Entertainment in City Centre - St Peter's Square & Oxford Street (Manchester)

The Ritz

Although the Ritz was built as a traditional ballroom (with a properly sprung floor for ballroom dancing), it has moved with the times to add club, dance and live music to its ample repertoire. The interior is deceptively spacious, with 2 floors linked by sweeping stairways and decorated with unusual tapestry designs in rich reds and browns. Monday night has been Student Night for nearly 20 years and offers a cheap and cheerful alternative to some of the newer clubs in the city. A mix of indie, dance, and hip hop nights along with occasional live bands are held on weekdays, while weekends tend to attract an older crowd.

The Portico Library & Gallery

Founded in 1806, this beautiful Georgian private subscription library, right in the heart of the city centre, is perfect if you are looking for somewhere to reflect in peace and quiet, away from the busy world outside. Its 25,000 plus rare volumes are mainly 19th-century fiction, travel, history and biographies. The Portico Library requires subscription, but the Gallery is open to the public for free from Mondays to Fridays between 9.30p to 4.30p. Art and book exhibitions are held here on a monthly basis.

Manchester Central

This was once the old Central Railway Station. Today, it is not only an impressive exhibition and events centre, it's also a local landmark that mixes modern architectural flair with Victorian elegance. Designed for versatility, it makes an ideal venue for sporting events and concerts. The retractable acoustic sails make it so that several events can go on at the same time. The Seminar Centre is also frequently used as a totally separate venue. It even has its own bar-restaurant.

The Bridgewater Hall

This fabulous £42 million building is one of the major landmarks of Manchester's economic and cultural regeneration. It boasts a state-of-the-art 2340 seat auditorium; home to the world-famous Halle Orchestra and the Manchester Philharmonic. The interior is starkly modern, with an enormous glass façade, high ceilings, brushed metal and chrome details. There is also a superb restaurant and some of the best corporate entertainment facilities in the city. Stop by the stylish gift shop if you're looking to buy greetings cards, music, jewelery or gifts.

Palace Theatre

Affectionately known as the Grand Old Lady of Oxford Street, the Palace Theatre is an imposing 1,998 capacity Victorian theatre that originally opened its doors to the public in July 1891. It lends itself to larger productions of touring plays, opera, ballet and popular musicals such as Phantom of the Operaand Les Miserables. Inside, the auditorium is decorated in the classical style, with lots of gilded features and plush deep red velvet upholstery. There are 2 steep-sided upper tiers, stalls and several ornate boxes, giving the whole place a feeling of good old-fashioned grand opulence.

Library Theatre

Established in November 1952, the ethos of this award winning Library Theatre within Central Library is to provide the public with access to modern plays at reasonable prices to the highest possible standard. Along with the plays themselves, you can enjoy free guided tours and they even have exclusive deals with local restaurants and bars (including Citrus and Nico Central) to provide special, discounted pre-show dinners. There are also excellent disabled facilities for both the hearing and visually impaired.

Green Room

The Green Room has been through troubled times in the recent past. Following a period of closure, it has emerged with new-found creative optimism, providing a platform and space for many of Manchester's most innovative performers and artists. The venue is used in many of the city's cultural festivals (from grass roots to new technology) as well as holding its own nights of theatre, poetry and musical performance. All this plus a welcoming cafe-bar and plenty of room to display some terrific art by the latest practitioners.

Contact Theatre

No matter what you think of the unique architecture of the Contact Theatre, there can be no question that the theater's organizers are putting their collective energy into raising the profile of this venue and attracting a new, specifically younger, audience. This refreshing attitude is mirrored in the stunning decor, all bold, sweeping staircases, with royal blues, oranges and purples on the walls, complemented by plenty of brushed metal and futuristic designs. If you fancy a drink or light snack while you are visiting you could also try the popular Deluxe Bar annex, just past the main entrance space.

Cornerhouse

The original place for art house cinema in Manchester, the Cornerhouse is an institution offering an oasis for people wanting to expand their horizons beyond the latest Hollywood movie. Three separate cinemas give you a bewildering array of choice from old classics to the latest French masterpiece, from barrier-breaking documentaries to experimental short films. If that isn't enough, there are three excellent galleries displaying contemporary art of all kinds, plus a bar, cafe and foyer bookshop. patrons include movie greats like Danny Boyle and Helen Mirren. For show timings and details about upcoming festivals, refer to their website.

Manchester Academy 3

Enjoy live performances by international bands at Manchester Academy 3, located in Manchester University. Entry is open to visitors and you can join the crowds and listen to bands like Yellowcard, Fightstar and many more. Check the website for details on upcoming shows.