Music Venues for Hire in Manchester

Before beginning you venue hunt, there are some important factors to take into consideration before deciding what to look for. Firstly, the size and ambience of your event is dependent on the venue you choose - for example, if you’re aiming to attract an underground audience and keep things intimate, then hiring a large arena makes no sense at all. As well as this, it’s imperative to make sure that venues have all the necessary technological equipment you need and that the acoustics will fit with your genre. An opera singer performing in a low-ceilinged bar or club certainly wouldn’t work, so don’t try and fit square pegs into round holes simply to save a few quid.

Venue-wise, next to Spinningfields, a long-standing district of entertainment and top quality music venues, find the Great Northern Square, a small area surrounded by a range of impressive concert venues that can hold music events for all crowds. Listing impressive venues such as the Albert Hall Manchester, all these spaces are available for private hire and have a range of different settings and acoustics to fit to the atmosphere of your event. Music-wise, invite guest DJ’s to play exclusive electronic sets in private function rooms, sit back and enjoy live bands and musicians in posh lounges, or take in the beautiful melodies of symphony orchestras in the auditorium of The Empty Space. 

Across town, the Northern Quarter is Manchester’s urban and arty core, playing host to a number of underground bars and gig venues that are open until late and come with plenty of optional extras, including fantastic food and drink packages to accompany your live music event. With chilled-out lounge and seating areas, many of the venues are ideal for a sit-down concert with small bands, musicians, and singers, while there’s also some more open spaces that facilitate more dance-floor oriented events, with live DJs or bands. 

Price Guide: With so much on offer, prices vary greatly. For large venues, expect to pay £300 hire fee per hour for a 1000 guests capacity space, up to £18000 hire fee per day for a 2000 guests space. Smaller venues are more flexible, offering hire fees between £500 and £1,000, and minimum spend between £300 and £2,000. Be sure to double check with venues what is included in the price and also make it certain that you have enough attendees to meet large minimum spend figures, as underspending can lead to further charges.

Music Venues in Manchester FAQ

Can I bring my own alcohol to a music venue in Manchester?

Whether you can bring your own alcohol depends on the venue’s policy. To help you out with your search, select the  “BYO alcohol allowed” filter on our platform to only see venues with this type of policy. To ensure there’s no additional corkage fee, talk to the venue manager before you make your final booking.

Where are the best live music venues in Manchester?

Manchester is well-known for its exciting live music scene, so you are sure to find some amazing music venues here, but here are our top picks:

• GRUB - Grab this venue before it's hired! Located just a short walk from Victoria Station, this flexible space with a unique design and various spaces available, including a garden, will surely be perfect for  any event all year long. Rated 5.0/5
• Lono Cove - A sophisticated Ancoats-based venue with an elegant design that will cater to more than your musical tastes! With one of the best cocktails in Manchester in hand, your guests will remember your event for years! Rated 5.0/5
• Revolución de Cuba Manchester - Are you looking for some Latino vibes for your event? Well, look no further. The laid-back vibe, excellent choice of drinks, and the music that won’t let you sit down can all be found in this Deansgate-based venue. Rated 4.8/5

What should I consider when hiring a music live music venue in Manchester?

The first thing to think about is the size of your venue. Depending on how many people you want to invite, you’ll need quite different sized venues. If you would like your event to last late through the night, ensure the venue has an adequate music licence. Some venues may also have a policy regarding the type of music that can be played there, so pay attention to that as well. A good live music venue should have an excellent sound system as well as good acoustics. Lastly, some venues offer in-house DJs or bands and do not allow any external hires, so it’s always worth checking with the venue manager before you book.