YES Manchester

Just off Oxford Road, YES Manchester is one of the city’s most exciting independent venues, part gig space, part bar, part cultural playground. Since opening in 2018, it’s become a go to spot for Manchester’s creative crowd, open minded, music loving and full of inclusive energy.

The building, a converted auction house, hosts live music across multiple stages, from indie and electronica to disco and drag. Upstairs, the Pink Room, an iconic space bathed in neon light, regularly hosts LGBTQ+ nights like Bollox, Queer Noise and Flesh, each one a joyful celebration of queer club culture. It’s also known for Pride week takeovers that bring DJs, drag artists and queer collectives together under one roof.

YES isn’t just about nightlife, though, its daytime offering is equally strong. The ground floor bar serves coffee, craft beer and cocktails, with a rooftop terrace perfect for catching up in the sun. Its food partners serve up crowd favourites like pizza and vegan street food, making it a relaxed place to meet friends long before the music starts.

The atmosphere is pure Manchester, creative, welcoming and unpretentious. Staff are inclusive and approachable, the crowd is diverse, and the whole place runs on the kind of community spirit that makes the city special. YES is exactly what its name says, a place of positivity, openness and joy.