Best private hire and event spaces in Manchester

Capacity: spaces from 10 – 220 or the whole hotel which holds many more. 

The Alan is widely known as Manchester’s most stylish hotel and it has a top class restaurant too. There are lots of different event spaces in The Alan from studios that accommodate 10 people to the industrial styled basement space SITU that holds up to 220. You can even hire the entire hotel, yep, rooms, restaurant, bar, meeting rooms, the lot, if you have the readies for that.

Price: POA

Capacity: 20-100

BAB is a cornerstone of the Northern Quarter situated on Stevenson Square. It’s known for its modern take on kebabs which feature ingredients like octopus, beer battered tofu, and flat iron steak. It also has a menu of mezé plates all of which can be pre-ordered as part of a private hire deal.  You can hire BAB for groups of 20-100 and it has a full nightclub sound system.

Price: No hire fee

Capacity: 220 seated/conference set up, 300-500 event hire dependant on room layout and catering wishes

Band on the Wall is available to hire for live shows, club nights and other public events. It is also a great venue hire choice for private parties, wedding receptions and corporate events. If your guests want to appear on the same stage as artists including Pixies, Fall Out Boy, Blossoms and Joy Division, this is the place!

Price: From £150 +VAT per hour

Capacity: up to 70 indoors, with added outdoor space weather dependent

The Beeswing is a modern wine bar in the trendy Kampus neighbourhood just on the edge of Canal Street, a few minutes walk from Piccadilly. It has a stunning terrace which is an enviable sun trap in summer months and it gets the sun until right up into the evening. You can hire the entire restaurant and bar space for events and they can also provide a variety of menus to suit your needs.

Price: Various (based on minimum spend rather than room hire)

Capacity: Various, check here

Every bit of The Black Friar in Salford is available to hire including the whole 200 capacity restaurant. You can also hire The Tavern – a fully covered and heated outdoor space, The Garden – a large, landscaped outdoor space with loads of lush plants and flowers, The Sanctuary – a cosy intimate room with leather sofas and vintage furniture, and The Glass Room – a modern conservatory.

Price: All spaces are free to hire but there are rules about ordering food as part of the deal.

Capacity: Up to 180 standing or up to 100 seated dining

The Dog Bowl is another venue that you can hire in its entirety and is ideal for big social parties, made even more fun by the addition of games machines from NQ64. The venue is a New York-inspired bowling alley, bar and casual dining restaurant with food from fried chicken masters Kong’s. With this in mind, it’s unlikely you’ll hire it for a wedding (though it has been known), think more big birthdays or group celebrations where lively, boozy times are a priority.

Price: From £315 per hour or £20 per person

Capacity: meeting rooms hold 8 – 80 guests depending on seating/standing arrangements. The cinema holds 36. Bigger spaces can accommodate up to 200 standing guests. 

All areas of the huge and very stylish Ducie Street Warehouse can be hired out for events including the restaurant, terrace, main seating area and several smaller rooms including a first floor atrium. There is also a mini cinema which is ideal for any screenings you might want to invite up to 36 people to.

Price: POA

Capacity: Various, check here.

Elevate your next corporate, celebratory, or social event by hosting it in one of Barça’s
magnificent event suites – choose from The VIP Lounge, The Sheridan Suite, The Catalan Suite, The Hucknall Suite and The Snug. Barça also has a wedding license to host your big day and an outdoor terrace for views across the canal.

Price: Various, get in touch to find out

Capacity: Up to 100 guests

Simon Shaw’s acclaimed tapas restaurant is a popular spot for any occasion and its rooftop terrace is always named checked in any outdoor drinking and dining round up worth its salt. But did you know you can hire the entire top floor of El Gato Negro including its famed roof terrace (with retractable roof) for a private event? Well now you do. The flexible space is obviously ideal for a special party, holding up to 100 guests and the team are on hand to provide some of the city’s best food as well as cocktails, live entertainment or business support.

Price: POA – minimum spend £3000

Capacity: 120 guests

Sitting above the Quarter House on Stevenson Square, The Fitzgerald is a vintage burlesque-inspired venue in Manchester’s Northern Quarter and the whole glamorous space with its gorgeous antique-style glassware can be hired out for events.

Price: Minimum spends vary depending on the day. It’s usually between £750 -£1200 except at Christmas when minimum spend is £5000.

Capacity: 100 guests

Another NQ bar perfect for parties, Cane & Grain’s tiki-inspired Liar’s Lounge has space for up to 100 of your closest pals to dance the night away in your own private space. It comes equipped with a private bar, cocktail menu and DJ and sound system facilities. Guests can order from the main menu or talk to the team in advance about buffet-style options.

Price: POA

Capacity: Up to 70 in the private room or 100 for the whole venue

The Pen and Pencil takes its name from the New York steakhouse frequented by Don Draper in Mad Men. The venue is right in the middle of the Northern Quarter, a part of Manchester often used by film companies to represent old New York. The private hire room here is available seven days a week and can accommodate up to 70 guests. This room comes with its own private bar, projector, screen and microphone, independent volume control and air-conditioning. The whole venue can also be hired out if you need something bigger than can handle up to 200 guests. Buffet-style food and discounted drinks packages can be ordered and this venue also offers cocktail masterclasses if you want that as part of your event.

Price: No hire fee and no minimum spend.

Capacity: Various

Choose from a number of different spaces at the grand Kimpton Clocktower to suit any occasion, from board meetings and sit-down dinners to huge parties with friends and family. The historic building’s distinctive character is the perfect setting for hosting.

Price: Various

Capacity: Up to 150 standing or 100 seated

Well established as an excellent bakery that does a fantastic range of Antipodean brunch dishes, PKB now has two venues in the city centre. PKB’s Angel Gardens venue on the edge of Ancoats is available to hire for private events. The bright, airy and flexible space with its characteristic floor to ceiling windows has room for 150 standing or 100 seated guests. Split across two levels, PKB Angel Gardens has its own in-house kitchen and an attractive feature bar making it ideal for everything from weddings to business events. The friendly team can provide bespoke catering for your event at this unique and modern venue.

Price: Minimum spend £1500

Capacity: Up to 175 guests for a seated dining event or up to 200 for a drinks and canapé event

Tattu is well known for its ultra modern, glossy purple and black interiors complete with a huge cherry blossom tree. Did you know that you can hire the entire venue at Tattu for an extra special event though? Now that would be one impressive party. Menu packages featuring the restaurant’s own unique brand of “contemporary Chinese” food and show-stopping cocktails are available as well as other bespoke elements that you can discuss with the team.

Price range: For group reservations of up to 30 guests, a deposit of £20 per person is required when booking. For full venue hire, a deposit of 50% the minimum spend is required. Prices vary.

Capacity: 16-60, or more if hiring whole venue

One of the original Northern Quarter bars and still one of the coolest, Trof is famous for its Sunday roast and laid back vibes, but it also has a number of rooms you can hire to host your party. The exposed brick Bourbon Room with its own private bar, sound system, projector and more holds up to 40 seated or 60 standing and is only available to hire on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Montana Room with booth seating, colourful flamingo print wallpaper and bright red working Smeg fridge holds 16 seated or 26 standing and can be hired Wednesday-Sunday. This room also has its own jukebox and a projector. You can also hire the whole venue if you have a big idea!

Price: From £100 for the Montana Room but can be used against food and drink – enquire for other prices.

Capacity: 80 

One of our favourite NQ haunts also has a cosy space downstairs that is available for private bookings, which has been used for everything from birthday parties to corporate gatherings, with options to include food made to order, live bands, DJs and more.

Price: Enquire for prices

Capacity: Up to 150 guests

This subway-tiled basement venue in a former textile mill has a speakeasy feel with black leather booth seating and old whiskey kegs up-cycled into tables. There are colourful Chesterfield sofas to relax on while you enjoy drinks. Like its sister venue El Capo, The Whiskey Jar can provide a fully stocked private bar, club sound system and air con for your event. Catering and drinks packages are available. This space is ideal for private parties, photoshoots, exhibitions, and more. It’s got a handy late licence too.

Price: £200 Sunday-Thursday. Minimum bar spend £1,250 (an additional £250 will be charged if minimum spend not met.)

Capacity: 20-250 guests

Popular Indian and Pakistani restaurant Zouk has a number of different areas you can hire. The outdoor shisha terrace can be hired for parties, networking events or drinks receptions for up to 90 guests. There is also a smaller outdoor VIP booth on the terrace that accommodates 20 to 25. For indoor events, the first floor mezzanine with its own PA system and plasma screens overlooks the main restaurant and can hold 20-90 guests. This semi-private area is quieter than the main restaurant but with a backdrop of atmospheric buzz from below. The flexible space has been used for weddings, engagement parties, birthdays, graduation parties, curry club quizzes, sports match screenings and more. The main restaurant area, bar and whole venue are also available to hire with minimum spend requirements at weekends.

Price: POA

Capacity: Various spaces available

Use.Space are a co-working space located close to the city centre in Ardwick. While they are all about nurturing great ideas, they aren’t averse to being sociable either. About their place, they say: “whether you’re looking to concentrate or socialise, each area offers a unique proposition designed for productivity and play.” With stylish interior design, top-notch facilities and flexible spaces, this is somewhere you’ll actually want to have your work event.

Price: Various membership packages available.