You could walk past it ten times and never realise what is underneath. At street level, it is a working barbershop on Deansgate. Clippers buzzing. People waiting for fades. Nothing unusual. Then someone opens a mirrored door, disappears downstairs, and you remember why 186 Manchester has become one of the city centre most talked about late night spots.
The entrance is a gimmick, yes. But once you are down there, 186 Manchester is less novelty and more full blown live music party bar built for dressed up nights rather than casual pints.
Here is what it is actually like.
What is 186 Manchester?
186 Manchester is a speakeasy style cocktail and live music venue hidden beneath a barbershop at 186 Deansgate.
It is not a quiet candlelit cocktail den. It leans heavily into live soul, Motown and 90s and 00s R and B, with singers and small bands taking over the stage most nights. Think big vocals, crowd singalongs and people dancing between velvet booths.
Locals call it One Eight Six as often as they say 186 Manchester, and if you spend enough time around Deansgate you will hear it described simply as that bar under the barbers.
It is table led. Booth focused. Occasion driven. This is somewhere people book for birthdays, dates and work nights out, not somewhere you drift into for one quick drink.
Where is 186 Manchester located?
You will find 186 Manchester at 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB.
It sits between Peter Street and the John Rylands Library, right in the thick of the city centre rather than on its edges. Spinningfields is just across the road. Deansgate Castlefield tram stop is a short walk away. St Peters Square works too if you do not mind cutting past the civic buildings.
That positioning matters. Many people head to 186 Manchester after dinner in Spinningfields. Hawksmoor and the surrounding restaurants feed it steady traffic. Others use it as a late stop before taxis home.
It is central enough to anchor your night, but tucked away enough to feel like you have found something.
Inside 186 Manchester the layout, the sound and the crowd
Down the stairs, 186 Manchester goes straight for atmosphere.
Low ceilings. Dark corners. Glowing arches. Big curved velvet booths lining the room. It feels theatrical without being overdesigned.
The stage dominates the space. When the band starts, the sound fills the room quickly. It is loud. Properly loud. You are not having deep conversations once the live set kicks in.
On busy Fridays and Saturdays, 186 Manchester feels full fast. If you do not have a booth, you will likely be standing between tables or near the bar. There is not a second room to escape to. It is one main space and one shared mood.
Earlier evening slots are noticeably more relaxed. By 10pm on a Saturday, it shifts into club energy. People dancing. Phones up. Staff weaving through with trays of cocktails.
It is polished, but not stiff. Lively, but structured.
Food and drink at 186 Manchester
Drinks are the focus at 186 Manchester.
The cocktail list leans into presentation. Smoke, tall glassware, bright colours. You will see spicy margaritas, espresso martinis, gin based serves and sweeter dessert style options. It is designed for sharing and photographing as much as drinking.
Spirits, wine and basic beers are available, but this is not a craft beer or fine wine destination.
Food is limited and secondary. Most groups eat elsewhere, usually Spinningfields or Deansgate, before heading down to 186 Manchester for live music and cocktails.
Service is mostly table based. On steady nights it runs smoothly. When the room is full, refills can take longer. That is the trade off of the booth model.
Prices what you actually pay
186 Manchester sits firmly in city centre pricing territory.
Cocktails typically land in the low to mid teens. Spirits with mixers slightly less. A couple staying for multiple live sets can comfortably spend £70 to £100 across the night without pushing extremes.
Booth bookings often involve deposits or minimum spends, especially on peak weekends.
Compared to Northern Quarter onda pasta bars, it is pricier. Compared to other Deansgate and Spinningfields cocktail venues, it is broadly in line.
You are paying for central location, live performers and table service, not just the drink itself.
Who is 186 Manchester really for?
186 Manchester suits people who want their night to feel like an event.
Expect birthday groups, hen parties, date nights and office celebrations. The crowd generally falls between mid 20s and late 30s, with older groups booking earlier slots before the tempo rises.
If you like soul, R and B and polished singalong covers, you will probably enjoy it. If you prefer a spontaneous pub crawl or somewhere scruffier round the edges, you may find it too structured.
Most Greater Manchester locals treat 186 Manchester as an occasion bar rather than a weekly habit.
How it compares to other Manchester spots
Against Spinningfields cocktail bars, 186 Manchester is smaller and more theatrical.
Against Northern Quarter favourites, you lose the casual turn up in anything feel but gain live bands, structured seating and sharper interiors.
If you have been to Alberts Schloss or The Blues Kitchen, you will recognise the live music plus cocktails formula. 186 Manchester operates in a similar lane, just on a tighter footprint and with the added novelty of that barbershop entrance.
Its strength is clarity. One room. One vibe. No confusion about what you are getting.
Downsides, queues and best time to go
Queues outside 186 Manchester can build quickly on Saturdays, especially when booking slots overlap. You might spend longer than expected waiting on Deansgate in your best outfit.
Inside, space is the main compromise. Without a booth, you will be standing in high traffic areas once it fills. Noise levels stay high once the band begins.
For a better balance of energy and comfort, earlier Thursday or Friday bookings usually work best. You get the music without the full crush. Saturdays are the busiest and most intense. Midweek feels more date friendly.
Booking ahead is strongly recommended. Walk ins are not guaranteed, especially after 9pm.
Is 186 Manchester worth it?
If you are after live singers, well presented cocktails and a night that feels organised rather than chaotic, 186 Manchester delivers.
It works for birthdays, celebrations and visiting friends who want something distinctly city centre. The barbershop entrance adds theatre, but the real draw is the live music and structured party atmosphere downstairs.
If you resent minimum spends, dislike booking systems or prefer drifting between pubs, it may feel controlled and expensive.
Go in knowing it is a live music show with table service, not a casual bar. Treated that way, 186 Manchester earns its place in Manchester nightlife. Polished. Dramatic. Clearly built for a specific kind of Deansgate night out.
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