Dry hire means you pay for the use of the space only, while all other aspects of the event are entirely in your hands. If you’re a DIY enthusiast, your budget is tight or you’d simply like to have more control over the event planning process, picking a blank canvas venue in Manchester might be just the right choice for you! It's exciting to plan every single aspect of your event and finding the right setting is the first step you should take! We know the best dry hire venues in Manchester and we're more than happy to help you out, so don't hesitate any longer!
The cost of dry hire venues averages around £55 hire fee per hour. The final price will depend on location, size, amenities, and demand. Some venues also offer additional packages that include catering, AV equipment, or additional services. Take a look at the usual price ranges in Manchester, based on Tagvenue data from December 2025:
| From £40 | to £75 | hire fee per hour |
| From £190 | to £1000 | hire fee per day |
| From £35 | to £48 | per person |
Based on the popularity and user ratings on Tagvenue (updated December 2025), the best options include:
Gallery at esea contemporary
in Northern Quarter - rated 4.9/5
Our user said: ‘The space we used was a great space for the party size.’
Rehearsal Studio at Play With Fire Rehearsal Studios
in New Islington - rated 4.9/5
Our user said: ‘Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a creative space with great vibes and helpful people!’
The Salvation Bar at voco Manchester
in Manchester City Centre - rated 4.8/5
Our user said: ‘Jacob was very helpful leading up to the event and showed me round the venue and how it could be set up.’
You'll find dry hire venues in various sizes, from smaller spots to larger venues; keep in mind that the type of space and your chosen layout will affect the capacity! Below you can see the typical venue sizes in Manchester, together with the standard prices in each size range, based on Tagvenue data (December 2025):
| Small | up to 15 guests | prices average £54 hire fee per hour |
| Medium | between 30 and 60 guests | prices average £48 hire fee per hour |
| Large | over 100 guests | prices average £1200 hire fee per day |
These are the venues within 0.1 mi from central Manchester, available to book on Tagvenue:
The main characteristic of dry hire venues is flexibility. If you want to be able to fully customise the setting for your event and be in control over virtually every single detail, they are the best solution for you! Doesn’t it sound amazing to decorate a space exactly how you want, with furnishings that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional for your needs, catering and drinks provided exactly as you wish? Because of how much you can personalise in dry hire spaces, they are suitable for an array of events, from weddings to birthday parties, corporate conferences to award ceremonies, live music gigs to filming and photo shoots!
These spaces can also be one of the most affordable options for venue hire in Manchester. Rates tend to begin at very low price points, so they are a perfect option even for those on a very tight budget! When all the other aspects of the event are up to you, you can take advantage of the most wallet-friendly options, such as self-catering, BYO alcohol, and decorating the space by yourself.
Blank canvas spaces for hire are scattered all over Manchester. The City Centre boasts plenty of these venues, with plenty of them available in Deansgate, Spinningfields, the Northern Quarter, and N.O.M.A. Many of them are conveniently located near major transport links such as the Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria stations. If you want your event to take place away from the buzzing heart of the city, you can head south to the Greenheys and Chorlton-On-Medlock areas. The lovely borough of Trafford is also home to some great venues that offer dry hire options.
Most popular dry hire venue types in Manchester include:
Page last updated in December 2025
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