Living Room Review:

Despite the name, this is not somewhere to turn up to with jeans and a casual sweater. With a low-key presence on Deansgate, surrounded by mid-market Tapas Bars and a Wetherspoons, it would be easy to overlook this bar, yet anyone on the Manchester scene knows that this is the place to be.

Forget Deansgate Locks, and leave Reform for the over 50's - The Living Room is the definitive place for the 20-30 something crowd to hang out during the day, and late into the night. It has to be trendy when Beckham drinks here, and your Saturday night here is usually spent avoiding United players in the toilets. Drinks prices are much more down to earth, with friendly barmen who clearly know exactly what a bartender is supposed to do; pour drinks, offer banter, and to make you feel as sober as possible.

The atmosphere is actually very friendly, despite the fact that the crowd is seriously trendy, and there's a sprinkling of older faces. Despite plenty of stiff competition this is the hottest bar in Manchester, and it's held that crown for the past two years.

Read user reviews for Living Room here
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Living Room's User Reviews:

25 Feb 2009 sam

been going to the living room for the last 9 years, always enjoyed every second in there. friendly staff and doormen. a good night out

5 out of 5

t

Every one who has criticized The Living Room probably didnt get in!!!! Was a good night for me. So get over it!!

5 out of 5

limpturnip

It is one of the few places that root vegetables can feel fully accepted in Manchester. As a mature tuber, I really like it. I saw a carrot on the door and a Swede behind the bar. My friend however didn't really like it and left early, in a stew. But he always was a bit of a gooseberry. Manchester definitely needs more places like this; a bit more down to earth. A fertile ground for germinating. Written on behalf of The lancashire league against cruel bartubers. x

1 out of 5

Andrew

Great bar and excellent atmosphere. A couple of friends and I are gold card holders and The Study is a cut above! Definately the place to start your night before moving on to The Circle, doormen are great providing you are dressed well - not too much to expect really.

5 out of 5

Fran

first of all i have to say that i was a staff member some months ago. i?m whith the people who says that doomen can be rudes and not very kind, but sat night there is amazing!!! What a crew of naughty girls tryng to get youuuuuuu, you the latin spirit is irristable... so go there, enjoy and flirt, it?s a lovely place to be in. And don?t forget to order the Hot Chocolate, more than words ; )

4 out of 5

Singa

Warning. Please take care of your money as the bar staff try to give you incorrect change. Drinks are already too expensive so why are they doing that?? The atmosphere is poor and the door staff is lying and are not fair with their judgements. Conclusion: very, very poor. Better not to visit at all. This is the same for Prohibition.

1 out of 5

louise

dont worry about pretentious people im dead down to earth and i love it here. i imagine the majority of girls work in self and are on about 6 pounds an hour!!!1

5 out of 5

vickie

a fantasic lively bar at the weekend a definite good feel about it; live piano. get dressed up, enjoy a cocktail! you really feel like you have had a GOOD night out! oh and if you are drunk at the end of the night the bouncers will look after you!!!!!!!!!

5 out of 5

the one

what a bunch of big headed,vain up their own a**e exhibits.Give me anywhere but THAT place again.....sad sad sad!

1 out of 5

bob

food it beautiful, bar staff and waiting staff are very nice but the etendence in toilets is extremly tucky! you are almost always pressurised to tip them! Its not as if I forgot how to wash my hands!

4 out of 5

emie

i have to say i have been in the living room a few times and have found the door staff very friendly and reasonable. they even let in my mate who was... wearing trainers. inside its really chilled out, the live music always creates a fantastic relaxed vibe so overall its one of the first places i choose to go on a night out

5 out of 5

J

door policy was ok filtered out the undesirables? heard its coming t york 2004! sure if its cool ill b a frequent guest, if not it will b full of all the rejects that vist the city on the weekend....

1 out of 5

Lorraine

A very nice relaxing bar.Lovley lunch time venue for when shopping in manchester and the evening meals are quite nice too.During evenigs the wannabe element usually move onto the 'over-rated' sugar lounge by 10.30pm so the rest of the evening is chilled and good for chatting with friends.

3 out of 5

Susan

Excellent night out. Bar staff v. friendly, service very fast, great music for dancing, all of this is even better when you ask someone to move along and give you a seat!

5 out of 5

karen

i go here on a regular basis,i love it here,although the doormen can be rude,good to go on a sat til 11 then onto sugar lounge

4 out of 5

Alex

This bar boasts the best cocktail list in Manchester by far and is less expensive than Sugar Lounge or Restaurant Bar and Grill. Nice place to go in the week and chill out with mates over a drink, but I have not been there on a weekend night. The only downside is the barstaff are very good but slightly surly.

4 out of 5

David B

Went this friday, great drinks menu, one of the bouncers was really friendly, and the other was a typical 4%7* hole! Great non-alcoholic cocktails, cheap prices. Some gorgeous women. Saw one Asian woman with the longest,black hair ever, she was so sexy! Will definitely be going back!

5 out of 5

jade

prefer 5th ave. 5th ave rocks

1 out of 5

Elise

went for my 18th for a meal, staff very friendly and food delicious, got a free cocktail and cake even the staff sang to me it was really nice, few up their own arse people but had a laugh.

4 out of 5

Houst

Quality afternoon drink in our jeans and shirt, quality

4 out of 5

Sarah

Really good to go to for lunch during the week, relaxed atmosphere.. Would give it a wide berth at the weekends though, 'cos if your name isnt down, you're not coming in....

3 out of 5

Rob

Okay place but not as amazing as some people would have you believe. By world standards just average and quite snooty with it. Have these people ever travelled outside the North West? Sometimes you feel as if you're in a little village in Manchester it's that provincial in it's attitude! Try TriBeca or Rain Bar.

3 out of 5

Mike Munro

Fantastic Place, great bar, great food, great women. Shame there are quite a few rich pr*cks in there, best to go before they all arrive, or avoid fridays. The bouncers are bloody big, but they are fair, and keep the kappa wearing scum out. Recommend their Christmas dinners, but book early.

5 out of 5

quite frankly it's one of those...it's trendy hip etc etc etc, but beats me why. Yep the decor is quite nice, not outstanding, the drinks selection is nothing new, and the food choice & standard leaves a lot to be desired... However the staff are always very helpful & nice! One of those...

1 out of 5

Gavin

I thought that this bar was excellent. Friendly staff. Not as pretentious as some reviews seem to think- just a nice chilled out bar. This is the third "living room" i have been to and all are very nice. Great place to drink.

4 out of 5

leonjames

What can I say...Sat night was babe heaven, a sea of top totty,I hadn't seen so much (eye) candy since childhood. Its not a perfect place and I can understand why some would deem it to be pretentious, but with so many gorgeous gals who cares!

4 out of 5

anon

I'd say that the bouncers were sleazy rather than harsh! We (3 females) went there, and found the crowd OLD (40+ at least). The majority of the women were thin but wearing clothes more suitable for their daughters! The cocktails were good, but not as good as Pure Space.

3 out of 5

anonx

Have been a couple of times, enjoyed the music, but as for the bouncers - weird. They won't even let us in - keep saying something about regulars. How do they expect us to become regulars if they won't let us in and what is a guestlist?...

1 out of 5

Max

Great place, friendly staff and fantastic cocktails. Not pretentious - but Trendyish! I have been going to Living room since it opened. The best venue in Manchester. For pretentious see the Sugar Lounge... For a good night out visit the Living room! C U arround! - Max.

4 out of 5

dale

not better than the one in nottingham but you should go because it a classy night out

2 out of 5

EW

One of the most pretentious venues in town. It's the type of place where people who visit from "that London" want to go to when visiting Manchester. The door policy is mind boggling. JW Johnsons with attitude. Rubbish.

1 out of 5

Rob

Hi Paul, To a certain extent I concur with you on this. Manchester doesn't have many really good bars so the Living Room is a refreshing change. However, the doorstaff are so rude, so unprofessional and so inconsistent that I have been put off for life. If people like me can't enjoy Manchester then we may as well all stay down South where there's a lot more choice and much less attitude to deal with.

3 out of 5

Paul

Have any of you people wondered why The Living Room is still the place to be - now in it's 4th year. They are obviously doing something right. For discerning clients who just don't feel comfortable in the majority of faceless bars in Manchester. If you don't like it, it perhaps wasn't designed for you - get the hint and go to Brannigans. If you love great service and safe surroundings then The Living Room is for you - the only place to be in Manchester.

5 out of 5

Beer Nazi

Never Been. Never going.

1 out of 5

Dave

Rubbish ! Wouldnt go back if it was free which it isnt by a long way! Doormen idiots !

1 out of 5

Brad

I only wish i could give it a 0/5 ! Doorstaff totally out of order! Just because we were 3 lads all over 6 foot that doesnt mean were trouble! Drinks expensive, people all wanted to be seen rather than enjoying a pint. Doorman threw us out because some posh cow knocked a pint out of my mates hand. A sorry and a replacemnt pint rather than a filthy look as if it was his fault wouldnt have gone a miss. Go anywhere else, stay in DO NOT GO HERE !!

1 out of 5

Nicki

Went on 29th November and had a great time. Cool background music that you don't have to shout over so conversation is possible, friendly bar staff, and the bouncers were nice enough to us. Me and my friends weren't in designer gear, but didn't get treated like lepers. I'd happily go there again!

4 out of 5

Angel

Would like to give you my opinion of the place but since the "oh so friendly" door staff never see fit to let me in due to my lack of designers lables I can't. I have had the misfortune to eat lunch here and found it over-priced and quite plain. Had to go to Boots afterwards to get a sandwich and fill myself up! Terrible - unless you are a shallow, half-wit wearing designer clothes!

1 out of 5

Robert Archer

Hmm.....not sure guys but LairdWilson (above) sounds a bit on the payroll to me. That spiel "Excellent management and staff.....fast friendly service with superb food" sounds like it came straight from a MacDonalds corporate guidebook. Laird...please tell me that you're an honest punter...not part of the Living Room organisation. Robert.

3 out of 5

Akay Ahmet

This is a really nice bar with an excellent selection of drinks served up by extremely friendly staff who know their stuff. Gets a bit busy at weekends but hey where doesn't. No townies in caps in here, really nice crowd, mixture of the up and coming wonna be crew, city slikers and attractive women. Better than anywehere on the locks and deffo the nicest bar on deansgate.

5 out of 5

lairdwilson

Excellent management and staff,most attentive at all times. Fast friendly service with superb food.

5 out of 5

Camilla

I found once I had got past the jerks they hire as bouncers, the bar staff and atmosphere rather pleasant. Shame about the same old crap being played on the screens. But all if hired thier doormen/women for the same place as the rest of their staff, this might become a number one venue!

1 out of 5

lee

I love The Living Room. It's one of the few places I find easy to relax in while keeping an upmarket vibe. I'd recommend it to anyone.

5 out of 5

anon

Bouncers have a crap attitude, but its ok!

3 out of 5

phil

I usually drink in northern quarter but was dragged here. It's been called pretentious it isn't, because the majority of the clientele couldn't spell the word. The bouncers are t**ts as well.

1 out of 5

Anon

I recently visited this bar whilst in Manchester. I earn more than average wage of the clientele but I found the people to be arrogant and stuck up their own *****!

1 out of 5

Paul

Went on Saturday 6th July - Great place, friendly staff and fantastic cocktails, the only reason some people think it is pretentious is because they obviously do not understand what the Living room is about. If you are looking for somewhere where you know there will not be hen or or stag party, but people looking for a great plave to be then go here

5 out of 5

Col. Kelly

A good bar for the thirtiesomething, knowledgable bar staff, friendly attmosphere, reasonable prices, however, the doormen can be a bit choosy. I always visit when I'm staying around Deansgate. All in all a great bar!

4 out of 5

Paul

I have to agree with FAhmad, whilst it's touch getting in when you're in a larger group it's still a fantastic bar/restaurant which caters for the more refined! They could do with lifting the ban on Manchester City players, as it's always fun to see them get thrown out.

4 out of 5

FAhmad

I was really surprised to read all the negative reviews. I am extremely fussy about customer service and I have found the Living Room to be great! The food was good too! I wonder if I went to the same place now!! I'm not rich and did not feel out of place there. Well I had to re adress the balance of opinions. It's not a local but certainly somewhere where the over 25's can feel comfortable. Will no doubt be going back....and will watch out for the doormen...

4 out of 5

Danny

Prenentious is an understatement and the bouncers are probably the most rude and obnoxious people I have met for some time. I will not be returning

1 out of 5

jamieboy

great for a glass of chablis over lunch, and cool for a stolli and tonic by night. funky atmosphere.remember you never escape the wannabe's- no matter where you are!!!

4 out of 5

Stephanie

Had a great meal - friendly waiters! Saturday night - live music was excellent. Definitely recommend!

5 out of 5

Daniel Farragner

This place is sh**e, not only was I kicked out after 2 pints for throwing up in my hands (I was ill, not drunk) but half the cocktails are actually deserts in disguise. It's Brannigans with brass knobs, and talking of nobs your likely to run into someone like Becks or Giggs here. They should just have it as a private club for these d***heads as they always find an excuse to not let in the average fat arsed leather jacket wearing fool like me in.

1 out of 5

Dirk

This bar is rubbish to go to with mates; the big bouncers on the door scare you off even before you even get though.You're going to spend obscene amounts behind the bar. Apart from this its okay

1 out of 5

jane

it's nice on a weeknight people feel that it's very pretentious,i suppose it is but you just have to ignore it.otherwise it's nice for a drink+a chat.

3 out of 5

Pete

One of the most pretentious bars that I have ever walked into.Probably only relaxing if you are wearing over &1,000 worth of clothes. Full of wannabees.

1 out of 5

emma garstang

Go there on a sunday for lunch, as long as your'e not in a rush. Give it a miss on Friday and Saturday. Don't let the dim lights fool you, that place is hard to relax in!

2 out of 5

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