Venue Spotlight: Underdog, Black Dog Ballroom NWS, Manchester

With two Manchester venues already proudly bearing the distinctive Black Dog logo and a third due to open this week in the form of grown-up bowling alley Dog Bowl, the blossoming Black Dog Ballroom empire forms an increasingly important part of the city's late night scene.

Starting out as New York style speakeasy bar and diner in the Northern Quarter - where it continues to attract queues around the block every weekend - Black Dog opened its second venue in May 2012, when it took over a multi level bar, club and restaurant (formerly Space) on the atmospheric New Wakefield Street, near Oxford Road Station.

With its ground floor bar and popular outdoor/indoor roof terrace - easily one of the best in the city - Black Dog NWS is already a firm favourite amongst after work drinkers and weekend bar crawlers. Its basement club space Underdog however, remains somewhat of a hidden gem in Manchester's club scene. 

Indeed, it would be easy to blithely pass an evening sipping cocktails in Black Dog NWS without even realising that under your feet lies a 400 capacity night club fitted with state of the art Funktion One sound system, which regularly plays host to big name DJs. 

Since opening last May, Underdog has already been graced by the likes of Scratch Perverts, Delphic, Graeme Park, Crazy P and Fun Lovin' Criminals, along with nights and brands such as Half Full, Thick As Thieves, Don't Flop and The Zoo Project.

Saturdays at Underdog are controlled by resident DJs Stuart Richards and Da Funk, while Fridays are a little more diverse, being curated by different promoters throughout the month including Ruff Groove (underground raw house) and Frank (deep and upfront house and tech).

Underdog has big plans for 2013, with Radio One In New DJs We Trust pioneers Jaymo & Andy George already confirmed to appear at the club this Easter Bank Holiday Sunday.

More guests set to take to the Underdog decks in the coming weeks and months include Wil Maddems, Sidney Charles (making his Manchester debut), Dale Howard, Shane Linehan and DJ History legend Bill Brewster for an all-night set.  

Also big, big local crews Drop The Mustard and Under will be throwing parties in the basement, bringing with them some special unannounced guests whose name would not be out of place in the headline slot of some of the country's best dance festivals and some of Ibiza's biggest clubs.

Underdog, New Wakefield Street, Manchester, open Fridays and Saturdays 10pm - 4am.

Upcoming events at Underdog: