Printworks/Filmworks, Manchester

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The Printworks is a buzzing, state of the art entertainment complex located in the heart of Manchester City Centre. It is home to a range of restaurants, bars and clubs alongside a cinema and gym. The Printworks has something to offer both day and night.

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This former Printing House redeveloped as an entertainment complex in 2000 with a health club, cinemas, restaurant and bars. I have been to the complex on several occasions including visits to The Hard Rock Cafe, seeing a 3D movie at the cinema and the last time I was there is where we had our VT Meeting dinner at The Cafe Rouge (November 2010) and recently had a meal at Chiquito (October 2011).

The Printworks were built as the Withy Grove Print House in 1973 and was a successful publishing company where the Manchester Evening Chronicle and the Daily Mirror were produced until 1985. The building was dormant until it was redeveloped.

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We went here for New Year's Eve and it was a perfect spot to ring in the new year. The atmosphere here is very cozy and relaxing and we had a fun time here on NY eve.. This pub is in a great location too, downtown Manchester. It is surrounded by many other interesting looking places as well.

Dress Code: Casual, although we were dressed nicer because it was the new year.

Good variety of nightlife, there is a great Filmworks cinema, loads of bars for all different types. The location is good for other bars and clubs, so you can jump from one to the other.

Alternativly you have Deansgate or Northern Quarter. The Northern Quarter is much more chilled, funky with a wide variety of people.

Dress Code: You are best not wearing sneakers/trainers. Some do allow them others dont, to be on the safe side where shoes.

The new Printworks (seen here to the right of Urbis) is like a middle class version of the London Trocadero: an entertainment and leisure centre with a mega-cinema, mobile phone shops, coffee bars, pubs and clubs galore, plus a Hard Rock Cafe and a gym. I say middle class because the Printworks is given over to chain pubs, themed restaurants and familiar high street names.

This site used to be a newspaper printing press. Only the facade facing Exchange Square is original. Everything else is purpose-built on a grand scale, including Britain's largest cinema screen and Manchester's largest nightclubs (which is saying something in a city known for its nightlife).

The Printworks has several 'superpubs,' themed bars that are so big they have their own themed bars inside. Tiger Tiger, Manchester’s largest nightspot, has 7 different bars spread over 4 floors, plus a restaurant and nightclub which altogether can contain about 2,000 revellers (strictly for over-25s). At Waxy O’Connor’s there are 3 different themed Oirish bars on its 3 floors. A new addition is Pure, an offshoot of London's Heaven, for which I have seen MASSIVE queues.

Billing itself a 24-hour leisure destination is a bit rich though. Only a couple clubs have a late licence, shutting at 2am. Sure, there are midnight movies too, but the only reason it can call itself 24-hour is because the main walkways stay open night and day.

You can't miss the place, with its television screen looking over Exchange Square and blaring music. Step inside and you'll be transported...somewhere. I'm not sure where, exactly. You'll catch the sound of foghorns and seagulls over a Britney Spears video playing on a large screen. Neon signs clash with fake Victorian billboards. Faux tram lines have been built into the cobbled street. It's all too middle of the road, too middle class and all too much of a muddle for me. But it's new and different and in Manchester that's all that matters these days!

Dress Code: The clubs tend to have an over-25 policy and some have a self-described 'style' code so no jeans, trainers or other working class gear, darling.

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Wasnt bad...a big streetscape underneath the cover of a roof joining between either side. There are many different bars/clubs and all seem to have their own shtick while maintaining the overall dance scene. You can find cheaper cover but oyu will also pay pretty good for the dinrks. Watch bringin your coats as checks are very minimal.

Dress Code: No Hats, no runners....maybe some places ok but to be safe.

The complex is the first stop for families as well as people looking for a lively night out - it even has a 24-hour license.There's a packed schedule of events all year round, live music arenas to suit all tastes and indoor streets to protect visitors from the Manchester drizzle.The Printworks contains a cinema and interactive futuristic d?cor (including constantly changing LCD displays) with 36 bars and 14 restaurants...under one, rather large, roof.

Dress Code: Anything but to go to a night club here you should wear smart.......

I remember when I thought Hard Rock was cool. That was in 1989. These days every tourist trap and holiday resort the world over from Cancun to Cape Town has one (Hard Rock Omaha, anyone?). It's odd that it took Manchester so long to get one of its own, given its world-famous musical pedigree. I've not been in but I'm sure you'll find some memorabilia relating to Oasis, Morissey, M People and New Order.

The reason I've not been in is that queuing up to pay 10 pounds for burger and chips surrounded by gold records and Madonna's underwear is not my definition of a good night out.

A recent addition is the Hard Rock Casino, which is at the back of the Printworks complex. Currently you have to apply for membership the day before you're allowed to gamble, but this law should be changing soon.

Printworks/Filmworks is definitely a hot spot for Manchester nightlife. It has a little bit of everything you could want...restaurants, movie theaters, and bars/nightclubs. I spent quite a few nights in this area.

Dress Code: Although no dress code is required when going to the bars, most people tend to dress very trendy and they don't believe in coats or coat checks.

Printworks and Filmworks are a re-vamped printing factory with a "street" full of eateries and a big cinema complex. A good place to be night or day although its done out so dark inside it always looks like evening time!

There are 36 cafés and bars, 16 restaurants of various ethnic cuisines, a health complex, and Manchester's first IMAX cinema, alongside 20 screens at the development known as "the Filmworks".