The Press Club

simply very expensive with shit drinks and full of chavs pretending to be celebrities, Non EU staff barely speaks English, place is a joke,

If a run down Phoenix nights social club is what you’re looking for then this is the place for you! We got in via a press journalist (who lucky paid £5 for us to get in) and entered a world of karaōke, a shoddy drinks selection, run down décor & badly dressed clientele. It reminded me of a distant relatives wedding reception done on the cheap! In all seriousness, why is this place regarded as so ‘exclusive’ & as for celebs, i think I saw an extra off Shameless. Oh and don’t think of taking a photo! It’s like you’ve just pulled a weapon out. From our experience the bouncer snatches it, runs off upstairs & asks you to leave your drink unattended whilst you explain yourself & deletes the photos — Probably don’t want people to see how bad it is. This place is not quirky like the Northern Quarter & not trendy like Panacea, Prohibition or the Circle.

I like the Press Club. I have a press card so I’ve never had trouble getting in.
Having said that, I’ve actually never known anyone to have a problem getting in once they’ve actually tried!
Obviously there is a dress code to abide by and you have to be relatively sober but other than that you’re good to go! Kind of standard in most bars really!
I think the reputation scares people off, obviously it’s up to the doormen who they turn away and they don’t have explain themselves so I’m by no means saying you’ll definitely get in, you just might be pleasantly surprised if you try it.
It’s expensive. It’s open late. It’s full of posers. Everyone is expecting to see someone famous and sometimes you do (Dara Ó Briain is my biggest boast) but more often than not it’s the soapstar crowd if anyone.

A private members club open to people that work in the media and a few other public sector organisations like the Police and Fire Department.
Unless you know what you are looking for you simply won’t find the Press Club, a small nondescript doorway with two small and discrete signs one saying ‘Manchester Press Club Founded 1870 and the other ‘Members Only, All Other Callers Must Use Lloyd Street Entrance’ are the only clues you’ll find to its existence.
Now, I understand the need for such a club– it was originally opened for those working in the media that would finish very late and want somewhere to go to wind down after work, people like newspaper printers working till the early hours– but as I’ve stated in many other reviews, I abhor anywhere that is separative or elitist. Sure the club may want to keep idiots and trouble causers out… but isn’t that what door-​staff are for?

This is one of the very few bars in the city centre to remain PRIVATE. Currently only people who work in press/​media or are teachers can get in .
Easy to miss and very difficult to get this place it is easy to see why this place has turned into a bit of an Urban Myth.
Positive: This place is open really late.
Negatives: Full of big egos with too much money and you cant take all your friends.