Venue Review: Venus, Manchester

With its reputation as one of Manchester’s biggest and best clubbing destinations, Chris White thought it was high time he headed down to Venus to see what all the fuss was about.

Located right in the centre of town on Blackfriars, huge banners mark the entrance which takes you immediately down some winding stairs to the entrance and smoking area... a hidden, underground clubbing cavern if you will. Once inside you have a choice of rooms; a multi-level dancefloor area with seating areas and a DJ booth raised on one side, and  larger room to the left with a long bar and private booths around the entrance. 

We arrived around 11.30pm expecting things to be just getting going... not the case! The party was in full swing in the main room; booths filled with glamorous guys and gals, a packed dancefloor, drinks flowing and house music pumping at full throttle. There’s a definite foreign feel to the main room, the white walls and bright coloured lighting rigs give a distinct Ibiza feel. The fact everyone was really going for it so early shows the awareness people have that Venus is the only place you need to go for a full-on clubbing experience. 

After an hour we made our way to the second room, quiet to begin with but packed within about 20 minutes. A slightly bizarre layout with dancefloor areas across three levels, pillars in the centre area, and spaces to sit/perch around the edge.  My advice, just keep an eye on the floor otherwise you may end up taking a little tumble! Lighting around the edge of each level should be enough to keep you vertical.  A lot darker than the first room, this area had a more intense club feel, perfect when the chunky house really gets going.

A mix of electro and funky house, the music provided by the Venus residents was spot on. Nothing too intense with enough vocals to keep the less hardened Saturday night clubber happy, the tunes are definitely one of the clubs strong points.

Overall my group had a fantastic time at Venus. The music and atmosphere is upbeat, fun, and ever so slightly hedonistic. Reasonable drink prices and friendly staff give a good impression from the off. Dress to impress and head down to experience Manchester clubbing at its best.

In conjunction with Manchester’s Pride celebrations over the August bank holiday weekend, the huge Bitch party returns to Venus with massive Pride special. Headlining is DJ/producer and Toolroom artist Kate Lawler. Successfully building herself a reputation as one of the leading female DJs in the country, by 2006, Kate held a residency at DJ Mags number 1 club in the world Sankeys. She’s rocked the UKs top clubbing venues from Pacha, The Cross, Ministry of Sound and Turnmills in London, to The Arches in Scotland, Garlands in Liverpool and Lush in Ireland, she’s kicked it alongside dance floor legends such as Sebastien Leger, Andy Chatterley, Nic Fancuilli, James Zabelia, Martijn Ten Velden and Deep Groove, impressing promoters and fellow DJs with her infectious style. 

Earlybird tickets priced £8 are available now.

Venus, 42 Maybrook House, Blackfriars, Manchester, M3 2EG

Tickets are no longer available for this event