Flight Club

The first rule about Flight Club is they definitely want you to talk about Flight Club. The second rule of Flight Club is you’ll find it in a stunning late-1920s Neo-classical building on one of Manchester’s most illustrious and grand streets — once the centre of the city’s banking sector. And the third rule about Flight Club is it’s a bar for food, drinks, and darts. So definitely not the bare-knuckle brawls from that classic 1999 movie you may have been thinking about. Just in case that wasn’t obvious enough. 

Located in the stunning Ship Canal House, formerly the headquarters of the company that built the world-famous inland waterway, walking into Flight Club feels a bit like being transported back in time. And a lot like being transported into a surreal cabaret-cum-circus alternative universe, where a brightly lit antique-style bar is lined with larger-than-life painted panels, each depicting a different type of parlour game or multicoloured geometric pattern. It makes a big impression, to put it mildly. So does the vibe. A mixture of manic fun, serious drinking and shared feeding greets you at the door, thanks in no small part to a menu which is focused on small plates filled with caring — or comfort — dishes and large group dining. 

A fully stocked liquor cabinet (cabinet clearly an understatement) leaves you wanting for nothing, and then there are the activities. With 14 individual oche areas you can imagine on a busy evening this place is bustling in all the right ways. And the same goes for their special events, including the Brunch Social, which offers two-hours of Prosecco, beer, bottomless pizza and, of course, darts.