22 Alternative Wedding Venues in Manchester

An alternative couple dance in the street at their Liverpool wedding

So you’re looking for alternative wedding venues in Manchester?

There are, of course, hundreds of amazing wedding venues in Manchester. This incredible Northern powerhouse is full of amazing halls, houses and hotels. But I know that you are looking for something a little bit different- a fun, alternative Manchester wedding venue. Well, step this way! 

I have compiled a list of all my favourite alternative wedding venues in Manchester.- those unique, interesting little gems that create an epic backdrop, ceremony or evening celebrations. There are bars, farms, incredible gig venues, pubs, and even a Victorian swimming pool- you’re find the very best in cool alternative Manchester venues right here. 

Before we start, not all of the venues on this list are licensed for ceremonies. It’s good to check this link on the Manchester.gov website HERE to find all of the places in Manchester that can legally host wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships. Or, have a mini legal ceremony and have a fabulous celebrant instead- head here to find out more

So here’s the list. I love them and I know you’ll love them too. And if you want me to photograph your awesome day at one of these incredible alternative Manchester venues? Well that would be bloody awesome. Just give me a shout here.

1

Victoria Baths, Manchester

Hathersage Rd
Manchester
M13 0FE

  • Stunning restored Victorian swimming pool, complete with tiles and teal painted changing rooms!
  • Can cater for large or small weddings
  • Plus your wedding directly funds the continued restoration and upkeep of this stunning space!

Because who wouldn’t want to get married in a Victorian Swimming Pool?

Victoria Baths is one of my absolute favourite alternative wedding venues, not just in Manchester, but in the whole of the UK!  Can you believe you can get married in a Victorian swimming pool, complete with its gorgeous red brick architecture, baths still beautifully intact and cute old cubicles lining the pools. As a venue, it is incredibly quirky and stunningly beautiful (those green art deco tiles!! <3 <3 <3) and range of dramatic spaces. 

When it opened in 1906, Victoria Baths on Hathersage Road, Manchester, was described as “the most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country” and “a water palace of which every citizen of Manchester can be proud.” It served as a swimming pool for 87 years and became an absolute bastion of Manchester history, held affectionately in the hearts of many a Mancunian! I love love love imagining the history that has taken place under its roof, the changing fashions, the fun and laughter. It seems so fitting that weddings should now be held there! 

The building has been lovingly restored over a number of years, and I just love that, by holding your wedding there, you are contributing to its continued restoration. Victoria Baths is licenced for both ceremonies and receptions, with ceremonies being possible on any of five different spaces including the pools themselves and the Turkish Baths Rest Room with its amazing Angel of Purity stained glass window. 

2

The Wellbeing Farm, Bolton

Wheatsheaf Hill Farm
Plantation Rd
Edgworth, Bolton
BL7 0BY

  • Bow tie wearing llamas… do I need to say anymore?
  • Stunning views over beautiful countryside
  • A fab, relaxed quirky space with a shed full of garden games and other fun things for you to dive into!
  • Ideal for large and small celebrations- and the food is EPIC too.

A quirky Greater Manchester Farm with LLAMAS!

Ok, so it might not strictly be Manchester… (Greater Manchester totally counts, right!?) this venue is DEFINITELY worth the journey to! Delivering fun and quirky weddings and events, The Wellbeing Farm is everything you could possibly want from an alternative wedding venue. It’s a stunning space, set amongst rolling hills and stunning countryside, the barn itself is incredible, and as a piece-de-resistance, they have donkeys in flower crowns, and llamas in bow ties. LLAMAS. I mean…. LLAMAS!!!

Only a few years ago, The Wellbeing Farm Weddings and Events Venue was a neglected and disused agricultural operation. Yet, with a huge injection of love, passion and creativity, it has been lovingly brought to life to become what you see today; a quirky, fun, award-winning wedding and event venue. It is without doubt the most fun wedding venue I have ever photographed! It absolutely has to be seen to be believed!

WEDDINGS AT

Wellbeing Farm

Coming Soon!

3

Five Four Studios, Salford

54 Oldfield Rd
Salford
M5 4LZ

  • Stunning blank canvas space
  • Sleek, modern look
  • Located in uber-cool Salford, perfect for city wedding portraits.

A sleek modern blank canvas venue, based in a photography studio.

If you’re looking for something sleek and modern Manchester wedding venue, Five Four Studios might just be the venue for you. This stunning white studio space is licensed to host Civil Marriage Ceremonies and can look after your wedding day from beginning to end. They can host a ceremony for up to 60 people, accommodate up to 120 people for a sit-down meal and up to 200 for a good old party!

The studios are a total blank canvas that can be transformed to create your Pinterest wedding of dreams! The venue pride themselves on being able to work with you to create the exact aesthetic you’re looking for alongside an expert team of suppliers. I love the clean modern look- it would look incredible with bright, colourful styling!

4

The Deaf Institute, Manchester

135 Grosvenor St
Manchester
M1 7HE

  • The perfect venue for music lovers
  • Tasty scran, exotic bevs, coffee, music, people having a good dance- sounds awesome!
  • Cool

Relaxed knees up wedding venue in a gig venue!

Another historical wonder, transformed into a cool, alternative event space! The Deaf Institute is an independent fun loving bar & gig venue, spread across 3 floors, with 3 bars, a kitchen & a roof terrace. Housed in a historic Manchester building originally built in 1878 as The Deaf Institute, the building was derelict until the now owners took over a decade ago, and they have refurbished it back into absolutely stunning space, with a nod to its former glory!

5

GRUB, Manchester

50 Red Ban
Cheetham Hill
Manchester
M4 4HF

  • Manchester’s biggest and best street food venue and event space
  • Perfect for foodies- they have large roster of food trucks and traders with cuisines from all around the world
  • A flexible venue which offers a variety of different spaces that can accommodate parties of 20-450

GRUB knows how to bring the food to the party!

Fancy getting married in Manchester’s biggest and friendliest street food and events space? Of course you flipping do! GRUB is the perfect venue for all you cool foodies out there- the ideal space for quirky couples that want something more casual and fun than a traditional venue.

Being an independent business, Grub can be really flexible on tailoring things to what suits you and your guests… whether that’s having your favourite beer on the bar, or street food from a trip you’ve been on. I mean how awesome is that?

With a variety of spaces to suit any size of wedding and all of GRUB’s in house events available for wedding hire including their most popular party starters such as Disco Bingo, karaoke, Party Games Party and Fizzy Quizzy ,this is THE venue for Manc couples that love to party!

6

Albert Hall, Manchester

27 Peter Street
Manchester
M2 5QR

  • One of the city’s most iconic buildings and gig venues.
  • Fully licensed for ceremonies
  • The venue has a variety of spaces, and room to accomodate up to 280 seated guests!

One of Manchester’s greatest cultural sites and best gig venues!

I’ll admit it, I’m in love with Albert Hall! Having spent some of the best nights watching the best bands there, it gets me incredibly excited that they now host weddings! 

The building was lovingly restored to its majestic baroque glory in 2012, and the Grade II listed Albert Hall in Manchester is undoubtedly one of the city’s greatest cultural sites. Light and spacious with breath-taking original features intact, Albert Hall began life as a Wesleyan Chapel and now it stands proudly in the centre of the city as a refuge for happy couples and concert goers alike. 

Fully licensed for ceremonies, the Hall itself has a variety of different spaces to host each part of your day, exclusively yours for the entirety of your celebrations. It can comfortably fit up to 280 guests for your reception dinner too! With a wide variety of food, drink and entertainment options as well as being a totally stunning space, it is a brilliantly rock-and-roll option for your alternative wedding in Manchester. 

7

Fairfield Social Club, Manchester

New premises coming soon!

  • A stunning, unique setting in a fab city centre location
  • Soon re-opening on a different site (hopefully with a similar feel!) and are taking bookings for 2024.

Get creative at Fairfield Social Club

Ok, so I know that the words ‘Social Club’ don’t generally conjure up ‘incredible wedding venue’. But WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THIS PLACE! Fairfield Social Club is is an totally unique alternative events venue incorporating two grand industrial railway arches built over 100 years ago. Recently, it was given a minor makeover to create one of Manchester’s biggest independent events spaces by award winning street food team GRUB.

If you’re looking for a unique venue for a cool DIY wedding, a totally blank canvas with an industrial twist, complete with a wide variety of craft beer and amazing street food (and let’s be honest, why would you not be?), then Fairfield Social Club is the ideal venue for you! 

Disclaimer: Fairfield Social Club, in its old and beautiful form, has closed, to be replaced by Escape To Freight Island. But they are re-opening on a different site (hopefully with a similar feel!) and are taking bookings for 2024. You can find more info here on their instagram here. 

8

Whitworth Art Gallery

Oxford Rd
Manchester
M15 6ER

  • Incredible space ideal for quirky weddings
  • Perfect for Art lovers
  • A unique and iconic Manchester building

One for the art lovers! 

The Whitworth is one of Manchester’s most beautiful commercial events, wedding and private hire venues as well as being a stunning Art gallery. It’s one of my absolute favourite spaces to while away an afternoon in Manchester, and the building itself is phenomenally beautiful; a really unique place to celebrate your marriage, surrounded by incredible artwork, right in the centre of Manchester. 

9

Hope Mill Theatre

113 Pollard St
Manchester
M4 7JA

  • Stunning industrial style theatre space in a converted textile mill.
  • Perfect for creatives and theatre lovers
  • Fab location close to the heart of the city

A unique industrial wedding venue for theatre lovers!

Hope Mill Theatre is a completely unique setting with all of the character of a stunning Grade II listed Industrial Mill. Situated close to New Islington Metro (first stop after Piccadilly Station) and with free parking on site this is the ideal venue close to the heart of the city for weddings. Their amazing blank canvas urban space is perfect for creative couples, and can hold up to 200 guests!

A highly successful theatre, Hope Mill Theatre was the dream of couple Joseph Houston and William Whelton, inspired by the highly regarded Off West End Theatres and small producing venues which dominate the London theatre scene. It has swiftly become one of the most successful and reputable independent venues in England – winning Fringe Venue of The Year at The Stage awards in 2018, so it’s a perfect space for culture vulture couples!

I just love the whole vibe of the space- a real industrial gem, with a stunning outdoor space and oodles of Manc charm. 

10

The People’s History Museum, Manchester

Left Bank
Manchester
M3 3ER

  • One for the radicals, this museum which tells the story of Britain’s struggle for democracy, is a truly inspiring setting. 
  • Space for up to 200 guests
  • The profit from your hire fee directly supports the museum’s work.

Make a radical choice! Choose the People’s History Museum.

This is a venue for your wedding or civil partnership ceremony that celebrates ideas worth fighting for. The museum tells the story of people joining together in Britain’s struggle for democracy, and is a truly inspiring setting. 

The museum’s wedding and civil partnership spaces are situated within a stunning grade II listed building that has been restored to its original glory, skilfully combining an iconic contemporary museum with the exceptional architecture of an Edwardian hydraulic pump house.

The Engine Hall in the People’s History Museum on Spinningfields is an absolutely incredible space. Those windows!! They have three flexible spaces, catering for up to 200 guests in an inspirational museum setting. Plus, just to give you all the warm fuzzies, all surplus from the hire of their spaces goes towards supporting the museum’s activities. What a bonus! 

11

Salford Lads & Girls Club, Salford

Coronation St
Salford
M5 3SA

  • An ideal venue for fans of The Smiths and the Manchester music scene
  • A unique , iconic location steeped in local history and music folklore.
  • Your wedding directly helps the local community.

Get married at the iconic Salford Lads and Girls Club

Definitely one for the music fans, Salford Lads Club is one of the city’s most iconic buildings and unique wedding venues, steeped in heritage, local history and music folklore. It’s perfect, whether you’re locals, fans of The Smiths and Morrissey, former members or anyone looking for that completely unique and different venue.

Weddings at the club launched in 2021 and offer couples the opportunity to get married in a unique venue, with a choice of spaces from the intimate Smiths Room through to the larger concert hall which seats up to 120 guests. Even more amazingly, profits from the weddings held there are split between the official Salford Lads and Girls’ Club Charity which focuses on the ongoing upkeep of the building and investment into leisure facilities for the local community- how cool is that?

12

Manchester Museum of Science & Industry

Liverpool Road
Manchester
M3 4JP

  • A piece of the very fabric of Manchester, MOSI is an institution- how cool that you can get married there?
  • Stunning industrial style warehouse reception rooms- the 1830 Warehouse can hold up to 120 guests seated, and up to 300 for your evening reception.
  • Situated close to Castlefield/ Deansgate, its perfect for canal side photos.

Get married at Manchester’s famous MOSI!

The Science and Industry Museum is a stunning space for a wedding. Not only is it located in one of my favourite parts of the city and an incredible industrial space in it’s own right, but getting married in The Science and Industry Museum is an absolute childhood dream! Having visited the museum many times as a kid, and with my own children, the idea of getting married there makes me all nostalgic. Imagine getting married amongst the amazing exhibits, and all the fun photos of your guests enjoying the museum! Just so much fun! 

There are three stunning spaces available to hire for your wedding reception: The 1830 Warehouse, which is part of the old railway station; The Textiles Gallery, which tells the story of the people, products and pioneers that made cotton their continuing legacy in Manchester, and Revolution Manchester gallery, which encapsulates the city’s history of innovation and offers a unique look into the museum’s themes, galleries and collections. All them them would be a real talking point and provide a really memorable experience for your wedding day. 

WEDDINGS AT

Manchester Science & Industry Museum

Coming soon!

13

Lock 91, Manchester

9 Century St
Manchester
M3 4QL

  • Stunning canalside location
  • Beautiful industrial style reception room and a gorgeous terrace
  • Quirky decor and relaxed vibe
Guests throw bright, colourful confetti over newly wed couple on their wedding day in Liverpool. Rachel Burt Photography

Party on the canalside at Lock 91

 This uber-trendy bar club and lounge located on the canalside in Deansgate, is a perfect spot for a relaxed, fun wedding. This building itself is built over 3 floors of a Victorian Lock Keepers Cottage with bare brickwork and beams, and it has a stunning outdoor terrace area too. You can hire the whole building exclusively, or just one of their awesome spaces.  

I absolutely love the colourful, quirky decor and the fun vibe of Lock 91 and the food is incredible too!

14

Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

Trafford Wharf Rd
Trafford Park
Stretford, Manchester
M17 1AB

  • Another of Manchester’s famous converted warehouses!
  • A proper party venue and an iconic gig venue in its own right.
  • Loads of space for entertainment, performers- whatever you can imagine!

A warehouse venue perfect for a kick-ass party!

Set in an iconic converted warehouse dating from 1932, this industrial-chic venue is a 5-minute walk from the Exchange Quay tram stop, and a 10-minute walk from Manchester United’s Old Trafford football stadium. Not just a wedding venue, Victoria Warehouse it is also an iconic live music venue in it’s own right with a whole host of incredible acts topping the bill there, including Stereophonics and Thom Yorke. 

This is definitely one for the party animals- this venue would be ideal for a proper rave-up, with space for performers, a huge dance floor, and any other incredible ideas you can think of! The venue say This has always been a fiercely passionate city. Take that same force to your wedding plans, putting your own mark on the Warehouse. After all, life is what you make of it.

15

Elizabeth Gaskell House, Manchester

84 Plymouth Grove
Manchester
M13 9LW

  • An intimate venue perfect for micro-weddings
  • Cosy feel with lots of little book nooks and literary references
  • Stunning gardens perfect for portraits.

An intimate venue for literature fans

If you’re holding a more intimate wedding, and, like me, are a bit of a book nerd, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House could be the perfect location.  An idyllic spot not far from the city centre, this house was the former residence of Elizabeth Gaskell, author of ‘Cranford’ and ‘Mary Barton’ (subtitled A Tale of Manchester Life). 

From the cosy, book lined study to the grand drawing room with its Boudoir Grand piano, there are a variety of small to medium sized period rooms to choose from. The light and airy basement (the former servants hall and tea room) is ideal for afternoon tea, an the whole place is a bookworms’ dream! The beautiful gardens make for stunning backdrops, and I just LOVE that gorgeous doorway! 

16

Three Little Words, Manchester

10-15 Watson St
Manchester
M3 4LP

  • Home to the Spirit of Manchester Distillery
  • Nestled in the railway arches in the heart of the city.
  • Home to a whole host of incredible gins and cocktails!

A cosy bar venue where the cocktails are the star of the show

Nestled in the historic Grade-II* listed railway arches in the heart of the city, Three Little Words and the Spirit of Manchester Distillery are home to Manchester Gin which is distilled on site. I mean, a gin distillery wedding sounds pretty damn good right? This is a proper little gem of a bar, with a cosy feel and staff who are ridiculously knowledgeable about gin and cocktails. This epic space can host an intimate dinner, through to a buzzing celebration for up to 180 guests and can work with you to create the perfect venue set-up, which could include the use of their beautiful natural living wall, or providing Manchester Gin bottles for use in flower arrangements. Such a cute idea!

17

Didsbury House Hotel

Didsbury Park
Didsbury
Manchester
M20 5LJ

  • A super cute, small, luxury townhouse hotel.
  • A cosy ‘house party’ feel

A cosy house party wedding in an intimate hotel

This small, luxury townhouse hotel has a really gorgeous homely feel which I love. Perfect for intimate weddings with a more relaxed feel! I love the free flowing nature of the house and the fab outdoor terrace too.

If you’re looking for a totally private, intimate wedding venue, you can book Didsbury House Hotel, along with all 22 bedrooms and treat it like your personal residence for the day- creating a relaxed, house party vibe- perfect for a long weekend wedding with your nearest and dearest! 

WEDDINGS AT

Didsbury House Hotel

Coming Soon!

18

The Portico Library, Manchester

57 Mosley St
Manchester
M2 3HY

  • A stunning Regency building home to vast collections of important literature.
  • A must for literature fans!

A Stunning Regency Building – perfect for literature fans!

Surround yourself with literature as you hold your wedding ceremony at the stunning Portico library. This stunning subscription library is one of Manchester’s longest-running institutions, housed in a beautiful Regency-period building.

For intimate weddings with up to 30 guests, your wedding can be held in the Member’s Reading Room. For larger weddings and celebratory drink’s reception your wedding can be held in the famous gallery beneath the Portico Library’s stunning Dome. The whole Library will be closed for your event so you can enjoy this venue privately with your friends and family.

19

East Lancashire Railway Weddings, Bury

Bolton Street Station
Bolton Street
Bury
BL9 0EY.

  • Celebrate your wedding on a steam train, and party on the platform!
  • Space for up to 100 guests
  • A truly unique and quirky wedding experience!

Choo Choo! How about an epic steam train wedding?

So, I’m cheating a bit for this one too. It’s Bury, which is Grater Manchester, and it’s bloody epic, so I think you’ll forgive me.

Who fancies getting married on a train platform and spending your day celebrating on a steam train? Of course you do. Whether you’d like to get married at one of the beautiful traditional railway stations, enjoy a champagne breakfast in a sumptuously-appointed saloon car, or grab an unmissable photo opportunity on the footplate of a gorgeous steam train, holding your wedding on the ELR is guaranteed to make all kinds of magical memories.

Under the beautifully decorated canopy of Bury Bolton Street or Ramsbottom Station, up to 100 guests can watch the ceremony whilst a gleaming steam train pulls into the station. Backed by live music, you’ll tie the knot on the platform before being whisked aboard a private train for a wedding breakfast aboard a luxurious Pullman style carriage . There will be plenty of opportunities for amazing photographs and wedding day fun!

Finish things off with an evening reception on one of our Platforms or in the incredible Bury Transport Museum. I mean how flipping cool is that!

20

Styal Lodge, Wilmslow

Station Rd
Styal
Wilmslow
SK9 4JN

  • A fab barn venue filled with natural light
  • Styal Lodge is beautiful by itself but makes a great blank canvas for you to make your own!
  • With space for up to 150 guests, a ‘getting ready room’ and a separate space for your evening reception, its a great option for full day weddings.

A gorgeous barn blank-canvas space, perfect for personalising!

Styal Wedding Lodge is a family-run, bespoke wedding venue set in the peaceful National Trust village of Styal, close to Manchester Airport in the beautiful Cheshire countryside. An exclusive, contemporary and, most importantly, unique wedding venue in Cheshire, at Styal Lodge you have a beautiful blank canvas so make your day your own.

I love the gorgeous grounds, the stunning light in the ceremony space and the amazing purpose built room where you can get ready with all of your wedding peeps in the morning!

WEDDINGS AT

Styal Lodge

21

The Oak tree of Peover, Knutsford

Back Ln
Lower Peover
Knutsford
WA16 9SG

  • A rustic, romantic oak-framed barn venue
  • Beautiful views overlooking the Cheshire Countryside
  • It can accomodate 108 daytime guests and up to 180 in the evening

A rustic romantic barn venue just outside Manchester

Ok, don’t shoot me, but it’s another Cheshire one. But it’s a little beauty!!

The Oak Tree of Peover is a beautiful, rustic, oak framed wedding venue set in the heart of Cheshire, just outside Manchester city centre. The venue is surrounded by stunning countryside views and offers bright, natural light, and a romantic and magical atmosphere. In short, it’s absolutely bloody stunning. 

I just love it’s rustic charm, and it would be perfect for a gorgeous outdoor wedding. I can just imagine it filled with colourful flowers and streamers! It can accomodate 108 daytime guests and up to 180 in the evening, so there’s plenty of space to party too! 

22

Owen House Wedding Barn, Cheshire

Small Lane
Mobberley
Cheshire
WA16 7NU, England 

  • A stunning barn venue with a modern look
  • A fab blank canvas space- it would look AMAZING filled with colourful flowers and decor
  • There’s onsite accomodation, a purpose built ‘shooting gallery’ for fun photos and ‘beauty’ and ‘baa-ber’ sheds for getting ready!

A stunner of a barn venue with all the trimmings!

A venue which is located in Mobberley the heart of the Cheshire countryside. The Barn is a bespoke wedding venue and offers a unique wedding experience, complete with a special space for fun photography called the shooting gallery, a stunning barn, and the most amazing location.

The Barn was converted in 2013 yet still maintains it’s rustic and countryside charm as it is set on a working farm that is home to cattle, sheep and even pygmy goats! The venue is family run and has a farmhouse B & B and a range of other accommodation on site. The barn can hold up to 200 people for the wedding breakfast and we can also offer civil ceremonies.

I’ve shot so many amazing weddings in Manchester and I’ll never get bored.

So that’s it! My list of awesome, super-chilled quirky wedding venues in Manchester for couples who like to do things differently. Is there somewhere I’ve missed? An epic, awesome venue that needs to be shared? Let me know. Are you planning your wedding here in Manchester and are looking for a fun photographer who gets you? Who understands that you just want a fun, relaxed party with no fuss or frills, and want your photographer to be a chilled-out and supportive friend, whilst capturing all of the fun and joy of your wedding day? Well give me a shout, I would be THRILLED to be part of your day. Or, go and have a look at my portfolio or blog for more wedding inspo!

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Livepool Wedding Photographer?

Hey! I’m Rach, and I bloody love a wedding in Manchester. It’s one of my favourite cities, from the architecture to the music, to the people… and if you’re planning a fun, colourful and relaxed wedding here, I want to hear from you!

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