Manchester's best game bars

One of the Northern Quarter’s best kept secrets, Twenty Twenty Two somehow manages to be hidden away yet still right in the middle of things. A hop from the bustle of Stevie Square, head down the stairs of this games den and you’ll find a wealth of stuff to do (best paired with a few drinks), from table tennis to pool to darts to old school arcades. It’s ping pong-heavy though, with stacks of tables for beer pong and tournaments, or private hire so you have the place to yourselves.

Thanks to what we’re calling the Littler Effect, darts is very big business indeed. Leading the way in this regard is Flight Club, which boasts more oches than you can shake a stick at. There’s 14 play areas with innumerable games to get stuck into, accompanied by cocktails, an all-day menu and you can even book the whole place for up to 340 people.

Pitch is not your usual driving range. Using state-of-the-art technology, you can simulate driving from the tee, approach shots and putting, with software analysing shot speed, trajectory and the like, as well as digitally recreating world famous courses like the iconic Old Course at St Andrews or California’s Pebble Beach. For those less competitive – or just the golf curious or simply weather adverse – there are a stack of other fun games to play, with each simulator bay fitting up to eight people. In the middle, there’s a central bar, lounge and kitchen, serving up great cocktails and food, with its own bespoke sound system, screens for watching live sports in style and a few free-to-use, full-length shuffleboard tables thrown in too. Golf purist or not, this is a seriously fun night out.

The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes is probably the most whimsical-feeling games bar on our list, not least because it’s located inside a beast of a Grade-II listed Victorian building building just off Albert Square. They have pool tables, as well as screening all the sports across dozens of 4K screens and serve food and drink just a little bit more considered than your average pub fare. One to remember for the discerning sports obsessive.

With a street-level entry off Tib Street, NQ64 is a truly ‘upstairs-downstairs’ affair. Downstairs you’ll find psychedelic, neon coloured, mural-covered walls and ceilings reflecting the electric glow of the games themselves, which are here in abundance. Classic coin-op action in all its glory (tokens are bought with your drinks), you’ll find legendary beat ‘em ups, high octane action, and breakneck racing, among other genres, with console titles also available for those who prefer. Meanwhile, at ground level there’s a heated outdoor terrace.

Electric Shuffle combines the hit bar sport of shuffleboard with cocktails, sharing dishes and pizza. Inside, the decor is a mix of industrial and art deco styles spread over 11,000 sq ft of space, with 15 shuffleboard play spaces and capacity for 450 people, which means it can handle a big group outing. Located right in the middle of Deansgate, it’s well located for Spinningfields, Great Northern and city centre nights out. And if you tend to find games bars a bit too loud, garish and neon-covered, this is a tasteful, grown-up alternative that can still be seriously fun.

Going heavy on match day atmosphere, Deansgate’s BOX is one to have on your radar. Right in the thick of the city centre, it’s built for live sport with wall-to-wall HD screens, but you can also participate too: they’ve got the ever-popular shuffleboard on offer. There’s a huge menu of American-style food on offer, from sharing platters to stacked burgers, as well as special dining packages available for big fixtures. A rowdy afternoon awaits.