42nd Street

I’m going to grin and bear it through my embarrassment as I admit I love 42s! I hadn’t been since I left uni but after having a fair few drinks in overpriced hipster bars it seemed like a fitting choice. It is refreshing to go somewhere and lose yourself in the Manchester music (cue The Courteeners) and not have to worry about your truly ridiculous dance moves, although I was surprised when Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ came on! Cheap drinks, sticky floors and a night to remember. Just keep your expectations low and an open mind!

I had a great time in 42^nd street one hollowen night!
its got great music and a reasonable size dance floor and the drinks were pretty cheap
it is a bit dingy inside but when your going out to laugh and dance then who cares what the interior is like? its basically full of students and there wasnot any trouble
as have heard about trouble in the clubs in piccadilly.
I would go back again as i had a cheap, fun and no trouble night out.

Oh you naughty 42s, why must you draw me back? I say back, it’s not like I ever came here much in the first place; nestled down an alleyway just off Deansgate, many student spots were much more conveniently placed. However, now we’re all grown up, 42s suddenly becomes an option.
After a disappointing false start at the Ruby Lounge, 42s was the only viable option anyone could come up with — Fifth Ave is the closest relation, and there’s no way I’m stepping a foot back in there.
The students have all dissapeared for the summer, so the atmosphere was actually quite genial. People seemed to be there to actually have a good time and listen to some classic Indie toonage. Unlike Fifth, who advertises itself as an Indie venue but appears to only have one ‘Indie night’ a week, this was a range of proper take-​you-​back-​to-​your-​teenage-​years tunes.
It’s much bigger than I remember, but still a size where it’s hard to lose anyone, with friendly enough doormen and coat check staff. Bar service was a bit slow, with only 3 people serving the Saturday night crowd, but when isn’t it?
When you’re going out, why not indulge in 42s — as Emma Lou says, you might want a hot bath afterwards, but you’ll have some memories to share.

An Indie nightclub alternative to 5^th Avenue and South if you are prepared to go on a small walk from Portland Street to go and enjoy the cheap drinks and music available here each night and consistently produces great nights!

42s might be getting a bit young for me, or I may be getting too old, but it has a young yet retro air about it. If 5^th Ave is too big and brash and The Venue is too miniscule and cliquey, then 42s strikes the balance perfectly. It’s right in between.
It looks a little dingy from some angles and you might feel like you want a good hot bath when you get home, but the drinks are cheap, the music’s fabulous and there’s a great sense of Manchester pride as you get Smiths and Stone Roses in spades. It’s got an intimacy to it that 5^th Ave lacks, and I have it on good authority that the bouncers (I’ve never dealt with them, but friends have… see the 5^th Ave review for details) are warm and friendly. I can confirm that I’ve enjoyed every night I’ve spent here to the full. Now, where did I put my skinny jeans…

Nice indie club, great music, cheap drinks little bit of sticking to the floor but hey who doesnt expect that in these kind of places!!!
only critisicm is how long it takes to get in sometimes but guess its a reason to get on guestlist.
all in all a fabulous night!

I have visited this place 3 times in my drinking career. Everytime something has assaulted me, thrown me out or been treated like cattle. It is full of rude stuck up people who look down their nose at you if you aren’t wearing indie or Vintage wear (God help me I like jeans and a t shirt). Your packed in like lambs into an abbatoire sweating your arse off to drink sugar filled alcopops and get made to feel like an idiot to ask for a cider or a coke. The music is the usual fashionable indie stuff not my taste but if you like that sort of stuff fill ya boots. Will never ever set foot in here again if I can help it.

this is a good club if your a student and looking for a cheap night,
the music is alright and they do sometimes play a mixture but its mostly indie.
i wouldnt return all the time after my first experience it was a good night and the bar staff were friendly but it wasnt my type of club

42^nd Street the club, is the king of all Indie clubs existing in Manchester!
If 5^th Ave was a bit too much for you, 42’s will be perfect! It looks way better, the lights are amazing and the drinks are cheap again! (Not as cheap as 5^th Ave though).
The music is the sick indie coupled with alternative rock and a few populars. Best part about this place, different from any other place I;ve been, is that, there is a wending machine inside the club with chocolates and crisps! So when hunger strikes with all that drinking and dancing, don’t leave, just grab a bar of snickers and keep the show going on!
42’s is the home to entertainment and excitement!

The first time I went to 42s was when everyone wore jeans and t-​shirts (no checked shirts and leggings and floral prints…), it was free for students to get in during the week and the bouncers were really friendly. Not that I got to experience it in its full glory as there was a power cut and we were stuck in silent darkness for half an hour before they decided to send us home with free vouchers to come again. So we did. And again, and again and again.
No matter what day you come on the music is usually a good mix of indie, rock and dance. Last time I was there the music ranged from The Stone Roses’ ‘I am the Resurrection’ to Dizzee’s ‘Bonkers’.
I wouldn’t recommend drinking any of the mixers here — stick to bottled beer (normally about £1.30 for XXXX or £2.50 for Desperados) and the slushies which are available at the smaller bar at the far end of the club.
Nowadays the clientele seem a lot more fashionable. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still go in a pair of jeans and trainers, but I’d be in the minority. The bouncers are not as friendly, but they’re not too mean as long as you behave yourself when you’re lined up in the single file queue on the pavement. If you don’t, or if you’re wearing flip flops, you won’t be allowed in.
It’s strange that Elliot says that it was here where he kissed his girlfriend for the first time. My housemate also met her boyfriend of 3 years here. Maybe there’s something in the air? Maybe it’s just the cheap vodka?

42^nd is a mini me of 5^th avenue. I honestly can’t think of anything that separates it from its bigger Siamese twin. I wouldn’t be so harsh as to say it is somewhat of a mutated little Siamese twin of 5^th ave but well it is. Sorry.
42nds attracts the young crowd of mild alternative kids who like Blink 182 and Kings of Leon but don’t have super tight jeans and dyed hair. A difficult place to find actually unless it has a huge queue in front of it 42^nd is just a set of small steel doors on a tiny street with 42^nd written above it. Inside you can find the blacked out thumping music ranging from cheese to electro with cheap deals on bottles of VK (it’s like WKD except the Aldi version).

42^nd Street (or ‘Forty-​Twos’ if you’re an immense irritant to the populace) is a staple haunt for those who cut their way through life with a series of ironic statements and a fondness for landfill indie.
Yep, 42^nd Street is an indie club.
A proper, smells like dog-​sick, overflowing, grotfest of a place that relentlessly pounds you with the most insultingly obvious playlist and beer so cheap that you end up buying it to take home and water the plants with.
Of course, the patrons are like those found in all indie clubs, which essentially means impossibly skinny runts trying to get off with each other whilst awkwardly dancing around to ‘Fools Gold’, watched enviously by 40something Smiths fans in the corners who still feel misunderstood by the world.
Seriously, this place is a dive and an assault on all the senses (mainly the sense of smell).
That said, these places are what makes Britain so great. You may well look at them like they’re holding pens for vain idiots, which of course they are, but really, in our time, we’ve all loved bouncing around to the music we think we’re going to listen to for the rest of our lives.
Eventually, those dancing on the floor this weekend will grow tired of the music they once held in such high esteem… only to be replaced by another bunch of kids with exactly the same idea to claim as their own, original idea.
The Kidz — They make the world go around don’t they? The stinkin’ idiots.

I feel a little dirty giving this place four stars, but I can’t really complain about it as it’s never done me wrong. Out of all the clubs I have ever visited in Manchester, it’s the only one in which I have consistently enjoyed myself and never regretted going. This could be because I’ve always gone with good groups, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and throw some credit its way.
Although it does play predominantly indie music, which burns my ears and causes me to go temporarily blind, I can stand it because there’s always a good atmosphere filling the place. The drinks are cheap, and it’s almost always completely rammed.
I also once got locked in here after falling asleep in the toilets. I woke up at 5 am and ended up having to escape through the fire doors, setting off the burglar and fire alarm in the process. Good times.

42sssssssssssssssssss! I actually love this place.
I’ve spent hundreds of nights in here, that’s quite scary when I think about it but it’s true and I still love it.
Most of the places I used to go to when I was younger I now hate, I’m always moaning that they’ve changed and got rubbish… it’s not me that’s changed I swear!!!
But 42s has never changed, it’s stil the same dark dreary place full of wasted students, the drink prices are still around £1 for a vodka and mixer and although the songs have changed a little, the music hasn’t, Manchester tunes through and through.
Well If it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it.

For 42^nd St read 5^th Ave.
This place almost completely makes the point of my review of the 5^th all by itself!
Just like its bigger, better brother who went on to do better things with his life therefore creating something of a strained relationship, 42^nd Street plays indie till your ears bleed and serves cheap vodka redbull until your wallet bleeds dry.
But they don’t care! They’re students and they’re pissed! Hurrah! Hmmmm…

For a small club with a limited amount of (mainly uncomfortable) seating, «42s» always delivers. You come here to dance. Dance to current indie/​britpop/​madchester and that is where 42^nd Street is in it’s element. You are usually a student or at least still dress like one. And you will appreciate the cheap student entry and cheap drinks.
The comparisons to 5^th Avenue are endless: personally I prefer 42s. Ok, its not big enough to run around and lose people and end up drinking on your own, say. But it does capture that New York dingy charm more.
Either get sweaty and shout out the lyrics to The Smiths, Oasis and The Killers in the middle or join the handful of posers lounging on the one couch by the entrance.
They are launching a request driven night on Mondays now ‘PMT’ which stands for Play My Tune — weird choice for the name but we’ll forgive them. Other than that, you have ‘Glamourous Indie Rock n Roll’ on Fridays and their ‘The Best Indie Night ever …’ on Tuesdays.
And, be warned the bouncers do NOT take kindly to bare feet. A friend paid to put her high heels in the cloakroom once and then was immediately told she would be kicked out if she didn’t put shoes back on. Fair enough but she didn’t get a refund…

42^nd Street is a typical indie bar found close to the City Centre of Manchester, mainly drawing a student clientele with a few older folks.
In a way if does differ from some indie bars to the fact they pretty much completely focus on Indie music, new and old. Great for music lovers of this genre.
Drinks are of average price but they don’t seem to serve any specialised beverages. 42^nd Street can get very busy at times but is generally a good night out.

Sweaty, hardcore indie anthems. Full of students but cheap booze and great music! An ideal location for a decent night out!

I have to say, 42s is always my first choice in the never-​ending debate of whichever is better between this and 5^th Avenue. Hands down, 42^nd Street has always been the classier establishment from the outside in and always plays the better music. The bouncers are not scary and rarely refuse entry as long as you present your ID, are not overly inebriated and queue where they ask you to.
The drinks here are relatively cheap depending on what night you go, even if you have shouted yourself hoarse at the bartender by the end of the night, you’ll still go home with enough change in your pocket for a cheeky kebab before bedtime.
The DJ here is pretty good too and always listens to requests; he mostly plays them too and always plays guaranteed floor-​fillers to get everyone dancing and on the floor. However, this is slightly marred by the fact that most of the people here now are skinny-​jeaned posers rather than happy people in Converse, but if you can’t beat them, join them.
A top night out, especially the less-​popular motown night.

42^nd street or (42s as the kook kids call it) is at the posh end of the markert when it comes indie rock n roll. Based just off deansgate on bootie street, this club is massively popular and unless you get there by 10.30pm, you will be looking at a sizeable queue.
Still its worth it when you get in. There are two bars to your sensibly priced drinks from and the dancefloor is slightly more sophisticated than 5^th ave. The atmosphere is usually relaxed, rarely any trouble. There are a number of seated areas where you can hang with your pips and re-​energise with gallons of cheap vodka redbull. The music is impeccable — a wide ranging affair of indie rock n roll tunes from both sides of the atlantic, again with special adulation being reserved for home grown manc songs. Highly recommended