Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 19/06/2026 21:20:00

Founded in 1999 by jazz promoter Matt Nickson, Matt and Phred's is a long-standing jazz club tucked away on Tib Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter. For more than two decades it has championed live jazz, funk and soul, giving local and international musicians a rare platform outside London. The club stages live music six nights a week, spanning jazz, funk, folk, swing and the occasional touch of ska, with a small stage that has hosted everyone from young local quartets to seasoned touring acts. Jazz names including Kit Downes, Marius Neset and Jamie Cullum have played here, and even Adele is said to have graced the stage. Beyond the music, the venue is known for its warm, unpretentious charm, a dimly lit room where world-class players, good food and the city's energy come together. A cracking wine list, cocktails and well-regarded pizza, along with a generous daily happy hour, round out the experience. After both founders moved on, the Turner family took over in 2010 and have kept the original spirit alive, meeting musicians and guests from all over the world. Their stewardship has cemented the club's status as a cornerstone of the city's jazz scene and a firm favourite of the Manchester Jazz Festival. Set in the fashionable Northern Quarter, a short walk from Piccadilly Gardens, Matt and Phred's sits among the independent bars and shops that define the district. Authentic, intimate and about as cool as it gets without being pretentious, it remains one of Manchester's most beloved live-music rooms. Live music takes priority over background chatter here, with the room arranged so that the audience faces the stage, and the club's booking policy has long favoured musicianship over hype. That focus has earned it a loyal following among players and listeners alike, and its survival across more than two decades in a fast-changing city centre has made it something of an institution for jazz in the north of England.