A cult favourite on Manchester’s Oxford Road, Big Hands is a late-night institution and a key player in the city’s DIY music scene.
Just a short walk from Manchester Academy, it’s long been the unofficial afterparty for gig-goers and musicians alike. It’s the kind of place where bands come together, creative ideas are brewed, and glasses get smashed.
True to its downtown NYC dive bar roots, Big Hands has stayed raw, loud and unapologetically independent since opening in 2001.
Music is part of the furniture (and the walls!). With original acts playing weekly – from emerging local bands to international hidden gems and underground favourites. Vinyl DJs keep you dancing late into the night with the best picks of punk, garage-rock, soul and rock and roll classics.
The terrace at Big Hands is buzzing every season and it’s one of the city’s best kept secrets. You can now find Rizzo’s up there, serving up seriously delicious Sicilian street food. Fresh pizza slices, golden arancini, and plenty more to soak up the drinks.
Open till late, stacked with a great selection of continental beers and packed with character, Big Hands isn’t just somewhere you end up… it’s where you plan to go, and where you stay all night.
