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About Retro Bar Manchester
Welcome to the Retro Bar Manchester venue page. This historic site at 78 Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3NJ has long hosted live music and club nights, operating as a two-floor venue with an upstairs pub/bar area and a downstairs basement club. While the Retro Bar name has shifted in recent years and the site now operates as Hive Manchester, the space remains a cornerstone of Manchester’s music and nightlife heritage. Here you’ll find practical details to help you plan a visit, including seating information, parking, transport options, and nearby hotel and dining recommendations to help you secure your night out with ease.
Note: The Retro Bar as a standalone venue has closed, with Hive Manchester occupying the site. We’ve included context and travel details to help you navigate the location and still access nearby venues and experiences in the area.
Location: 78 Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3NJ, in the Gay Village near Canal Street. The venue historically accommodated a range of audiences, with capacities cited from around 120–150 for the main space and up to ~200 when configurations allowed, including a basement club area. Public seating maps are not widely published, but the upstairs area offers seating, while the downstairs space operates as a standing/dance floor. For parking, the adjacent Charles Street multi-storey car park has been affected by redevelopment plans, so travelers should verify current access. Transport options include proximity to Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations, making tram/bus routes and taxi access convenient. Nearby hotels and restaurants are plentiful in Manchester city centre, with Pendulum Hotel and several partner hotels within easy walking distance. If you’re planning a night out or seeking a connection to live music history, you’ll find plenty of options in the area, including dining and nightlife experiences that align with the venue’s legacy.
Affiliate partners and recommendations are provided to help you plan your stay, secure great accommodations, and enjoy nearby dining. Always check current details for the Hive Manchester site at 78 Sackville Street for the latest venue experiences in this iconic location.
Good to know
Seating, Parking & Venue Information
- Address: 78 Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3NJ.
- Capacity: historical estimates range from about 120–150 (Retro Bar) with a basement club capacity around 150; some sources list total configurations up to ~200. Current Hive Manchester capacity is listed as ~220.
- Venue type: two-floor venue (upstairs pub/bar and downstairs basement club) historically hosting live music and club nights.
- Seating chart: public seating charts are not widely published; layout described as upstairs seating area plus a downstairs standing/dance space; no formal, public seating map found.
- Parking: adjacent Charles Street multi-storey car park historically served the venue; this site is part of the Sister Masterplan redevelopment and is being demolished.
- Transit: near Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations; Sackville Street is in the Gay Village area close to Canal Street.
- Nearby hotels: Pendulum Hotel and other central options are within walking distance; numerous city-center hotels are also nearby.
- Notable events hosted: early sets by major acts (e.g., The Chemical Brothers) and bands like Everything Everything; venue credited with launching careers of several artists.
- Renamed/demolished: formerly Swinging Sporran; Retro Bar was demolished August 2025; site now operates as Hive Manchester at 78 Sackville Street.
- Current status: Retro Bar as an operating venue is closed; Hive Manchester is the current occupant on the same site.