The Manchester Monastery grabbed our attention right away with its breathtaking Victorian Gothic architecture—it’s seriously surreal.

Also, we like the overall layout and design of the monastery gives a blend of historical grand and modern vibe. In our opinion, these aspects make them an ideal choice for events like weddings, corporate events and the like.

After digging further, we found that the price range for hiring them for your next event is pretty affordable. Starting at around £21 per person, it’s a great deal, especially if you have a big guest list.

Speaking of large parties, we think their popular Great Nave room (holds up to six hundred and fifty people) is the perfect option for extravagant wedding parties. It’s also great for major art exhibits, based on the previous events we noted that were held there.

What we’re sad about, though, is about Manchester Monastery’s lack of responsiveness when it comes to online inquiries.

Even from our surveys, we found that several people noted that inquiries sent through email can take up to a couple of business days before it gets a response. Calling them would be the best bet since they’re quick to answer calls.

That said, what keeps us positive about them is that their location is near multiple tram stops and bus routes. For us, it’s better to drop by their open times to ensure getting a proper consultation with them.

At first glance, Harvey Nichols looks like your usual shopping establishment, but what took us by surprise is their sophisticated venue located on the second floor!

We were impressed to find that three main areas of the venue can be utilised for events, namely: the Restaurant, the Bar and the Brasserie.

Upon checking the place, we fell in love with the ceiling-high windows that offer expansive views over the city. For us, this aspect positively adds to the overall ambience of the venue itself.

On the downside, we’re a bit let down to find that their standing capacity is only for 350 people. And since some events usually have 500 people or more, we think that the event spaces at Harvey Nichols might be better suited for more private events.

We’d also like to emphasise that their event spaces are usually in high demand. So, booking them may be a challenge if you’re in a rush to secure a venue in short notice.

On a brighter note, we discovered that their service levels have received a lot of positive feedback. For instance, many people we spoke with praised Harvey Nichols’ team for being responsive and friendly to any inquiries that they receive.

The DoubleTree by Hilton is one of the most well-known hotels in the city, but what surprised us was the stunning events space located in their Penthouse that offers panoramic views of the city.

This feature is honestly one of the aspects that we love about this venue! Adding to that is the lovely interiors, which offer a unique ambience for special events.

That said, we do have to note that the capacity for their spaces is only up to 60 people. This makes them a great option for personal events such as bachelorette parties or engagement dinners.

When we inquired with them, we found that their rates start at £1500, and it’s a bit steep compared to other options that offer limited capacity.

On the brighter side, we think the lovely venue and fantastic service Hilton is known for is well worth the pound! They even have disabled access in the location, plus their service levels are well-praised by some of the previous clients we surveyed.

However, one major concern that kept popping up in our interviews was the lack of sufficient parking space. Although it’s not a major deal-breaker since the venue is near the central business district, it’s something worth considering when planning an event.

The Compass Room at The Lowry Hotel stood out to us because of its unique, contemporary, and neutral space, making it the perfect space for any event.

Right off the bat, we were impressed with their floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the stunning views of the surrounding Quays, which can also be enjoyed from the room’s private balcony.

Additionally, we love that it’s privately located on the fourth floor, making it perfect for amplified events like after-parties, receptions, and even Christmas parties!

We also like that they’re operational every day. However, we think their varying operating hours can be a bit confusing for those who are planning an ocular visit.

As for their pricing, we have to admit that it is a bit steep since it starts at £1250. With only a 300 standing capacity, it’s not ideal if you have a larger event.

That said, we do have to admit that their in-house catering and bar are good trade-offs to their high rates. After all, looking for vendors for your event would be one less (but considerable) thing to worry about.

All things considered, with the unique layout and ambience that they offer, we still think they’re worth the splurge to make any event memorable.

Imperial War Museum North is another unexpected location that offers an impressive event space. We especially love its 360° big picture shows that give a truly unique experience to any event.

We have to admit, upon visiting them, our first impression of their venue wasn’t as impressive as we hoped it would be.

The main thing that we didn’t like was the lack of windows and natural lighting. But, we were quickly proven wrong after the decor and projectors were put in place.

What changed our minds about the initial impression was the noteworthy ambience that their 360° big picture shows. For us, the artistic placing of the images tied up the overall experience in a positive way.

We also want to give them plus points for their sizable capacity. The venue can hold up to 500 in standing capacity, making events feel comfortable despite the big crowd.

Another thing that caught our attention is their harrier jump jet that’s available for hire—it’s not something that’s usually offered by venue spaces in the city.

Best of all, we’ve found that it was a breeze to coordinate with their dedicated events team. From our experience, they were responsive and transparent when it came to planning our event.

There’s just one catch: the starting hire rate is £1800, and understandably so, since they offer a lot of unique facilities and services that can make any event more special.