Live music on stage: a band under the lights

Manchester Venues

Grassroots Venues in Manchester

Q: How many grassroots music venues are in Manchester?

GigXchange lists 135 grassroots music venues in Manchester, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Q: Which Manchester venues provide full backline?

10 of 135 Manchester venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 67 provide at least a PA system. 8 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

135 grassroots music venues across Manchester. Capacity, backline, genres, booking info. Updated weekly.

Manchester Grassroots Venue Score

0 /100

Strong — choice and coverage lead the mix, with room to grow on engineer.

0Venues

0With PA

0Full Backline

0Engineer

Capacity, backline and booking info for every Manchester venue

135 venues, from back rooms to big stages
67 provide a PA in-house
10 offer full backline
8 include a sound engineer
Booking contact for signed-up artists
Verified and updated weekly

Find out more Join free

Manchester's upcoming grass-roots gigs, sorted by date

One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages
Sorted by date, refreshed continuously
Free and ticketed shows
Every gig links its venue

Find out more Join free

Weekly open mic nights across Manchester — verified and mapped

Filter by night of the week
Sign-up times, slot lengths and fees
Most are free entry
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

Find out more Join free

Everything the Manchester scene has beyond the venue list

City guide: venues, promoters and bookers
Local rate benchmarks before you quote
How to get gigs in the city
Members near you on GigXchange

Find out more Join free

Reach artists actively looking for Manchester stages

Free listing — no fee
Claim an existing page to keep it current
Backline and capacity specs searchable
Booking contact shown to members

Find out more List your venue

Run a Manchester venue? Claim your page free — keep specs current

Last updated: 29 September 2026

135 Venues in Manchester

135

grassroots venues hosting live music in Manchester

67 provide a PA system · 10 offer full backline
8 have an in-house sound engineer included
Booking contact, fee range and submission process available to signed-up artists

Manchester has 135 grassroots music venues listed on GigXchange. 67 provide a PA system, 10 offer full backline, and 8 include an in-house sound engineer. See what these rooms have on over the next four weeks. Sign up free to view booking contacts and fee ranges.

135 Venues 67 With PA 10 Full Backline 8 In-House Engineer Updated 29 Sept 2026

What’s on in Manchester this week — or see what’s on across the UK.

Manchester Venue Scene in Numbers

Live statistics from 135 grassroots venues across Manchester. Updated daily.

135

Total Venues

Across Manchester

50%

PA Provided

67 venues provide a PA system

Full Backline

10 venues offer full backline

In-House Engineer

8 venues include an engineer

Capacity Breakdown

Small

39%

Medium

41%

Large

20%

Equipment Provision

BYO

50%

PA Only

42%

Full BL

How many grassroots music venues are in Manchester? GigXchange lists 135 grassroots music venues across Manchester. 50% provide a PA system and 7% offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA).

Do Manchester venues provide equipment? 8 venues include an in-house sound engineer. The majority of Manchester venues are medium (150–500). Data from GigXchange’s verified Manchester venue directory, updated daily.

Browse Manchester Venues

Filter all 135 venues by capacity, backline or area

Showing 24 of 135 venues

Manchester › Levenshulme★★★★★ (—)

Manchester club venue.

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

View venue›

Claim this venue

The Lodge, Manchester

Manchester › Grosvenor Street, near Oxford Road★★★★★ (—)

Manchester rock, indie, alt and pop venue.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Salford › Salford Quays★★★★★ (—)

Award-winning arts centre and theatre on Salford Quays

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue11:00–23:00
Wed11:00–23:00
Thu11:00–23:00
Fri11:00–23:00
Sat10:00–23:00
Sun10:00–23:00

Wigan › Hindley, Wigan★★★★★ (—)

Pop and rap venue.

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Manchester › Swinton, Clifton★★★★★ (—)

Salford pub with live music.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon19:00–00:00
Tue19:00–00:00
Wed19:00–00:00
Thu19:00–00:00
Fri19:00–01:00
Sat19:00–01:00
Sun19:00–00:00

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

The Old Market Square, Warrington

Warrington › Golden Square, Warrington town centre★★★★★ (—)

Warrington's open-air town-square concert space at Golden Square

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Mancunian bar with arts and live music.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon16:00–00:00
Tue16:00–00:00
Wed16:00–00:00
Thu16:00–03:00
Fri16:00–03:00
Sat13:00–03:00
Sun16:00–00:00

Manchester › Northern Quarter★★★★★ (—)

Northern Quarter's wednesday-night free open mic at The Pen & Pencil — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–00:00
Tue10:00–00:00
Wed10:00–00:00
Thu10:00–00:00
Fri10:00–01:00
Sat10:00–02:00
Sun10:00–20:00

Manchester › Piccadilly, Manchester city centre★★★★★ (—)

NQ punk rock bar and venue.

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–01:00
Fri12:00–01:00
Sat11:00–01:00
Sun11:00–21:00

Unity Social community sports pub off Deansgate.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–00:00
Tue12:00–00:00
Wed12:00–00:00
Thu12:00–00:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–23:00

Manchester › Droylsden★★★★★ (—)

Manchester pub with live music.

Backline3 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–23:00
Sat12:00–23:00
Sun12:00–22:00

Manchester › Audenshaw★★★★★ (—)

Bolton pub with live entertainment.

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed16:00–00:00
Thu16:00–00:00
Fri16:00–00:00
Sat14:00–00:00
Sun14:00–21:30

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

The Snug Coffee House

Manchester › Atherton★★★★★ (—)

Coffee house with live music sessions.

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue09:00–16:00
Wed09:00–16:00
Thu09:00–16:00
Fri09:00–17:00
Sat09:00–23:00
SunClosed

Manchester › Northern Quarter★★★★★ (—)

Northern Quarter's Sunday-night free open mic at 31-33 Spear Street, M1 1DF — basement music venue, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.

Backline6 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
3 vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed16:00–00:00
Thu16:00–02:00
Fri16:00–04:00
Sat12:00–04:00
SunClosed

Stockport pub with live entertainment.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon18:15–00:00
Tue17:00–00:00
Wed17:00–00:00
Thu17:00–00:00
Fri17:00–00:00
Sat17:00–01:00
Sun16:00–23:00

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

The Star And Garter Manchester

Manchester › Fairfield Street, Piccadilly★★★★★ (—)

Fairfield Street live venue.

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon19:00–23:00
Tue19:00–23:00
Wed19:00–23:00
Thu19:00–23:00
Fri19:00–23:00
Sat21:00–02:30
Sun21:00–02:30

Co-operatively owned Salford local with a monthly folk club open mic

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon16:00–23:30
Tue16:00–23:30
Wed16:00–23:30
Thu16:00–23:30
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–23:00

Manchester › Manchester city centre (Victoria)★★★★★ (—)

RIBA award-winning concert hall at Chetham's School of Music

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon08:00–22:00
Tue08:00–22:00
Wed08:00–22:00
Thu09:00–22:00
Fri08:00–22:00
Sat08:00–22:00
Sun08:00–22:00

The Strines Nightingale

Stockport › Marpleridge, Marple★★★★★ (—)

Independent country freehouse and grassroots music venue near Marple

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu18:00–22:00
Fri17:00–22:00
Sat13:00–22:00
Sun13:00–21:00

Manchester › Levenshulme★★★★★ (—)

Arty, eccentric Levenshulme bar with a packed live programme

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue16:30–23:00
Wed16:30–23:00
Thu16:30–23:00
Fri16:30–01:00
Sat16:30–01:00
Sun16:30–23:00

Manchester test and events venue.

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Small Mediterranean-style bar in a converted Urmston shop unit with continental lagers and a roughly monthly Sunday open mic

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed16:30–22:00
Thu16:30–22:00
Fri16:30–23:00
Sat14:00–23:00
Sun14:00–20:00

Manchester › City Centre★★★★★ (—)

Goods Yard bar with cold beer and hot chicken.

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue11:00–23:00
Wed11:00–23:00
Thu11:00–00:00
Fri11:00–01:00
Sat11:00–01:00
Sun11:00–21:30

Manchester › Walkden★★★★★ (—)

Walkden local with live bands every Saturday night and a late weekend licence.

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon16:00–00:00
Tue16:00–00:00
Wed16:00–00:00
Thu16:00–00:00
Fri14:00–01:00
Sat14:00–01:00
Sun14:00–00:00

View venue›

Manchester Venue FAQs

How many grassroots music venues are in Manchester?

GigXchange lists 135 grassroots music venues in Manchester, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Which Manchester venues provide full backline?

10 of 135 Manchester venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 67 provide at least a PA system. 8 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

What size are Manchester's grassroots venues?

Of the 75 Manchester venues with known capacity: 29 are small (under 150), 31 are medium (150–499), and 15 are large (500+). The majority of Manchester’s grassroots scene is mid-size standing rooms.

How do I book a gig at a Manchester venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Manchester venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music, EPK, or social profiles. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.

Are there open mics in Manchester?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Manchester, which lists weekly open mic nights with backline, day, and fee filters. Open mics are the main pathway from bedroom to stage for most grassroots artists. See also our guide on getting gigs in the UK.

What's on at Manchester venues this month?

The What’s On in Manchester page lists every gig we hold across these 135 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Manchester gig directory.

What genres do Manchester venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Manchester’s 135 grassroots venues are Rock, rock, acoustic, indie, folk. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.

What are typical fees at Manchester venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Manchester by band size and venue type. Door splits are common at smaller venues; flat fees are more typical at mid-size rooms. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimums.

Can I list my Manchester venue for free?

Yes. Submissions are free, take 2 minutes, and are verified within 48 hours. Once approved, claim your listing to self-edit your profile and manage bookings. Venues with a PRS licence can also list their music policy.

More Cities

Switch to another UK city.

Run a Manchester venue? List it free.

2-minute submission, verified within 48 hours. Reach thousands of Manchester artists actively looking for gigs.

Claim Your Venue Why List?

Looking for paid bookings in Manchester?

For Artists For Venues For Agents For Promoters For Organisers For Fans