Voted bar of the year by Manchester tourism... Hang on don't you have to be able to get in a bar for it to be good. Door policy split my party up and the bouncers did not care. So much for keeping people safe. As a matter of principle you should stay away from this bar.. If you have no principles make sure the doormen check your party before anyone goes in and be sure the blokes go in first...

This is a really good night out. The music is always amazing, the bar staff are such a laugh and there's always loads of hilarious people to people watch! It is expensive but why not splash out on a tasty cocktail every now and then! Doormen are sound too- can't wait to go back!

Bar of the year? Let down of the year is more appropriate, and not just for me by the looks of the reviews i've seen.
After queueing for near enough 15 minutes to get into the bar, the door men decide to refuse to let us in as we were too casual (and the dress code is smart/casual on the website, yes it really makes sense doesnt it?). What a let down after having travelled from lancashire to meet our friends, and what a let down for the couple who spoke of the venue so highly. A black formal knee length dress was their definition of too casual and my boyfriend was wearing black formal shoes, trousers and a shirt, the couple we were with, were similarly dressed. I found it rediculous that they door men were letting in bleach blonde haired girls with short skirts on, obviously this must be the dress code they prefer. Our friends who took us to the bar, have been there many times before and will now never visit again. I myself will not be setting foot near the place again, and i shall never recommend anyone to go there. If you do still fancy visiting this bar, check out the reservation terms and conditions for booking booths/tables before you go there. They charge ?10 or ?20 cancellation charge per person if you wish to take people off your booking, and you cannot book if its all females, or all males. Your party must be mixed sex! Whoever drew up them terms and conditions needs to get a life and get in the real world. There were tramps hanging around outside the bar asking people for cigarettes in the queue, hardly a top class venue now is it?

Fab looking bar, bar staff tend to look down noses at guests, great loo's appart from half the girls having snow under their noses!

Great bar and staff good time had by all what more could you want x x

+ great cocktail menu, almost the best capirhinia I've had. Cool, good music, waiters were friendly. I liked the crowd, but then I'm not easily intimidated by posy beautiful crowd- it provides more opportunity for people watching
- cocktails ? watered down- had 4-5 each over the evening, ones served at bar fab, not so sure about cocktails served whilst at table as most of us in the group were surprised by how sober we felt by the end of the evening and lack of hangover the next morning this was in a marked contrast to previous week when I had wine & 1 cocktail. - Watch the crushed ice, more juice in champagne cocktails than fizz!
Group booking we were allowed a max of 7 people ( same sex not allowed) per table, BUT ?10 /person cancellation fee is just insulting, booths varied from having 3-7 people seated so it shouldn't matter if 1-2 people in your booking don't show.
Didn't know there was a selective door policy, lots of beautiful people, I think we got in as we had dinner reservations on both occasions!
Great people watching place, & talking to people posing around the bar was quite easy.
I'm not a leggy blond, so will interesting to see if I get in without a dinner reservation.
Pear mojito at Obsidian so MUCH better than vanilla mojito at Panacea- ?? too much ice again!

bar staff friendly enough but the top shop reject door man was a pain in the back side. since when can a couple not enjoy a cocktail just sold to them without some idiot stood over you telling you to down it as he wanted to close up (22:55). barman was thoughtful enough to apologise on his behalf. this place will go the same way as all the other celbrity hangouts in manchester...obscurity.

"your name" said well. last night i tried wearing a prada polo shirt and smart clothes in general and the bouncer with ironic attitude was asking for shirts :/

Doormen are terrible and don't let you in if they don't like the look of you! Even if you go smartly dressed!

booked a booth for my birthday. Came all the way from chester, just for 3 of my friends not to be let in by the doorstaff for no obvious reason. everyone was smartly dressed and we are all professionals. My planned birthday party was ruined.

was seating quietly having a drink with 2 other girls when a bouncer came and asked us to leave for no reason. Did not even let us finish our drink. Still cant understand why. Wont be going there again. emma, manchester

agree with anonymous from chester. same happened to us. could not believe it.

hell yeah....my clothes were far more expensive than the doorman's soul, and still couldn't get in. what's the big deal? every f*cking loser in this place gets in jail after all.whateva...they're probably some big guy's bitches by now.
P.S i hope it hurts

manchester city centre

great bar , great drinks...awful doormen.don't bother!

c'mon you guys, there are loads of places to visit in manchester! why go there? chavy people in the que....chavy doormen...sucks!

As one of a group of 13 people attending a birthday party at Panacea I can give you candid review of my experience. After spending in excess of ?1000 a female with the group was escorted off the premises for 'being to drunk' even though nobody made a complaint, she was not being loud; she had not even bumped into anyone. The real reason I suspect is the most unprofessional, self-important pea brain doormen were bored and decided to provoke a fight.
If she was 'as drunk 'as they made out, they duly through her onto the streets alone It was by chance one of the group witnessed the fracas otherwise she would have been at the mercy of the city at the early hours of the morning. I thought the days of doorman administering a kicking and slapping the punters had long gone and the ?bouncers? are monitored and trained to maintain our safety.

In summary Panacea is the following :-

Overpriced !
Full of lazy pompous barmen
Ungrateful for your trade
Doormen as welcoming as a ?dose of the clap?
A good place to be beaten up

Manchester is full of fantastic alternatives please explore them as the ?fad? which is the Panacea will soon implode to nothing and hopefully the sooner the better.

Thanks Panacea for letting our party spend copious amounts of money then spitting in our faces.

s*ite service inside, even after buying a bottle of bubbly. Possibly the most obnoxious doormen I've ever encountered - was told to cross the road to smoke my fag. If they are going to market this place as a London style venue, they seriously need to have a word with themselves.....avoid this place like the plague.

Crass, pompous, arrogant, pretentious, misguided, dire, tactless, haughty, chav, farcical are all words that I'd use to describe this vile pit of peroxide based, self indulgence. The only people that prop up the bar in this painfully superficial place, drinking vastly over-rated, over- priced drinks are letching hags lusting after wannbe reality TV stars and be-mulletted perma-tanned recruitment consultants from the city pretending to earn more than they actually do. I'd recommend it if your idea of a good time is repeatedly stabbing yourself in the eye with a rusty fork.

after traveling for 2 hours from birmingham me and two of my mats were turned away for no reason vile doormen on door but after reading the comments glad we didnt get in come to brum much beter night and beter class of doorman

sh*t is the only word !

When to Pana on the Bank holiday sunday with 2 of my Friends and it was fab, the drink were out of this world and the ladies were fabulous, Had the best night, drunk champaign till it i couldnt drink and more plus the Rasberry Martinis with a twist are to die for..... Highly recommend it

Overated and distgusted by door staff behaviour. if you do decide it is the only hip place in town and believe me it is not -do not go out for a smoke as chances are you will not get back in.
Stick to the living room you will have a better night out

s*ite doesnt come close- who do those idiots on the door think they are! rude, stupid, ? i can think of stronger words but they not worth it niether is the visit. dont waste your time

Hi I booked Panacea for my birthday meal with my hubby last August. Just to say the lady on reception was lovely, the bar staff very polite and discrete, and the restaurant manager was fabulous! Food was gorgeous and cheaper than it was in 2006, but the drinks are still pricey, but we kinda prepared for that! Haven't tried going in just for a drink yet though! my try this friday night...i'll report back

went thier this Friday, it was fantastic, what a great bar , about time just what Manchester needed.
me and my freinds really enjoyed it , not too mention the gergeous looking men x see you all next week

Was going to visit said bar but after reading all the awful reviews, think I will stay clear.

dont waste your time going ,especially if you are not from manchester .my friends and i went for a special xmas night out in manch.we stayed in some fab apts ,got all dressed up glam girls smart guys ,12 of us .great meal upstairs at rest/bar and grill ,spent 600 pounds.after qeuing 40 mins in the cold the very rude and arrogant doorthings said ,sorry ladies and gents you wont be visiting panacea tonight.what? try another night .you bet we will .when by summer you will just be another has been bar on the manchester scene letting anybody in.we went to canal street and had a brilliant time .gay /straight doorpersons their could show panecea how to make people really welcome what a fab night their.avoid panacea at all costs much better places in manchester.

course their nice to you if you are a regular and your face fits . thank god my face didnt fit ,from what i saw in the queue i wouldnt want it to .

Went to Panacea on Friday and had a great time. Anyone who slags this place off obviously isn't used to nice bars that have to select the best clientele. Bar service amazing, whole venue immaculate and fellow customers lovely too. Will definitely be returning!

I've not even been yet and already think its s*it! really dont want to come to your snobby bar!