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 £60 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 May 2026:
| From £40 | to £90 | hire fee per hour |
| From £210 | to £2040 | hire fee per day |
| From £30 | to £48 | per person |
Based on the popularity and user ratings on Tagvenue (updated May 2026), the best options include:
Rehearsal Studio at Play With Fire Rehearsal Studios
in New Islington - rated 5/5
Our user said: ‘The space was very rustic. It had all the amenities we needed. The heaters worked well and it was warm enough.’
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.’
The Salvation Bar at voco Manchester
in Manchester City Centre - rated 4.8/5
Our user said: ‘The event space was elegant and well suited to my vision for a private dinner party.’
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 (May 2026):
| Small | up to 30 guests | prices average £50 hire fee per hour |
| Medium | between 50 and 100 guests | prices average £90 hire fee per hour |
| Large | over 140 guests | prices average £2040 hire fee per day |
These are the venues within 0.1 mi from central Manchester, available to book on Tagvenue:
Based on Tagvenue data (as of May 2026), users looking for dry hire venues most commonly go for these venue types:
| Hotel | prices average £1000 hire fee per day | typically between 60 and 150 guests |
| Event Space | prices average £1000 hire fee per day | typically between 100 and 300 guests |
| Photo / Film Studio | prices average £45 hire fee per hour | typically between 30 and 60 guests |
| Meeting Room | prices average £66 hire fee per hour | typically between 10 and 30 guests |
| Photo Studio | prices average £50 hire fee per hour | typically between 15 and 50 guests |
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 May 2026
To provide you with relevant information, our pages are refreshed using an algorithm that aggregates real-time data, including bookings, reviews, and venue updates.