One of the better bars in the Northern Quarter, TV21 manages to be cool without being pretentious. It’s a retro theme bar, with a very colourful decor and tv and film memorabilia adorning every nook and cranny.

It has a main bar area upstairs and the self-proclaimed “Secret Basement Bar” down in the basement, which has a dancefloor and is usually very full on the weekends, though it’s also occasionally used for gigs during the week. The bar staff are generally pleasant and efficient, as are the doormen (which isn’t always the case in Manchester)

DJs at the weekend tend to go for Madchester classics and standard floorfillers, with the odd cheesy twist thrown in (Nik Kershaw came on last night S-:).

All in all its a great place to go for a night out, whether as pre-club venue or even to stay there all night, highly recommended…

This popular Northern Quarter bar certainly has a lot of ‘character’. The decor is interesting to say the least, with rockets, aliens and glamour goth bar staff.

Downstairs is the club, which plays a mixture of rock/indie and the odd retro classic. Beware, it is very smokey and cramped downstairs, so best head down there once you’ve had your share of drinks upstairs!

The crowd can be quite a mix, there’s usually a fair few interesting people, with the usual age bracket around mid-late 20s.

I’ve had some good nights in here, but usually after I’ve had a good few 20 drinks!

The atmosphere in TV21s is so good you could probably come here on your own, grab a drink and wander around reminiscing about days gone by, but it’s of course far better if you come with friends and you can admire the retro feel together.
Upstairs is more open with a big bar so being served is not a problem, no matter how busy it is. Drinks are similar prices to much of the Northern Quarter.
Downstairs has a more intimate, cosy feel, where you can dance or simply be a wallflower and lounge whilst admiring a cabinet full of Captain Scarlett action figures!
Definately worth a visit!

TV 21s is the same as Fab Cafe but cleaner and with a much better atmosphere. The last time I went in they had Tron playing on TVs in the background! The drinks are cheap and the staff are friendly but what is better about here is that the bar is massive. you are not crammed in like you are in Fab. They have excellent memrobilia that adorns the walls that really gives it a great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

One of the newest additions to the Northern Quarter, TV21s is filled with memorabilia from tv and film past. It's loads of fun to come here with your mates, peruse the walls and recall all the terrible stuff you used to watch when you were young!
The upstairs bar is placed centrally in the room, giving the place an unusual layout (and making it slightly easier to get served); downstairs is a small dance floor.
This bar gets really busy at the weekend, when it pumps out chessy tunes, but it's worth battling through the crowds for the vibrant, fun atmosphere.