Manchester

Orlandos
Barlow Moor Road
Indie and Underground bar

Another new bar in Chorlton, owned by Rupert Cambpell, once owner of Sankeys Soap but now with ambitions that are more to do with food than dancing. Orlandos menu hits the right notes, the venue itself is clean and modern (some might say far too clean and modern for the locals) with

Proof
30A Manchester Road
Indie and Underground bar

A new bar on the site of the Rizkee Thai Restaurant, opposite Chorlton Precinct. They've assembled a crack team of Mancunian DJs to provide lush grooves and eclectic deepness to the Chorlton Masses.

Iguana Bar
115-117 Manchester Road
Cheap and Cheerful bar

A place as strange as the name suggest, a hybrid creature - just as much LOVED by the chav as the Chorlton creative cool. A real drinkers bar, with minimalist no nonsense plastic chairs, a slightly more comfortable chillage with leather-ish side seats (with a restrictive view of the stage) and very cost effective cocktails menu (complete with spelling mistakes) starting at £4.95 This strange bar gets even odder, when you realize its supposed double function as it opens at 8am serving different coffees and pastries and other such deli style treats (but now where near as good as the Barbican just down the road, full of its yummy full tummies and yummy fit mummies) But this all stops abruptly at 6, an odd time to stop the hot drinks on a cold January evening. But cei la vie, we are here for the beer. Polish beer. Different nights offer a very Chorlton-esque rounded experience with the classic open mic night on a Tuesday, now legendary for being occasionally brilliant and brilliantly occasional. However more reliable features are the Reggae nights on a Wednesday. Not just because of the music, which is great, but also because the Guinness is kept well and there is normally only people who really love their reggae live and local i.e. – me. But the main reason for the clubs PR success is its Monday night Mirth moments (read: to drink or not to drink, to laugh or not to laugh, to date but….) this is one of the best comedy clubs on the circuit according to the MEN and WHLN concurs. Led by the ever shameless and dry witted Des Sharples, a warm, loveable, good natured compare, the night has gone from strength to strength. Catering for comics who not only have just started out but who really should be more famous. At only £3 this is a staple classic night, just maybe not for a first date, as you will be singled out (perhaps in more ways than one) The crowd: Differs from night to night. On Mondays an older mix of students, trainee school teachers and school leavers and school dodgers, comedians, mc’s and people who love buckets of 5 beers for a £10 – i.e. me Verdict: During the day time don’t be scared by the silent drinking Red Indian ‘one flew over the cuckoos nest’ type character, he’s harmless, just don’t get too close. He sums up the place. Occasionally funny, often odd, multicultural and a real Chorlton institution