Zar Bar

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Our Zar Bar Review

This Bar has stood out from the crowd from the outset. It has a completely unique location, while still being a short walk from the Universities on Oxford Road. Arch alone is probably responsible for the area being dubbed the ?Southern Quarter?. The purpose built building is very good looking, inside it is spacious, perfect for the variety of DJs and musicians it regularly plays host to. There are two levels and a balcony (probably more suited to summer evenings than the current climate), and the design throughout is modern and stylish.
As well as a well stocked bar the food menu is also extensive and should have something to suit all tastes. It has had rave reviews from everyone form ourselves to the Guardian, so it probably doesn?t get a lot better than that!

Coming up this winter:

Tuesday 8pm-1am FREE
All That Jazz Jam Session
All That Jazz Jam session has been going for two years and is a live offshoot of the seven year old monthly club night at Music Box. Both nights celebrate music from a wide spectrum such as future jazz, soul, reggae and world music. Every week, the jam session sees most of Manchester?s best session players pop by at one time or another. Every week the house band changes so that regulars get a steady dose of ever changing inspiration. Big names such as Amy Winehouse and New York Afrobeat band Antibalas have been known to come down and do a bit. Players and singers of all things soulful are most welcome to just turn up, introduce themselves and join in.

Thursday 9pm-1am FREE
Blood and Fire Sound System
Blood and Fire is an offshoot from its namesake formed eight years ago with a remit focused on raising the calibre of reggae reissues. The label has seen very collectable releases from King Tubby, The Congos and Horace Andy. Their dedication to the cause extends to the live and club arena taking up popular residencies all over Manchester. Last year Blood and Fire which was held on a Sunday at Arch was consistently rammed. This year held every Thursday Dom Sotgiou continues to play loud and proud ska, rocksteady, roots reggae, rub a dub, dancehall and lovers.

Friday/Saturdays 8pm-2am FREE

Club Night
On Fridays and Saturdays Arch has its mind set on quality music and DJ's of excellent calibre. The resident line-up which is rotated weekly includes Rob Bright (Bugged Out). Bambu DJ's (Andrea Ahimie, Danielle Moor (Crazy Penis) et al).
Fat City Recordings provide Martin Brew, Matt Trigg and Darren Laws. John Stammers and Ben Lamb (Canteena), Paula n Tabs (these ladies are Manchester legends) and All That Jazz's Lee Speed.

Sundays 6pm-12.30am FREE (Sunday lunch served until 6pm)
Aficionado
Resident DJ's Moonboots and Jason Boardman plus most excellent guests. Originally the night began as Aficionado's personal slant on Balearic music.in Manchester!
"The whole night starts off quite relaxed," says Jason, "but over the evening it can head off in any direction from latin and Brazilian to moments of old acid house."
Future guests include: Eliot Eastwick and Oscar (Just Landed), Danny Webb (Music Is Better), Huw Moggsy (Harter Street) and Darren Laws (Fat City Recordings). The atmosphere, as always is blinding.

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User Reviews

01/01/1970 by armele
Nice exterior, as you would expect from tutors from the Architecture School at the Universities, with clean lines, timber balcony and blue ceramic cladding but a strangely bare interior which feels a bit like a student common room. This bar should do well and adds to the ribbon development along the Stretford Road corridor, a much needed addition to the area (which is actually called the University Quarter, strangely enough).
Rated 4 out of 5

01/01/1970 by elvis
Beautiful bar inside and out, extremeley mixed crowd at the moment due to no students around at present, should be welcome alternative once students return and the d.j's are allowed to let rip
Rated 4 out of 5

01/01/1970 by 777
Ace vibe ..... Great fun to spin some tunes here.. Clocked a couple of the students over the way dancing around in their windows...... Get your ass's over the road and check it out ! That goes for all you students ..... Cheers
Rated 5 out of 5

01/01/1970 by getdown
at the end of a rainbow is thy pot of gold,and in Hulme there pot is Arch bar.... great mix of people and currently hosting great nights!! get yo ass to arch
Rated 5 out of 5

01/01/1970 by DOM
Just go down on Sundays! Classic Reggae music all day from 5pm free in!!!! Guest dj's alongside the Blood and Fire Sound System include Mr. Scruff, Spikey Tee, Mikey Don, King Cosmic, Fat City All Stars and more...
Rated 5 out of 5

01/01/1970 by Clare
Got a new chef?? The food's fantastic. Nice to see somewhere a little bit out of the way doing something so well. Love it.
Rated 5 out of 5

01/01/1970 by lucy
I've always been a great lover of live music, to see all those musicians jammin on tuesday was awesome, respect to all those guys down at arch, great atmosphere!
Rated 5 out of 5

01/01/1970 by Not Mr F
How about advertising how good your Saturday nights are? Those DJ's play some of the best music around.... Sundays Good but Friday and Saturday is THE BOMB !
Rated 5 out of 5

01/01/1970 by Elida
I enjoy friday & Saturday nights, it is just relaxing, the music is so nice and i feel safe the guys on the door (Howard) was so nice and helpful i always look out for him it is nice when you can go out and feel safe i would recomend this bar to all my friends and work collegues it is in a nice area which is not too far from home i now call it my local, well done to the owner for such a nice bar where we can relax, rock, and enjoy.
Rated 5 out of 5

01/01/1970 by
i arrived at the arch bar chairs and tables were getting thrown and peaple were fighting it was like watching a western movie.never again
Rated 1 out of 5

01/01/1970 by kadie.m.
lovely bar inside and out. you get a nice vibe when you enter.
Rated 5 out of 5

01/01/1970 by kadie.m.
lovely barr inside and out. different mixtures of people and nice vibe.
Rated 5 out of 5

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