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Top 10 Small Party Venues in Manchester for Big Moments
Huge parties are delightful, but we think smaller ones have more charm—miles better!
Why so? You’re in the company of beloved ones, chats are livelier, the food is tastier, and the venue hire costs are a bit more manageable.
Big things can come in little packages, thanks to these small party venues in Manchester. Let’s get cracking!
53two
Media from @53two
Address: Arch 19, Watson Street
Contact details: 0161 399 5264
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Thursday – 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM
- Friday – 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM
- Saturday – 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM
- Sunday – 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
The talented lads and ladies of the Manchester Actor’s Platform have successfully created an improved school and performance venue called 53two. It’s housed in Grade II-listed arches, marrying art, heritage, and creativity all in one spot since 2019.
We’re quite chuffed that it serves not only as a theatre for acting performances but also becomes a cosy event venue. The seating is surprisingly modular and removable to accommodate sitting or standing-only celebrations for up to 180 people.
Another impressive aspect of 53two’s facilities is its Changing Places Toilet. This means that it can accommodate people with varying disabilities better, given the bigger space and better accessibility equipment.
| Pro tip: 53two isn’t a registered marriage venue so far, but nothing’s stopping you in making it your post-wedding reception site! |
The Beeswing
Media from The Beeswing
Address: Kampus, 24a Minshull Street
Contact details: 07510 237674, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Tuesday and Wednesday – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Thursday and Friday – 4:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- Saturday – 1:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- Sunday – 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Monday – CLOSED
A popular wine tasting venue in the city with some of the tastiest Spanish tapas we’ve eaten, the Beeswing is also terrific for hosting intimate private events. The posh seating, classy ambience, and terrace views help make celebrations feel more special.
As mentioned, the food is banging. For seemingly effortless yet classy scran, finger food like the cheese or charcuterie plate with wine flights are the suggested offering for parties, but getting every tapa the restaurant offers will work as well.
If your event needs fuller meals to accompany it, working with the Beeswing team for a curated sit-down meal is a great idea, too.
| Pro tip: If you don’t feel like hiring the whole restaurant for an event, then pay the Beeswing a visit every Saturday and Sunday afternoons to catch its Spanish Bottomless Brunch. It’s free-flowing wine and scrumptious Spanish breakfast goodies for under 40 quid! |
The Black Friar
Media from The Black Friar Salford
Address: 41-43 Blackfriars Road, Salford
Contact details: 0161 667 9555, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Beloved and recently resurrected Victorian-era pub, the Black Friar is indeed well away from neglect and disrepair. Nowadays, it greets visitors and passersby with intricate giant floral decor right at its facade, and keeps them company with good food and drink.
It’s quite easy to go here on an ordinary day just to have lunch or a snack, but it’s even better as an events space. The Black Friar actually has a handful of rooms and areas in its premises that can cater to parties, small or huge!
Our favourite for small crowds are the idyllic but cosy ‘Cabins’ (which hold a mere 8–16 people) and the proper sitting room called ‘the Sanctuary’ (which can accommodate up to 40 people, standing).
| Pro tip: The Black Friar is also popular as a wedding reception venue, so book your events well in advance to guarantee your desired schedule and room. |
The Alan Hotel
Media from The Alan Hotel Manchester
Address: 18 Princess Street
Contact details: 0161 236 8999, [email protected]
Operating hours: 24/7
Located almost at the centre point of town (being quite near St Peter’s Square), the Alan Hotel is a stunning repurposed architectural marvel, with six floors of rooms and event spaces—great for travellers and locals alike.
For smaller or more intimate celebrations, it has at least four speciality spaces available for hire. These include the so-called Events 1 & 2 rooms, as well as its in-house restaurant and bar areas, respectively.
The Alan can accommodate parties and grub for a guest list of 20–50 people, thanks to its comfy facilities, delicious food, and superb service.
| Pro tip: If you need a compact meeting space, the Alan also has a Boardroom that can fit up to 14 people, all seated in a long table for most efficient communications. |
BAB NQ
Media from Bab
Address: 14 Little Lever Street
Contact details: 0161 806 0813, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
BAB NQ is a Middle Eastern and British fusion restaurant near the iconic Stevenson Square. It’s pretty popular with the night crowd for its speciality seasoned fries, shawarma, kebabs, and hummus—all pretty great to pair with a beer or cocktail.
That said, it’s quite easy to see how it became one go-to spot for private parties. The dark and cosy bar and restaurant setup—industrial yet strategically adorned with greenery—and hip music really elevates any haunt into a classy and fun celebration.
BAB’s best enjoyed with a group of 10–20 people, so everyone will still have enough breathing room to chat (and dance a bit).
| Pro tip: Just remember that outside drink isn’t allowed (this isn’t a BYOB situation), and any decor is limited to only floor-standing and on-table items. Otherwise, say goodbye to your deposit refund. |
Band on the Wall
Media from Band on the Wall
Address: 25 Swan Street, Northern Quarter
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday – 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Wednesday to Friday – 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Saturday – 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM
The iconic Music Tour staple, Band on the Wall, caters not only to public music performances, but also private events like parties, weddings, and conferences. On days when there aren’t any musical acts, there’s most likely a special event or two.
Holding any event here will surely give it the edge it deserves. Imagine having a landmark birthday or wedding reception here—it’s like being (almost) an icon yourself!
Another perk of hiring Band on the Wall for your event is that you’re guaranteed the use of its top-notch sound system. Moreover, food and drink are catered by the venue’s partners, so the same great, show-quality treats will grace your party.
| Pro tip: Band on the Wall is a brilliant venue if you’re looking for one that has good accessibility. Differently abled people won’t have a hard time getting into and moving across this space. |
The Old Monkey
Media from Old Monkey Manchester
Address: 90 Portland Street
Contact details: 0161 228 6262
Operating hours: Daily – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
For those who like their parties simple and with little fuss, holding it in a pub is one fantastic idea. If you live near the Civic Quarter, then we suggest hitting up the Old Monkey and hiring its first floor for your next happening.
Unbelievable at first, but that area of the Old Monkey is free to hire! All you need to worry about is the fees for food and drink, as well as installing attractive decor.
The Old Monkey is home to Joseph Holt beers. However, non-alcohol drinkers can still enjoy the pub because of the good food—you can arrange bar grub and even a buffet with the management.
| Pro tip: The Old Monkey is also home to the Trapdoor Comedy Club, a set of talented performers set to elicit more than just giggles. Maybe adding them to your event isn’t a bad idea. |
Rain Bar
Media from Rain Bar
Address: 80 Great Bridgewater Street
Contact details: 0161 235 6500, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Another local pub you can add to your prospective list of small event venues is Rain Bar. Tucked along the Rochdale Canal, it’s a great hangout spot after watching a show at the Bridgewater Hall or the O2 Ritz.
Since it’s quite a sizeable building, it has three event and party spaces. The most popular of these is the first-floor event space, which typically accommodates about 70–100 people.
However, with truly intimate celebrations, the best spot will have to be the ground-floor party space. It’s right beside the bar area, overlooking the outside scenery, and can seat up to eight persons.
| Pro tip: Need a simple place for a wedding ceremony? Rain Bar’s 2nd floor Boardroom is a licensed ceremony venue which you can also hire—talk about hitting two birds with a single stone! |
The Yard MCR
Media from The Yard
Address: 11 Bent Street, Cheetham Hill
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours: Daily – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Community hub The Yard is a trendy location for any party or event in Cheetham Hill. Since it opened doors in 2019, it’s become home to artists and up-and-coming fashion studios, and served as a venue for live performances, meetings, and private gatherings.
This novel repurposing of an old warehouse ticks all the boxes on our list: inviting, lively, and conducive to creative work and fun. So, if you identify with these characteristics, then the Yard is for you.
Booking the huge event spaces seems to be the norm, but there are also smaller areas in the Yard that are open to hire for events.
| Pro tip: Need some alcohol to hype up your party? Get it all in-house since the Yard has its own full bar! |
The Foundry Project
Media from Foundry Project Manchester
Address: Thomas Street, Northern Quarter
Contact details: 0161 8397195, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday – 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM
- Sunday – 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
For a modern British pub vibe that will keep your party the talk of the town, head on to the Foundry Project at the Northern Quarter. It tastefully pairs industrial styling with beautiful wooden accents, giving off that sophisticated feel every time.
The Foundry Project is a popular venue for hen dos, but it can hold any type of event, really, thanks to its spacious interiors and timeless vibe—an indoor screen’s a plus for those video presentations, too!
Since it’s a pub, people go there for cocktails and beer. However, the quality of the food is similarly noteworthy—the Caprino goat’s cheese and pollo peperoncino (spicy chicken) pizzas are some unforgettable flavours.
| Pro tip: The Foundry Project is chock-full of events, so book yours well in advance! |
