YES

From the moment YES opened it was impossible to imagine nightlife, or day life, in Manchester without it. There’s a long and very credible story behind this operation — a three-storey haven for hedonists and gig goers, clubbers and pizza lovers — which begins with one of the city’s foremost independent music promoters, Now Wave. After years of hosting everything from major concerts for thousands to intimate back room pub shows, the crew took over this historic Charles Street building in 2018 and it has been nothing but a major asset since then. 

The first thing to realise about YES is that it’s almost always doing something interesting. Reasonably priced food and drinks mean it’s a popular hangout for students, with the Oxford Road corridor location meaning it’s right on the doorstop of Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester alike. This is no student bar, though, and instead does very well at appealing to pretty much anyone with ears, a mouth and stomach. The ground floor area feels most in flux, a space where you can easily walk in to find tastemaker DJs playing off-the-cuff and wildly varied sets or a more relaxed afternoon atmosphere. It’s up to you where to go next. 

Maybe downstairs, to one of the city’s most accomplished small stages. A tiny capacity basement with a big reputation for platforming bands who go on to break the mainstream, and club nights that thrive on intimacy and loose vibes. Alternatively, head to the first floor Pink Room for 500 capacity concerts that frequently sell out because the programming is so on-point. Finally, keep going to the top level and you’ll find booth seating and Tiffany lights, indoor greenery and a large outdoor terrace, complete with amazing views over the Oxford Road-Piccadilly railway bridge and the streets beyond. A great place to sit and enjoy the discount cocktails on tap and great value-for-money pizzas.