Panacea

Pseudo Posh, Dumb Over Dressed Girls, Rich Men in Suits looking for a one night stand and over priced drinks with very blah music is what Panacea is all about! (Personal Opinion).
I have nothing against swanky night clubs and I have been to several myself in London or Mumbai but this place just doesn’t seem right. I have been here once and pretty much had one of the worst nights in Manchester because I didn’t have fun — firstly (could not afford too many of those cocktails and I am not one of those who lets random men buy me drinks) and secondly you possibly can’t let your hair down and dance here as the others are too busy showing off their fake eye lashes, super short skirts and on a complete mission to pull!
But something that really got me annoyed was — A photographer was taking pictures all through the night, he took a couple of photographs for us too (I went with some of my Indian girl friends). The next day my friend went on the Panacea Facebook page and saw the pictures from the night and our pictures were not there, when she politely asked with a comment about them, the admin manager deleted her comment too. It kind of gave her a feeling that they were being borderline racist which is never a good impression for a club to give out! She felt bad and told me about it which just made me feel worse because I kind of proposed the idea of trying this place out.
Verdict: If you are a fan of fake people and very pretentious environment then you can give it a try! I surely wouldn’t go back here!

Personally, love it in the week, not a fan at weekends.
In the week you can chat to the bartenders as they make you a cocktail, you can dress up without feeling like someone’s judging. There’s good music, chilled out atmosphere, great drinks and somewhere to sit.
At the weekend the dress code seems to be less is more and a haunt to meet celebs. If that’s what you want in a night out Panacea is for you.
The drinks are good qulaity but a bit on the pricey side. The décor is immaculate and the staff polite.

Panacea isnt to everyones taste but I always have a good night there, its a great place to get all dolled up and chat to randoms. The cocktails are pricey but there is no cover charge and they are of a very good standard. The bar staff are friendly but the bouncers are on a power trip. The DJ always plays some good tunes — its a shame it doesnt have more of a dance floor.

went on wednesday night amazingly sleek cool minimalist designed bar great staff great security staff (super smart).
table service, jls sat next to us and corrie stars other side but all relaxed and equal.
much more impressed than i expected and will visit again midweek but im told fri sat bit more packed and more orange people interested in being seen but fair enough.
well done panacea

I don’t think Panacea is meant for people like me. It’s too full of style and holds very little in the way of substance. And, as a rule, I tend to baulk at visiting places where I am made to pay £9 for a watery Gin and Tonic.
Frequented by the great, the good, and the overpaid of Manchester (I’m looking at you here soap stars and premiership footballers), Panacea is the kind of place people go to when they want to be seen. Apparently their food is very good, but — alas! — I am at the moment slightly too poor to dine here. And I’m not the kind of girl who courts a sugar daddy just to get her teeth around a nice piece of Wagyu beef.
I did come here once. I bought a Gin and Tonic which was served to me on a silver platter. I paid nearly a tenner for it. For that price I wanted it to taste like the best quinine based drink ever. It wasn’t.
I wish Panacea well, as I do a few people who have been here and had a fine time. And I doubt think it will wither away and die without my business. For the moment at least, I’m happy for it to go its way and I’ll go mine.

Full of snobs and twenty something money-​grabbing girls pretending they have money by paying for over priced drinks on credit cards in the hope of being the thinnest and dumbest in the bar to attract the attention of those with money, Basically legalised prostitution in a glamourous setting. This is NOT real Manchester.
If you want amazing cocktails go to Socio Rehab in the Northern Quarter.

We British do love to queue, so much in fact that Panacea on John Dalton Street has dedicated two queues to the public hungry for some celeb spotting on a Saturday night. The left queue is reserved for the beautiful and worthy (I have qualified) and promises a short wait and the queue on the right is for the rest of the masses (I hope you are wearing comfortable shoes, you will be there for some time!)
Once inside this gilded cage you can engage in one of the following: a) queue (AGAIN) to partake in a fabulous cocktail created by true mixologists — the Panacea Breeze is definitely worth the wait, b) loiter near the footballers’ tables for a glimpse of your favourite player — quite sad really but strangely a popular pastime for the 20 somethings or c) (and my personal favourite) bag a seat next to the DJ booth, send a friend to the bar and people watch — truly excellent entertainment! The crowd is diverse and the music definitely favouring the jazz/​funksters complements the cool surroundings.
Recently I took a friend (a non-​Mancunian) to this newsworthy haunt and her summation was succinct, «All I need is a sequin dress and hair extensions to qualify here»; a little harsh as I own none of the above and have been a patron of this fine establishment for three years since its conception. Pretensions aside, there is fun to be had and Panacea offers a different scene of a Manchester watering hole that is leagues apart from the Rovers Return. Manchester has room for them both– go try it!

Panacea — meaning, the Greek goddess of healing.
Panacea — nightclub, our own North Westerly Movida or 50 Dover Street where Coleen and the rest of the WAGs hang out.
While London can get away with swanky and overpriced and the hoards of celebrities who haunt such establishments, it just doesn’t sit right in Manchester. Specifically because Quay Street is the heart of the business district and it seems ever so odd to be able to see a posh nightclub from Starbucks. When Manchester does quality and expense, it works best in restaurants like Obsidian and Gaucho. It just doesn’t feel comfortable having a VIP atmosphere, especially when our city is at its best in the Northern or Southern quarter, making use of its rich cultural history and offering something for everyone. We’re down to earth… wait, we’re salt of the earth. Corrie stars shop in my local Sainsbury’s. That’s the sort of world I’m talking about.
But the Corrie stars also go to Panacea it would seem. It’s a restaurant and bar, and through reliable sources I have heard that the food is a-​okay, just nothing to get terrifically excited about. Yes it looks pretty, and it’s expensive, but to be honest, it just doesn’t have any soul. You know I’m not a fan of the over-​polished celebrity-​posterior-​kissing places anyway so I’m probably not the best reviewer in this situation, but seriously, for a good night out with a bit of sophistication, you’d be better off somewhere like Walrus where you’re surrounded by boho chic at every turn.
The fact that another Panacea has been spawned in Alderley Edge tells you everything you need to know. They’re after the football crowd, not us riff-​raff.

This seems to be one of the places where the Manchester celebs hang out so if you are into that sort of thing it’s perfect.
First time I was here was on a Saturday night (Utd were at home). A friend of mine had us on the Guest List. Not sure if you can get in without this or how easy it is to get on it. Walked in and footballers to my right, Corrie Stars to my left and musicians in front of me.
Place was full of people but enough space to squeeze through. Music was good, drinks very pricey and we had some great cocktails. Central so walking to other venues/​hotels can be done. Taxi’s seem to line up nearby anyway. Smoking is all the way back upstairs outside the front door.
Last time I was there was midweek and the place was much quieter. Always seems to be a girl/​guy behind the desk at the entrance and also a doorman on the busier nights. Down the stairs and the places was nearly empty. Maybe 20 at the most.
Cocktails was the reasons we were there so the bartender listened to what we liked and made some of the best cocktails I’ve tasted. He didn’t hang around making chit chat but was friendly and pleasant.

You will find this cocktail bar below the Bar and Grill on John Dalton Street.
Definitely not my bag but if you like hanging with the «celebs» and drinking very expensive tipples then you will love this place.
I cannot deny that this place has a gorgeous interior and is very slick in everyway… its just that when I go out I want to dance and don’t care if I look silly in the process.
Great for posing, celeb-​spotting and feeling very poncy.

I completely agree with the other Unilocalers on this one. It is well known as one of the best bars in Manchester… that just shows what a bit of good PR can do for you!
It’s not the fabulous exclusive little place it used once to be, it’s a place where people go to try and spot celebrities. It’s a place where boys go to pretend to be celebrities.
It’s funny when you walk in because all eyes fly to the door at every newcomer, everyone checking you out to see if you’re famous. If you’re a lookalike you could have an amazing night in here!
But it’s not great and it is expensive. It’s in a nice bit of town and worth going once, just to see what all the fuss is about!

Panacea is not my kind of bag at all. I’m sure the food is good (I haven’t eaten here) but as far as a place to hang out, well I’d rather somewhere a little more laid back and down to earth, because I’m just not into dressing up to the nines to see and be seen.
Local celebs to gather with their entourages around private booths whilst served bottle after bottle of Veuve Clicquot, the staff seem stuck up and a dress code must be observed. I had a little altercation in here with one of the bar tenders. Whilst the cocktails are made well, they’re also overpriced. I know there has been a lot of effort put into creating this vibe, it’s just doesn’t wash with me.

This is a pretentious bar to the outsider who pops in for a nosy because it is one of the coolest bars to be seen in. The entrance has two large glass doors that are managed by the friendly door staff that let you in. Walking down the wooden stairs brings you down to the main bar area to the right and a smaller bar between the male and females toilets. The tables are low down and can be reserved with a table full of ice to sit your champers nicely in the middle. People come in to chat are rarely boogie in the main standing area even though the DJ plays funky house/​dance tunes.

Went the opening night to this place and only been back a few times since mainly because of the high prices of food and drink. Cocktails are great but far too over priced. Great to see the celebs knocking but far too pretensious, too many people staring at you and thinking they’re cool etc etc
Not the best for a relaxed drink!
Had problems with the bouncers before too

This place is a bit a of a celebrity hotspot, the foods great, the drinks are great, the prices are through the roof but if you can afford it then it’s a great place for a bit of high class wining and dining

Those who aspire to pretension will find themselves quite at home at Panecea. On arrival you will find the door handles adorned with golden snakes. That is of course if you even get as far as the entrance; the door staff have quickly garnered a reputation for rudeness and a seemingly haphazard entry policy. What constitutes ‘smart dress’ is all down to one’s own tastes of course, however I might recommend that the best way to secure entry is by jumping in a vat of fake tan and hoping for the best. The drinks selection is good and the cocktails are well made. However, I would advise caution as the nature of the clientele suggests a better time can be had elsewhere.

Panacea is definitely the place to be in Manchester if you can afford it. I went here a few months ago for a meal and must admit it was amazing even though the prices will make you eyes water, luckily I wasn’t paying. Panacea consists of a restaurant and a cocktail bar. I have only been in the restaurant and it is very sexy and expensive looking. The facilities are spotless and the staff have obviously been selected due to their professional and proper mannerisms. I’m not sure what awards they have won but they have one several in resent years.
If you are going to go here make sure you dress smart they like to keep things looking very Sauvé. On an evening Panacea is apparently a hotspot for the rich an famous, they quite often get members from the cast of coronation street there, My friend went once and said it looked like a coronation street staff night out. If you are lucky you might see a few footballers too Although Panacea has an excellent reputation as being one of Manchester hotspots the owner himself put that reputation in jeopardy himself earlier in the year. When throwing someone out of the club he attached him and caused a serious head injury which resulted in a blood clot being removed. The owner was then sentenced to 13 months and had to pay a matter of thousands back in compensation, I’m not entirely sure how much but I remember reading in in the MEN.
That horrible incident aside Panacea is the place to be if you are a someone in Manchester.

If your after a good night out in Manchester then this is one place I would head for. Book a table for the good food, try all the fab champagne cocktails and then mingle around the huge bar. It gets busy at weekends and a few TV celebs and footballers go here too. The music is good and lively. Dress smart to get in as they can sometimes be a bit fussy who they let in.