Gigs & Nightlife

Manchester named one of the best cities in the WORLD for nightlife

I mean, obviously...

Daisy Jackson - 14th August 2024

Time Out has just named the best cities for nightlife in the world – and Manchester is right up there with the best of them.

Our fair city, which has been famed for its clubbing and music scene for decades, managed to rank in the top 10.

Thousands of people were surveyed to compile Time Out’s list, with locals quizzed on their city’s nightlife and going out scene.

Each city was then ranked on things like quality, affordability, venues and experiences.

Time Out also reached out to a series of DJs to nominate three nightlife capitals.

Manchester placed eighth overall, thanks to its ‘inclusive and authentic’ nightlife scene, with venues including Hidden and The White Hotel getting a name check.

We obviously already knew that our city is thriving after-dark – our nightlife page is one of the busiest on The Manc’s entire website – but its nice to know we’re not completely biased.

Locals ranked the quality of a night out here at 80%, though affordability dragged us down with a score of just 28%.

Time Out wrote: “Anyone who’s been out in Manny will have a story for the ages, so legendary is the northern city’s nightlife scene in the UK.”

It continued: “Mancunians praised the ‘inclusiveness’ and ‘variety’ of Manchester’s after-dark offering (‘bubbly’ and ‘happy’ featured several times in the survey, too).”

Hidden was name-checked by Time Out in its list of the best nightlife cities in the world. Credit: Facebook, Hidden

Manchester-based writer Ian Jones said: “As the city grows, so does the number of sub-par spaces charging sky-high prices.

“Clued-in clubbers are rejecting slick corporate clubbing and adopting the spirit of early rave – less TikTok, more arms-in-the-air.

“Most great nights involve a trip to an industrial estate for Hidden or The White Hotel, but nearer the centre, the cutting-edge stuff is happening in unflashy basements and backrooms at newer places like Peste, DBA and N/OM.

“Old-school outsider venues like Soup Kitchen, Star & Garter and Eagle Inn have a similarly unorthodox, queer-friendly vibe.

“Bottom line? Swerve the mainstream moneymakers, Manchester’s best clubs are equal parts inclusive and authentic.”

Rio de Janeiro claimed the top spot, followed by Manila, and then (unsurprisingly) Berlin.

Also featuring ahead of Manchester were Guadalajara in Mexico, Austin, Lagos in Nigeria, and Rotterdam.

Manchester ranked more highly for its nightlife scene than Budapest, Buenos Aires and Singapore.

Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, says: “Nightlife has changed a lot over the past four years. But while club closures and work-from-home culture have thrown its future into question, cities the world over have done what they do best: rolled with the times.

“Our inaugural Time Out ranking of the World’s Best Cities for Nightlife champions the destinations where a great night out is an easy find and, with affordability a key metric in our ranking, won’t break the bank.

“With our on-the-ground recommendations from local Time Out experts and three DJ city picks, you have an essential guide to today’s nightlife capitals – and where to go out there.”

Featured image: Supplied, Gemma Parker