Nightlife

The Club & Music Scene

Above all else, Manchester is known for its contributions to pop music. From The Smiths and New Order to Oasis and the Stone Roses, the "Manchester sound" has been known throughout the world for more than 2 decades. Yet surprisingly enough, live music went by the wayside in the early 1990s, and clubs were in short supply until they started making a steady comeback in the last couple of years.

South, 4A King St. (tel. 01618/317756), is a small industrial-style club. A 10-minute walk north of Piccadilly Gardens, this club has a sophisticated young aura, with '60s and '70s music on Friday and a hot house DJ on Saturday.

For cutting-edge music, check the stage at Star & Garter, Farefield Street (tel. 01612/736726), on Wednesday through Friday, when harder rock and hard-core acts will get in your face.

Peveril of the Peak, Great Bridgewater Street (tel. 01612/366364), is easy enough to find -- just look for a 380-year-old triangular building covered in tile from top to bottom. No one seems to know why it was designed or built that way, but you can step inside and enjoy a pint of Theakston's Best Bitter, Yorkshire Terrier, or Webster's Best Bitter while you puzzle over it.

Other hot clubs include Matt and Phred's, 65 Tib St. (tel. 01612/831-7002), which features some of the best jazz in town. Open Monday to Saturday 5pm to 2am.

The Performing Arts

Everyone knows about the rock scene in Manchester, but the fine arts thrive as well.

For drama with an unobstructed view, go to the nation's largest theater-in-the-round, The Royal Exchange, St. Ann's Square (tel. 01618/339833; www.royalexchange.co.uk), which is housed in a futuristic glass-and-steel structure built within the Great Hall of Manchester's former Cotton Exchange and offers 48 weeks of in-house dramaturgy every year.

Home of the renowned Halle Orchestra, The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street (tel. 01619/079000; www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk), is a state-of-the-art, 2,400-seat concert hall. In addition to the orchestra's season, it also presents other classical performances as well as some pop and comedy, too.

The University of Manchester's Department of Music, Coupland Street (tel. 01612/754982), is home to one of the nation's most distinctive classical string quartets, the Lindsay String Quartet, which performs a series of eight evening concerts in the department's auditorium during the year. For a real bargain, check out its luncheon recital series, which is free.

The internationally acclaimed BBC Philharmonic performs concerts year round at Bridgewater Hall (box office tel. 01619/079000). The calendar of performances is highly variable so it's best to call for schedules.

Manchester Gay Life

The so-called Gay Village spreads across Canal Street in a once-seedy neighborhood. The scene begins northeast of Princess Street and is active day and night. On a summer day, gay and lesbians hang out at one of the sidewalk tables that border the canal. The bars are frequented by both young gay men and lesbians. A trio of bars is the most popular. They include Queer, 4 Canal St. (tel. 0161/228-1360), a gay lifestyle cafe/bar in the heart of the village. Entrance is free and food is served day and night. A cruisy crowd frequents the joint with its large booths. Open Monday to Saturday 11am to 2am, Sunday 11am to 12:30am. On another front, Churchills, 37 Chorlton St. (tel. 0161/236-5529), arguably has the friendliest atmosphere. The surroundings are safe and comfortable at this pub club that features everything from drag disco to karaoke nights. Both full meals and bar snacks are offered, and there's no cover. Open Monday to Saturday noon to 2am, Sunday noon to 12:30am. Finally, Cruz 101, 101 Princess St. (tel. 0161/950-0101), is perhaps the best-attended gay venue, with music ranging from disco to funky house. It's really two clubs in one, with a large main floor and a smaller lower level. It was created from an old abandoned textile mill. Cover ranges from £4 to £5 ($7.60-$9.50), depending on the night and entertainment. Open Monday, Thursday, and Sunday 11pm to 5am, Wednesday 11pm to 3:30am, Friday and Saturday 11pm to 6am.