restaurant for your 200+ best friends (and followers).
Tattu, 3 Hardman Square, Gartside St, Manchester M3 3EB
tattu.co.uk/manchester
An Intimate Cheese & Wine Tasting Experience at WOOD
Simon Wood recently launched ‘Homage’ a private dining room in WOOD which offers up a dedicated ceese and wine tasting menu, featuring the very best locally sourced cheeses expertly paired with wines from around the world. The menu is constantly changing with the seasons but fear not, you and your group will have their very own expert on hand to talk you through everything and tell you some of the stories behind the produce.
Homage, WOOD Restaurant, Jack Rosenthal St, Manchester M15 4RA
woodrestaurantgroup.com
Your Own New York Basement Bar with Pool Table at Black Dog
Anyone who has been in the speakeasy in Black Dog will know that the space is perfect for any sort of get together or party. First of all, it needs a code for the door so some random isn’t just going to walk in and ruin everything. Next there’s a fully stocked bar, your own toilets and plenty of plush seating all about. Finally (and some would say most importantly) – there’s a pool table right in the middle of the room. As you’d expect they offer a wide range of packages for you to customise your celebration, for groups up to 80 people and with prices starting from £250.
Black Dog, 52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW
blackdogballroom.co.uk
The Best Audiophile Basement in the City at NAM
Set in the basement of (the rather excellent) Vietnamese restaurant NAM is an audiophile’s dream – featuring one of the city’s very best sound systems. With space for up to 60 people, there’s also the option to serve up a full Thai buffet down here – with a dedicated menu of traditional dishes on offer.
NAM, Unit 2, 33 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AJ
0161 637 2720
Party with Spanish Tapas, Wines & Cocktails at La Bandera
Nobody parties quite like the Spanish and so if you’re looking for somewhere to have a great birthday party then La Bandera is certainly worth a try. You can hire out a great space near the bar that is perfect for between 10-20 guests. There’s nothing better than tucking into some lovely tapas dishes, all while enjoying the best Spanish wines in the city (or perhaps some seriously good cocktails).
La Bandera, 2 Ridgefield, Manchester M2 6EQ
0161 833 9019
labandera.co.uk
Glamour & Opulence at The Ivy Manchester
Of course, the MASSIVE Ivy in Spinningfields has plenty of options available for private parties and celebrations, whether it’s booking out a table with your mates and spending too much money on bubbles or hiring out one of their dedicated private rooms and going all out. Their Dalton Room offers a stylish space for up to 40 guests while their Geisha Room will make you and up to 19 other guests feel like you’ve just walked into a Yakuza meeting in Tokyo. Finally – their Skylight Terrace is available to hire and is probably the ultimate space for drinks and canapes in the city.
The Ivy, The Pavilion, Byrom St, Manchester M3 3HG
theivymanchester.com
Bottomless Food & Booze Brunch Any Day at The Pen & Pencil
The back room in The Pen & Pencil is its very own private venue complete with a proper bar, capacity for 70 and its own sound system. You can book it for any sort of celebration you desire but my personal favourite has to be the option to book their fantastic All-Inclusive Bottomless Brunch any time you like (as long as your group is over 10 people). With this brunch you get UNLIMITED food & drinks for 3 hours, and it can be any day of the week!
The Pen & Pencil, Fourways House, 57 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EJ
thepenandpencilnq.co.uk
Bowl, Beers & Burgers at Dog Bowl
Not much touches bowling for sheer group-related fun and over at Dog Bowl you can fix all of your celebration needs by booking out a lane for everybody, getting competitive and eating and drinking way too much. They offer up a range of packages depending on your group size, and what exactly you want to do when you’re down there. You can add food and drink to your bowling booking, plus bottles of Prosecco, beer buckets and they’ll even turn it all into a competition for you – with winner’s trophy and bottle of fizz!
Dog Bowl, Whitworth St W, Manchester M1 5WW
blackdogballroom.co.uk/dog-bowl
A Northern Quarter Den of Disco & Sleaze at Behind Closed Doors
BCD have a couple of rooms for different sized events and numbers of guests, including their Mayfair Suite which holds up to 30 guests and the Disco Room which holds up to 20. They have arrival and bottle packages available for any bookings.
Behind Closed Doors, 93 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LW
0161 834 8148
Darts, Prosecco & Endless Pizza at Flight Club
Sticking with the ‘organised fun’ side of things here and you can’t go wrong with Flight Club – a darts experience like no other. If you’ve never been or even heard of it then listen up – because you don’t want to miss out on this. Get yourself booked in between Thursday and Sunday (each oche area can hold a maximum of 12 people) and you get darts, a Prosecco for every guest and bottomless pizza for 2 hours. It’s great fun and even better when you win.
Flight Club, Ship Canal House, 98 King St, Manchester M2 4WU
flightclubdarts.com
Ping Pong, Darts & Arcade Machines at Twenty Twenty Two
I once attended a wedding at Twenty Twenty Two and it was one of the best weddings I’ve ever been to. Not only does the space look cool AF but you can also take full advantage of one of their main draws – those ping pong tables. There’s a small private room that’s the perfect size for birthdays, then there’s the back room which you can hire out for photo shoots, fashion shows or that kinda stuff, or you can just book the whole place out and go mental. Add in the Dead Eye Darts Club and you’ve got the perfect venue for any event, large or small with half day hires starting from as little as £200.
Twenty Twenty Two, 20 Dale St, Manchester M1 1EZ
twentytwentytwo.co.uk
Your Own Champagne Room at Dakota Hotel
There’s not much else in the city that will show off just how impressive you are than booking out Dakota’s very own Champagne Room, a space that is suitable for up to 22 guests to eat and drink. As you’d expect they can tailor your event to however you like; from Champagne receptions to whisky tasting, networking and events. You’ll feel like a right set of ballers sat in here – sipping Moet like it’s London Fashion Week or alternatively you can even book their outside (heated) terrace if the weather’s decent.
Dakota Hotel, 29 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JL
dakotahotels.co.uk
A Tropical Tiki Getaway in the NQ at Cane & Grain
You might not expect this but there’s a fully-fledged Tiki bar on the second floor of BBQ restaurant and bar Cane & Grain. Yep, walk up two flights of stairs and you’ll end up in The Liars Lounge – a dedicated private hire area that also doubles up as a pretty rowdy club on the weekends. They’ve got their very own dedicated cocktail menu in here, plus that wonderful Cane & Grain food and plenty of space in which to drink, eat, dance or whatever people do at parties nowadays. I wouldn’t know – I’ve not been invited to anything for ages.
Liars Lounge, 49 -51 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA
A Worldwide Tour of Kebabs & Mezze Dishes at BAB
The whole downstairs area of BAB is available to book for events and groups, with a range of platters packages, each one taking you on a worldwide journey through different kebabs and mezze dishes. Guests will explore BAB’s kebab expertise with the likes of Pork Belly, Lamb and Halloumi kebabs, served alonside their homemade flatbreads and amazing Greek Fries. They also offer a range of drinks packages including cocktails and, of course, fizz.
BAB, 14 Little Lever St, Manchester M1 1HR
babnq.co.uk
Watch a Private Screening at HOME
Been on the telly? Made your own film? Found a home movie of your girlfriend from 1997 where she makes a fool of herself? Well, I’ve got somewhere for you. Offering a unique combination of high-quality spaces, HOME is a great location for a wide range of events. They have five cinema spaces of different sizes (227, 147, 58, 36 & 33), a flexible function room for up to 99 and an outdoor terrace for when it’s sunny.
HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Pl, Manchester M15 4FN
0161 200 1500
The NQ Basement Music & Whiskey Den at The Whiskey Jar
The Whiskey Jar features its very own fully-functioning basement event space complete with a private hire bar, bespoke cocktail menu, seating areas, DJ booth, and a sound system set up for DJ equipment. It’s perfect for private parties, wedding parties, art exhibitions and club nights. As well as Christmas – obviously. What’s more – you’ve got over 350 whiskies available to try behind the bar – which will probably take you a while.
The Whiskey Jar, 14 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
Your Own Private Cinema at GRUB
With a repuation as one of the best places in the city to get your hands on some amazing street food, GRUB also offer a private hire service, with a huge range of options for birthdays and private parties. From simple table reservations to hiring the entire first floor for a massive shindig, complete with a private bar, dancefloor and even karaoke booths! Not only that, but the venue is also home to a full-on 100-seater cinema, so you and your mates can screen a movie or get stuck into a video gaming session on the cinema sized screen.
The Historic Den with Beers & Games at The Refuge
The Den is tucked away behind the Winter Garden at The Refuge and filled with a load of games for the perfect chilled-out, group fun vibes. There’s a private bar, meaning there’s no queuing which is the last thing you wanna be doing as the Birthday Boy or Girl. There’s a pool table and a foosball table and it’s the perfect size for up to 100 guests.
The Refuge, Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA
refugemcr.co.uk
The Northern Quarter Beer Hall at Cooper Hall
A massive 4600 square foot events space right in the centre of the Northern Quarter, why haven’t you thought of Cooper Hall for your event before? Perfect for anything from weddings to birthfay parties, club nights, and more – Cooper Hall is home to some of the best and freshest German beers – delivered straight out of the tanks next to the bar, and they’ll even do hot dogs and pretzels for you too.
Cooper Hall, Sevendale House, 7 Dale St, Manchester M1 1JA
cooperhall.co.uk
Wellbeing, Yoga, Crystals & Coffee at LiveWell
Right in the centre of the NQ in Stevenson Square, LiveWell is the perfect venue to hire when you’re looking for something a bit healthier and that’s not going to leave you with a raging hangover and severe anxiety for a week. There’s room for up to 100 people standing, or they can put on a fitness-style event with 30 mats too. The space though can be transformed into whatever you like – just get in touch and they’ll see how they can help.
LiveWell, 1a Stevenson Square, Manchester M1 1DN
Your Own Private Mexican Basement Taco & Tequila Cantina at El Capo
El Capo’s basement cantina is perfect for birthdays, private parties, works doos, Christmas parties and many more – holding 35 seated or 45 standing. There’s plenty of food and packages to choose from, including the ‘Anejo’ which includes a free bottle of tequila and a welcome drink. It can be hired out on through the week, and even on the weekend.
El Capo, 12 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
161 388 6093
Whack a Few Balls About at Sixes Social Cricket
We’ve had ping pong, darts and now… cricket with Sixes over in the Corn Exchange. Set up to cater perfectly for groups and celebrations, their cricket simulation nets are a great activity to get to grips with whilst eating some great BBQ dishes and sipping cocktails. The Manchester venue also benefits from a separate downstairs bar area which can be booked out and kept private for Joe Public.
Sixes Social Cricket, The Corn Exchange, New Cathedral St, Manchester M4 3TR
0161 523 3300
Live Music, Comedy & Burlesque at The Fitzgerald
A unique venue in the Northern Quarter with a varied and exciting calendar of weekly events, including loads of live music, live comedy and burlesque – perfect for a birthday night out with the gang. They also offer private hire for their entire venue, with up to 110 people standing and 70 seated, as well as different food and drinks packages.
The Fitzgerald, 11 Stevenson Square, Manchester M1 1DB
An Interactive Supper Klub at Albert’s Schloss
Hire yourself ‘The Study’ at Albert’s Schloss and not only will you now be able to enjoy their raised private dining area but you’ll also become a member of their Supper Klub. What does that mean? Well, they draw the curtains, closing you off from all the riff-raff on the bar, and they take you on a journey to dinner party debauchery complete with Alpine gastronomy and personally hosted by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria themselves. Expect plenty of madness.
Albert’s Schloss, 27 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR
www.albertsschloss.co.uk
