Grand Central Alt Bar & Live Music Venue in Manchester

One of the best places in Manchester

Not been here for many years, but attended the Cryptic Sundays gig and thought what a great venue! 🤘🏻🔥❤️

Great beer and music! Shame the toilets let this place down

The owner seems to have an attitude when people criticize his pub whatever criticism it is.Not the right attitude imo.

Went in hopefully for a pint but was sent out.It was a gig night and i can only think of three reasons why the management refused me entry.He thought i was drunk.I had three pints in three hours of ordinary strength lager i only ever have four in any night,thats it.I was on my own and he didnt want that on a gig night.Or he thought i was too old and balding.Spoilt my night when i could have watched a band,will never be in there again.

It's a vibe. Might not be everyone's cuppa tea but it does what it says on the tin.

Did a gig here with my band, just how I remembered for years ago, amazing rock pub, good selection of drinks, helpful staff, overall very enjoyable

This place is epic and a real Manchester institution. It doesn't matter where you're going in Manchester l, get your arse into Grand Central and be a part of history.

Best rock/metal and alt pub in mcr. Bit dated and gets very busy but great atmosphere and is safe for alts as be around brethren

Great drinks and vibes Joe was really helpful

Decent pub crawl stop. Rock jukebox and pool table. Would recommend 👍

Great atmosphere, plus good old rock music!

One of the very few metal pubs left , always a friendly and accepting crowd. Rock disco on Saturdays.

Another fantastic rock bar in Manchester

Love grand central. Always stop in before or after a gig for a few pints. Great staff. Good tunes. 🤘🏻

Came in today at 1pm with my 7 month old strapped onto me in his carrier. Totally empty bar. Was told by the bartender they don’t allow children and that most of town won’t allow children ? Worked in town & hospitality since I was 18 years old and never experienced this? Got served next door.. I understand if it’s just your guys policy that you don’t have any under 18’s ever. But it’s a bit embarrassing to claim that most of town doesn’t allow kids in.

Banging boozer great range and for me good 0% range as a Publican it's the type of place I would run. Can't fault anything....will return on my manchester jaunts

Always great music and great place to visit with your pals

Came to Grand Central after being at a gig tonight and witnessed, who I can only assume is the manager, treating members of staff poorly, it was appalling to witness. The behaviour of berating said member of staff, laughing and smirking to other bartenders, then coming back to berate them again was so unprofessional, especially infront of waiting customers. This is a repeat behaviour in-front of customers, as id been told by other customers who also witnessed it, and we all left because of it.

Came into the bar for a couple of drinks after a show and was absolutely appalled at the treatment to one of the bar staff by higher up in front of the customers, degrading them, seemingly laugh about it with other staff and then continuing to verbally attack the member of bar staff….the way this bartender was spoken to was absolutely disgusting and completely unprofessional. Grand central has completely change since new management.

Called in for a couple of excellent pints of Blond Witch waiting for my train. They have a live departure screen behind the bar. Result! Quiet at this time of day! 👍👍 Perfect for an old soak like me!

Missed a trick bar full of massive wagons fans should have played some MW songs place would have bounced

This is the first time i have been here and definitely a different environment than the Village, where i normally go. In fact, it is more welcoming and the people more authentic and genuine. The music was spot on and i met the DJ for the night. I really wanted to stay here longer. I reckon it'd get crazy later on. And i do love crazy. X

A reliable favourite when visiting Manchester!

Great place for metalheads. Highly recommended.

I have been coming here for 16 years or more and have unfortunately felt and experienced changes here in a negative light, especially recently. I want to say thank you to the bar lady for acting swiftly when a drunken man sat at our table, made us feel uncomfortable, and spilt his pint on me. She handled the situation seriously and quickly had him escorted out by security, ensuring we felt safe again. However, I was deeply disappointed by the behaviour of the manager, Henry, who laughed in my face throughout the entire incident. His reaction, especially knowing a full pint had been spilt on me and the distress caused, was unprofessional and showed a complete lack of care for customer well-being. This is particularly upsetting in a venue that prides itself on being a welcoming space for alternative people to gather. Drama aside, my bestie and I made the most of the night, and once we felt safe again, we tried to push the incident aside. We must continue to look out for each other and ensure that spaces like this remain inclusive and supportive. I hope other management takes this feedback seriously and ensures all staff, including managers, are held to the same high standard of professionalism as the rest of the team who were fantastic.

You walk into a great rock and metal atmosphere as soon as you get in the door. Well organised live band nights for local and up and coming alt rock and metal talent are popular and DJs play most Fri & Sats.

Great little alt music/rock venue. Decent beer at a decent price, pool, pinball and great customers and staff. Definitely would return here more often if I was local

Good Beer , but what kind of Bar doesn't serve food?

Had to give 3/5 for food because I'm not sure if food is available, otherwise really nice rock bar close to the train station and within easy walking distance of both the o2 Ritz and Academy. Cheap jukebox with a huge selection of alternative music and a good selection of drinks at decent prices.

Always come here when i visit manchester weather its after a gig or just for the vibes will be back in october next year for 4 days and will be spending some long deseved hours within

Always a good night in here. Good ale good people great music.

Awesome atmosphere and great people! Had a great night last night and the music was rocking 🎸💯

Great pub, first going in 30 years ago, not so often now but still a great atmosphere, live music and great drinks offers.

Still the best rock bar in manchester

Poor, they suggest they serve the metal community but it is lies. You put your favourite culture on the humble juke box? The bar staff put their pre prepared non Metal music on, AVOID! They suppress our culture, lies!

Brilliant metal bar, went in here after a Cannibal Corpse gig. Place was rammed but service was quick and precise, music is also great and having a jukebox is a noteworthy addition.

Fab night out for alternative people to enjoy. Very welcoming atmosphere that champions diversity and inclusion. Bar staff and very friendly and patient. Lots of events happen here. I especially love Friday nights with the DJ. The bar prices are fairly cheap considering it in the city and the drink selection is pretty good especially their selection of spirits and offers.

Clean. Great drinks selection. Manchester best alternative pub and small live music venue. Open mic night on a Wednesday had some great metal and rock bands from the local BIMM uni

Beer was flat but the music was good. The toilet's need to be refurbished.

Great little venue on Manchester iconic Oxford Road. Went there for a Leaf Promotions live night and saw three amazing bands and all for free. Can't wait dorthe next visit as staff and environment were brilliant.

Old school rock pub, near Oxford Rd train station. Decent beer, good bar staff and security, plus great music.

This is an old grimme Rock pub, we were there on a Saturday evening and it lacked any real atmosphere. The music was too loud to hold a conversation and toilets are by modern standards disgusting. Sorry, but I tell as I find it.

Great staff, great music, a great place to see new bands

Great venue. Amazing music, atmosphere beer and clientele. Love it here!

Love it. Would love to perform there too!

Fantastic bar person. Friday afternoon, she was brilliant

Best rock pub in Manchester! Enjoy great staff, great drinks and a great jukebox filled with all the best rock tunes. Reasonably priced pints in fantastic atmosphere, with regular live music and alternative DJs every Friday & Saturday night. My absolutely favourite place to visit.

A pub that feels like home to goths and metalheads.

Amazing rock pub,great music and atmosphere, awesome staff members👍🏻

Must visit places for all punks/alts peeps cool bar with cool bar staff never felt more welcome

Great vibe, lots of live music... amazing atmosphere and very welcoming to all

Loved the fact that the bar was well decorated with rock posters. And seeing a local railway station live departures board was definitely interesting

It's okay. Been here many times over the years mainly as it's the closest after work. I've found the drinks okay, the gigs are so loud you can't make out the sense of the music and lyrics. Staff don't really talk to anyone outside their colleague friend group so tough for outsides to chat with people on quiet days.

Nice to find an alt bar in a city centre

Played my best game of pool in years here, but still lost. Music was smashing, good for the metal head in your life.

Great music oriented place for drinks, games and music, regularly entertainment on,

Best place in Manchester, no doubt about it.

First time visiting this "rock bar" and it was great. Good music, good vibes and friendly staff/punters. It's a focal point for the local rock/metal music scene and definitely a place I'll be returning to. 🤘

We're a band that played at the hotel opposite but were turned away by door staff because we were a group of 4 guys. They said it was closed and then proceeded to let loads of other people in. Literally just wanted a beer after a gig.

Extremely rude and aggressive staff, especially the deputy manager. Off-putting in the extreme. Staff trying to get into fights to impress girls. Not worth a visit when Manchester has much better bars with friendlier people.

I visited Grand Central for the first time on Bank Holiday Monday, such a great bar. Drinks, Music, Bands and Pool. What more could you ask for.

It's sort of horrible but I absolutely love it. Free pool and a fun pub.

Great pub, really cool atmosphere for fans of harder music. Beer and other drinks filled to the brim, I've never experienced that in Germany. Cool audience. Completely successful! We didn't have any food, so no rating.

Post Skindred after party where Benji popped in for a DJ set. Small, sweaty and full of weird remixes. What more do you need?

owner was openly homophobic to a customer, made me uncomfortable being there & didn’t feel welcome

Always call in before and after gigs in and around Oxford road. Close to Traon Station(Oxford road).

Only stopped in for one drink, interesting people in the venue, all different ages and seemed to be having good time, would definitely come back here again, if im ever down Manchester again soon.

Great place to go if your rock or alternative type and just one big family in g c and you will know someone who know someone else and will feel safe in there and never seen tho old bill in there in over 20plus yrs

The atmosphere makes this place better than all these fancy bars around.

Didn't have food so can't comment. Served quickly at the bar, prices weren't bad and the live venue was actually very good. Sound was good and the place in general was great for a rock pub. Would definitely go again

If you like Rock or Metal music you will love this place.

Stinks like unwashed mosher ballsacks, vibes tho

My home from home - always a warm welcome and the best live music!

An old school pub on Oxford Street. Down to earth locals, decent selection of beer and a nice place to relax with a pint.

First time in here, not too busy and the cider was great and also love how they have Oxford Road station train times running 😀

not been for in here for years. Still a great bar

Not changed in since the 25 years.since I last went there... Great pub, great staff, juke box tunes were amazing 👏

Enjoyed a couple of drinks in there.

Amazing small live music venue, saw some awesome live bands including CLKWRK and packed on a Sunday evening as well. If you like rock or metal get yourself down!

Enjoyed every minute of my visit, I will admit I was there to watch a band my son performed in, nevertheless the bands on before and after were excellent. As a man of a certain age, it was a real throwback moment for me. Going to rock venues in and around Manchester during the 70s and 80s this was a real treat. Will definitely return. Keep up the good work Grand Central

THE Rock pub in Manchester. Always a friendly, chilled out vibe and fantastic tunes. Only complaint is that it's sometimes difficult to chat if you're singing along with the music!

Always very friendly staff and customers

Really cool pub, they had a prog metal/rock band on. Good selection of beers and ales - I'll definitely be coming back again when I'm back in Manchester

Great atmosphere and mix of people of all ages all there for the music. A good mix of all metal genres, although the bass is overkill and sort of spoils the sound.

Great music venue with good beer.

No food but cracking pub, great music..no hassle...relaxed

Every rock chick and metalheads dream

Solid service but wasn't overly keen on it.

Lively and such a great vibe, banging music, friendly staff.

The place could be a little bit cleaner

Just went for drinks was a great atmosphere and very friendly staff you could have a laugh with

My daughter is in Uni in Mancland and when i visit, this place is a must. Its boss. Was in there before and after the Glenn Hughes gig 29/10. People are great, friendly and the staff also. Esp Lara Croft..My word.. Luv and hugs to u all.

Went a bit to pot after the buyout but its good again with the dj and better choice of music

Popped in after Mission gig at the Ritz. Great atmosphere, good crowd and friendly staff.

Student type bar with live rock, punk, metal type music.

I love this place. Really great, friendly rock bar, always has a great atmosphere. I've seen loads of bands here and it's free. There's a band called Twisted Illusion who I've seen there many times and they're a bit special. Just love places like this giving up and coming bands a chance. If you're ever in Manchester, pop in for a visit as there's something on most nights.

GC - my favourite place to come in Manchester, massive love to Robin and the staff. Treat their artists, patrons and friends very well.

I originally rated 4 stars but have now downgraded due to owner's reply to my review requesting that I need to provide 5 stars. The original review was an honest rating.

Best pub I have ever been. Awesome staff