We’re veterans of going out on the town here in Manchester, and one thing that has gotten gradually completely ridiculous is the price of drinks at our favourite spots. With hospitality and entertainment being under such strain, we always understand price hikes for the sake of keeping these places open, but sometimes it would make much more sense to just bring your own… and now the first bring-your-own-booze (BYOB) club in the UK is set to open in Manchester.
XLR will be located on the bustling Wilmslow Road in Withington, right in the heart of Manchester student neighbourhoods like Fallowfield, Whalley Range and of course, Withington itself, making it the perfect place to test the BYOB club theory.
As an introduction on Instagram, alongside a video from the founder, XLR posted: “Manchester’s first Licensed BYOB music venue […] Bring your own alcohol, skip the overpriced bar and make the night as expensive as you want it to be.”
So, how will this BYOB club in Manchester work?
The BYOB concept at XLR club will work by charging customers on the door (between £10-£20), which covers the premises license – rather than ‘corkage’ fees, which are extra charges used by many BYOB venues for consuming your own alcohol.
To encourage the BYOB concept, the Manchester club will have lockers behind the bar in place of usual fridges, where customers can store their alcohol. Then, you can go to the bar, ask for drinks to be poured or for a can from your locker, and there you go – none of the pulling out cans from a plastic bag hidden in the corner that you may be thinking of…
There’ll still be an operating bar at XLR, but organisers are keen to push the BYOB concept, keeping prices low for customers – and we appreciate that.
What rules are in place at the BYOB club in Manchester?
There have to be rules in an organised society, and XLR is no different. These rules ensure XLR complies with the license it has, meaning it can provide the BYOB concept – and they’re pretty simple:
- No glass
- No backpacks
- No re-entering the venue after leaving.
That’s it!
When does the Manchester BYOB club open?
The 200-capacity venue will relaunch with the brand new BYOB clubbing concept on September 24, allowing punters to bring their own drinks into the venue to consume on the night.
XLR will be open from 10pm-2am, Tuesday to Saturday.
Where is XLR Manchester?
📍 You’ll be able to find XLR at 455 Wilmslow Rd, Withington, Manchester M20 4AN.