What a wicked place to go to chill out Very friendly bar staff and a great atmosphere. Tick VG and give yourselves a gold star*

Wel,l had enough of this place! dirty and messy. The bar staff are (no fault of theirs) not up to it. Not like it used to be. Never mind there will be somewhere new soon enough. (i hope)

Well, I'll kick off by revealing that in all probability the previous review by 'anonymous' [for that read 'coward'] was penned by a former member of staff. It's fair enough to be disgruntled toward a former employer but to take cowardly shots at former colleagues is beyond low!

To be fair, 'he' was right about the place being 'not like it used to be'. The lazy, insolent and often drunk members of staff that badly let a wonderful and important venue down have [at last] been moved on and a new, talented and enthusiastic team have replaced them. I guess a new kitchen, brand new cellar, upgraded bar [front and back], new PA system and piano as well as a formidable line up of talented musicians would also be considered a welcome deviation from the previous incarnation! Lest I forget there is also the soon to be introduced new menu [developed with support from one of Manchester's finest chefs] and a host of other improvements designed to enhance the comfort and enjoyment of our guests.

Oh, and the sorry excuse for ladies bathrooms [for which I apologise unreservedly] is also being addressed very soon! We like it here, the large and loyal following appear to also, as do the many musicians that perform and visit the club, so my advice is to ignore the coward that is 'anonymous' and visit Matt and Phred's. Despite the previous review the overall consensus is that it just keeps on getting better and better!

Love it! been here so many times and cant believe how many students waste their time in fallowfield when they could be having an even better time down here. Don't stop the music Matt or Phred.

We like new bar man Jamie! Keep up the good work

grrrrreat music! Had a wonderful night -Thanks from a group out having a blast from glossop

Ignored all the reviews and went anyway, fantastic night out, will be going again, the food is great and we had amazing entertainment, everyone is friendly and welcoming.
Nice and relaxed but still got a buzz about t that keeps it lively.
We will see you all again soon, thanks for a great night!

Good live music, but let down by the clueless staff!

Not a review - just a comment borne from curiousity! Why do people log on to sites such as this at times such as 07:27 when 'Anonymous' decided posted the previous review. Instead, assuming that they had even visited the venue in question, why don't they approach one of the superb and hard working staff [in this case at Matt and Phred's] and express their particular concern or complaint in order for it be resolved rather than log on to the internet and anonymously express banal and insulting comments. Once again [see below for previous references] this is almost certainly a case of a former employee returning home from a late night [possibly a losing visit to a local casino] and deciding to attack their former employer and associated staff out of pathetic bitterness and a sense of personal failure.If the previous comment does represent a genuine complaint then I sincerely hope that the person placing the aforementioned comment uses the contact information below and allows me to try to resolve any issues they may have. Dean 0161 831 7002

i went to matt and phreds last night (monday) and everything about it was awful, the staff there dont have a clue, look scruffy, unorganised, the place has seriously gone downhill lately, i have also heard the "rumor" about 8 managers since august to therefore it must be well known...true or not, its the reputation of the clubs that keeps them going and matt and phreds is fast becoming a laughing stock. Dean, i think you need to have a serious look at your staff and the way they bahave at work, treat customers and generally carry themselves.
the other hand music was great! :)

And why do you feel the need to diatribe and answer? Can't take the criticism? I feel you protest to much

Oh by the way. Never worked for you!

For a person wishing to remain 'anonymous' the author of the 2 most recent postings here really ought to make more of an effort or, judging by their comments to date, consider posting at a more lucid or sober moment. I particularly enjoyed the inadvertent 'unveiling ' provided by the latter of the 2 most recent postings that clumsily attempts to claim some form of superiority by expressing 'oh by the way. Never worked for you!' Cunning?? Oops, almost forgotI also find it almost loveable that the author then goes back to register their agreement with the original statement as quoted above'. It couldn't be anyone else could it? Unless an equally disgruntled former 'employee' decided to join the fun and games?? Can't wait for the next move - whln should consider promoting this 'bout'!

Music OK last Sat but I had to wait 40 minutes for a pint! whats going on here? This place has gone to the dogs. Criticism is met with aggression from the management. Don't bother going unless the music is right.

Sad to hear the previous reviewer had a less than great evening on Saturday. On the one hand very surprised to read that they felt that the music was ok - 2 encores and a torrent of glowing comments from customers as they left suggests otherwise but I guess you can't please all the people all the time. As far as the other comments are concerned - would love to hear what the reviewer means by the the club having 'gone to the dogs'. A series of fantastic gigs and great testimonials from both performers and customers suggests otherwise. As with the comment about the alleged less than efficient service please contact us at the club with details and we will do what ever we can to rectify the issue. As far as the allegation of agressive management I urge the reviewed to contact me on the club email address or contact me on 07976637944 with more information.Best wishes, Dean Moull

Fascinated bystander dropping by again! One wonders if the person [and one would guess they go under the moniker 'anonymous'] seemingly obsessed with entering a 'vote' of disagreement to any remotely positive comment about this venue has actually bothered to event read the comments with which they disagree? For example, how on earth could anyone 'disagree' with the comments from the clearly satisfied party that visited Matt and Phred's from Glossop? Of course, it is entirely possible that one or more of the happy folk from Glossop actually disagreed with one of the party [specifically the individual that clearly enjoyed their evening].

Equally, one wonders if the 6 readers in disagreement with the visitor that signs off by thanking the staff for a great night were, unlikely as it would seem, also part of the group from which the originally positive comments came!

Am I the only person that finds it strange that 6 visitors to this site can disagree with another who states that they had an enjoyable evening? What gives them the right to [meaning those in disagreement] to essentially tell the happy punters that in fact they are recalling events incorrectly and that, sadly, they actually didn't have a good evening after all?

In summary, if idiots insist on abusing forum such as this by posting inaccurate and ludicrous comments or 'votes' they should have the decency to at least attempt to disguise the partisan nature of their 'postings' or, better still, stay away and cease their bizarre efforts to pervert the integrity of such sites.

Just a thought or two....

Dear Charlie, just what is it that you can?t believe with respect to the various comments found here? You make a number of statements which are [possibly] interesting and/or [probably] utterly absurd. In terms of the comparisons you make between the staff of a couple of years ago and those of the present you suggest that the latter team is significantly inferior and, importantly, appears not to care about or even listen to the music performed at the club. I find this somewhat confusing if only because the staff of, let?s say 2 years ago, included those who openly and frequently expressed a dislike [and at times hostility] for the music performed at the club. By way of comparison we, at present, have a member of staff presently studying sound engineering/recording [as well as possessing an impressive collection of jazz recordings] and another holds down 2 other part-time positions which involve teaching music [percussion] and working in a recording studio. Furthermore, for the first time in the clubs? history we have a sound engineer working with the performers every single night. One of whom is a renowned local musician who is rapidly developing an excellent reputation for his engineering skills with another being a hugely experienced and successful professional with many years of noteworthy assignments.

With respect to the courtesy of the present bunch I offer another comparison for your consideration. The reason why staff from your perceived halcyon days [of the club] are no longer with us include systematic theft, abuse of customers, [occasionally] the admirable progress of their chosen careers [including law, music, engineering, physics etc] and in one notable instance, gross negligence and gross misconduct. With respect to the current bunch and your insulting assertions that they lack enthusiasm and/or common courtesy I would be happy to forward you the many complimentary messages of thanks [sent to us by guests], most, if not all, of which specifically refer to the kindness, enthusiasm, knowledge, helpfulness and general good manners of the hard working employees you so unfairly and inaccurately choose to malign.

Now for the ?bit about me?! I suppose I should thank you for your back-handed compliment where you state that ?the music [obviously] is still great but the everything [sic] else lets it down? [well, perhaps only for the first half of the sentence]. Bearing in mind the significant changes to the music programme through the promotion of the many new acts as well as the new projects showcased by some existing friends I struggle to understand how a direct link between the two disparate policies/approaches to music programming can be made. Should you wish I will happily send you a detailed breakdown of the performances for each year of the clubs? existence. Regardless of whether this should transpire I can say, with the benefit of the relevant facts, that it would wholly inappropriate to suggest that the last 12 months has essentially seen a continuance of the previous approach to music policy and scheduling.

Having reviewed the 16 posts here concerning the club I cannot fathom how anyone would deduce that I have some sort of personal issue against ?anon?. First of all there are some 9 separate posts attributed to ?anonymous?. Some of these are obviously positive in nature and therefore unlikely to invoke my ire. Of the remaining, and in one way or another negative, comments where I have responded I have taken great care to ensure that I?ve refrained from posting anything that might be considered to be personal in nature and have only made reference to aspects of the club that I can support should my position ever be challenged [in terms of its accuracy and/or integrity]. Let me assure you, should I wish to express my thus far much restrained position with respect to the matter[s] raised here it would make for very interesting and enlightening reading. Furthermore, if I were to publish the sustained and ongoing series of foul and abusive messages I?ve personally received from the individual in question [most of which being received at roughly the same time as many of the negative posts from ?anon? referred to previously] including those targeting my wife and family as well as those that express some kind of sick pleasure in taunting me with comments concerning a tortuous and abusive childhood, I suspect you may wish to re-consider your current perspective of matters.

I suggest you think about the ramifications of expressing in a public forum some of your opinions with respect to my activities and conduct, particularly in the absence of any effective proof to support your comments and allegations. It hardly requires an experienced NA counsellor to deduce the implications of your comments, notably when referring to ?some wasted/wired annoying punter?. Perhaps your [probably inadvertent] use of the word ?might? would provide a degree of legal latitude [as it were] although your subsequent declaration of being ?pretty sure it?s the same guy? may well negate any possible benefits of the first ?caveat? as described above.

With reference to heckling perhaps you are actually referring to such incidents as that which occurred in April of 2007. In this case a group of tutors and students from the RNCM were subjected to a torrent of foul and drunken abuse that, by way of example, predominantly concerned their alleged abject lack of talent [individually and collectively] as well as the poor credibility of the college [at least in the opinion of the orator]. Please note these appalling and unfounded comments and slurs were made by a saxophonist performing in the club that evening. I think it is fair to say that it would be considered common knowledge that I lack even the most fundamental of musical ability and, as such, could clearly not be the representative of Matt and Phred?s responsible for such unacceptable behaviour.

I would not and will never deny my enthusiasm and excitement for Matt and Phred?s and the musicians that perform there [as well as the music they perform]. Nor would I deny that in the early stages of my involvement in the club [put another way, just after my generosity had saved what was frankly a crippled and unsustainable enterprise] I did, at times, behave a little too boisterously. Behaviour for which I readily apologised for and ensured did not continue henceforth.

Quite frankly I realise that it matters not how I respond here [or in any other similar forum]. Unfortunately the fundamental problem with opinions is that every idiot has got one, irrespective of its accuracy or validity. It should therefore give you and at least one of the ?anon? represented here great pleasure to here that I shall no longer bother to respond to further examples of such banal, inane, inaccurate, malicious and stupid comments. As they say, ?fill your boots?! I shall simply continue to do my best to help ensure that Matt and Phred?s continues to support all talented musicians and provide a showcase for the very best of jazz music performers.

As a jazz club it's great, as a bar and restaurant, it's poor. If you go with a group of people to eat, be prepared to still pay to get in, eat tiny portions of food and be quiet, don't chat to your friends or you will be stared at and told off by extremely young, naive and pretentious jazz enthusiasts. We weren't outrageous in any way but were made to feel extremely unwelcome.
Not just posting a wingeing comment here, have already told the venue, who ignored my comments.

Strange comments from Cheryl above! Apparently the place achieves its objectives [as a jazz club it's great]. Reminds one of the old Ronseal adverts [does exactly what it says on the tin]. In fact I'm surprised that she hasn't complained that it isn't the best zoo or hospital in the country. However, I do pity the poor soul when I read that these 'young, naiive [spelling corrected] and pretentious jazz enthusiasts' told her off, presumably for having some form of negative impact on their enjoyment of, wait for it, the jazz music! How dare people who enjoy jazz music visit a jazz club and expect to be permitted to relax and enjoy the entertainment. One suspects that Cheryl chose the wrong location for a hen party [try the Printworks next time]! I'm curious as to whether she follows up her issues by accepting the offer made by the owner in the following message [my money is on her not doing so for what it's worth].

The patronizing response I expected. Of course I'm not complaining about it being a zoo or a hospital (how off tangent an analogy) - but bar and restaurant - am I mistaken but does this location serve food and drinks? does it encourage people to come and enjoy these on its website?

you clearly are far too elitist (and judgmental of character - printworks reference) to see eye to eye with my comments. We can all enjoy the music - we don't have to sit in a school play like silence to do so.

How did you know it was a Hen do? were you there? were you the adolescent who told us off? who can tell? you clearly have not enough sufficient backbone to even leave your name.

Cheryl - the poor unrefined soul

Strange that Dean promises to not respond to comments and then replies to the next two. wonder if this one will get a reply.
Anyway more to the point this club has had at least 8 managers in the last 12 months (yes I can back it up) and it's just bad. Look forward to the Band on the Wall opening so we can have a real club.

'people in glass houses...' Please accept my apologies for the unfortunate error in my previous message [the first word of all places]. Of course, I mean to say 'Then wonder...'. In mitigation I will say that it really is rather hard to type accurately whilst laughing at the mental image of 'fasinated bystander' struggling to present his/her first 'book report' in their first English lesson.

To the Dean column. Hi I went to the club on Wednesday and enjoyed a fantastic evening of music. however the service was awful and has genuinely put me off going again. Sorry! I have not left my name as it seems that Dean can not take any criticism without being overly aggressive.

Good News Manchester! Matt and Phred's is up for sale! Let's hope that somebody with a few quid is ready to take this place forward and to where it should be as one of the best live music venues in the city! Please, Please, Please!

As a newcomer to Manchester (student) it's taken me a while to get round to going here. I'd thought it was going to be somewhere out of the ordinary but really it's just a dirty, overpriced bar with the huge bonus of putting on jazz - it's only saving grace. Yes I'll probably return, but only for the music and it seems there are other places that are starting to do that. I noticed a sign for Sand Bar's Jazz night on a Tuesday for example.

Yep Sandbar is putting some great bands on at the moment not least Jon Thorne and Matt Nickson. So there are other places to go now (great) where you can get away from idiots that rant on and on about how great Matt & Phred's is (actually used to be fantastic, but those days have gone). Don't forget the Band on the Wall opens soon as well!

Expect a full (brackets included) diatribe from either Dean or Anonymous

Me thinks the paranoia has set in.

wot a joke

Are you referring to your pathetic grasp on the English Language or the banal offerings such as that mentioning 'paranoia'? For the simple among you, particularly those suffering from a limited vocabulary allow me to summarise. Matt and Phred's since Matt Nickson left in April 2007 = very bad [by extension and nothwithstanding the two failures of the business during his original tenure, Matt and Phred's pre-April 2007 = very good]. Current owner = tried hard but achieved limited success to manage/operate a live jazz music venue. Current Situation = club for sale so let those brave enough to express their opinions [along similar lines to the summary provided above] prove their abilities by taking the opportunity to rectify the many issues and problems they've so kindly identified. Me, Paranoid? Hardly, I really haven't proved to be particularly good at running the place and sincerely wish that somebody would come along and enable the place to fulfill its huge potential. Hopefully that helps the many imbeciles posting comments here understand things a little better [although I very much doubt it]. Finally, don't you just love how I steadfastly insist on continuing to use those pesky brackets??

How much?