In Manchester, there’s a club for every taste to while away the long summer evenings
Text Tabitha Lasley
Out and about in… Manchester
The ‘Madchester’ days may be over, but Mancunians still know how to party
InOut will always have a soft spot for Manchester. After all, this is the city that gave us the late, great Bowlers, that sprawling club-cum-football-pitch perched on the industrial hinterlands of Salford, notable for its inclusive door policy and delicious milkshakes. And although it’s been some years since the clarion call of horns was last heard over Trafford Park, Manchester’s nightlife has managed to retain some of that cheerful egalitarian spirit. But where’s a grown-up clubber to go now that it’s no longer de rigueur to accessorise with a Vicks Stick?
IF YOU LIKED… the quirky individualism of industrial techno – think Green Velvet and Dave Clarke – head to Walrus (High Street, Northern Quarter, tel. (0)161 828 8700). Recently opened, the bar’s brave, Bernard Carroll-designed aesthetic has quickly found favour with the Northern Quarter’s creative set and the place is packed out most weekends.
IF YOU LIKED… the hide-and-seek nature of those prelapsarian free parties in the early 90s, then you’ll probably appreciate the challenge that is finding Lamars (Fourways House, Hilton Street, tel. (0)8715 293818). Tucked away in a converted warehouse, 
it’s not the easiest place to get to, but do persevere. Once here, you’ll find a laid-back crowd, a high-camp atmosphere and some accomplished cocktails.
IF YOU LIKED… the chilly exclusivity of the mid-90s house scene, you’re going to love Abode’s (107 Picadilly, tel. (0)161 247 7744) newly opened champagne bar. All moody lighting, dark wood and dressed-up punters, this place is every bit as polished as erstwhile branded superclubs like Pacha and Cream. Just don’t turn up in a fluffy bikini.
Cocktail corner
June Bug
What to toast the warmer weather with, now that summer’s here? It’s got to be a June Bug – a punchy, take-no-prisoners fusion of tropical fruit that just doesn’t feel right unless the mercury’s rising. Two things before you get started, though: if you want your June Bug a verdant shade of green rather than an unappetising sludgy brown, keep the Midori to Malibu ratio high. And remember to use lots of ice.
Blend 30ml each of Midori, pineapple juice and sweet and sour mix with 20ml each of Malibu and De Kuyper’s banana liqueur. Pour over ice and serve in a highball glass.
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