The Washhouse
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Quick info
About The Washhouse
The Washhouse is a cocktail bar on Shudehill in Manchester, set behind a working laundrette in the Northern Quarter. Entry is through a vending machine door at the front, and guests pick up or ring a phone to be let in. The drinks list runs across four menus, from signature cocktails to avant-garde serves, and a separate secret menu has to be found before anyone can order from it. Staff explain each cocktail as it arrives. Retro snacks are available, and a DJ plays from the loo. Upstairs, the Mirror Room is a disco loft for private hire, taking groups of all sizes for hen parties, stag dos, birthdays and corporate events. The bar is closed on Tuesdays.
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention vending machine entrance, secret menu, alien abduction cocktail and slide.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention vending machine entrance, secret menu, alien abduction cocktail and slide.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers center on the entrance: ringing a phone in an old launderette and being let through a vending machine door into the bar. Inside, the cocktails draw the most praise, with the alien abduction named as a favourite by two reviewers, and another describing drinks that tasted good instead of just looking pretty. Several mention a secret menu, with one pointing to the Coco Pops cocktail, and others mention the retro snacks, a slide to find, and a DJ based in the loo. Staff are described as friendly, and one says they explained the cocktails. The main caveat is cost, with one reviewer calling the cocktails expensive but paying more for the experience, and that same reviewer finding a beetroot cocktail too funky. Another says some drinks taste better than others, and that the slide was closed during their visit. Advice on booking conflicts, with one saying walk-ins are not allowed and another getting in on a Thursday evening without a reservation. One reviewer notes drinks can be exchanged for free if the taste is not liked.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers center on the entrance: ringing a phone in an old launderette and being let through a vending machine door into the bar. Inside, the cocktails draw the most praise, with the alien abduction named as a favourite by two reviewers, and another describing drinks that tasted good instead of just looking pretty. Several mention a secret menu, with one pointing to the Coco Pops cocktail, and others mention the retro snacks, a slide to find, and a DJ based in the loo. Staff are described as friendly, and one says they explained the cocktails. The main caveat is cost, with one reviewer calling the cocktails expensive but paying more for the experience, and that same reviewer finding a beetroot cocktail too funky. Another says some drinks taste better than others, and that the slide was closed during their visit. Advice on booking conflicts, with one saying walk-ins are not allowed and another getting in on a Thursday evening without a reservation. One reviewer notes drinks can be exchanged for free if the taste is not liked.
Featured reviews
- Jay Shepherd
“Absolutely brilliant experience, I have lived in Manchester all my life and in the City Centre for the last 7 years, I didn’t really know this place existed but I’m really glad I visited with my friends. We had such a great time, the staff were very warm and welcoming. You definitely have to explore when you are inside! When you first enter you pick up the phone and speak to someone and they allow you to enter through the vending machine. Once inside the entire place is just filled with quirky stuff, they even have a secret menu, that you have to figure out how to find. Highly recommended!”
- Richard Thompson
“Quirky cocktail bar, entered via a vending machine in an old launderette. Very funky and creative range of cocktails. It gets weirder if you access the secret menu. Some great tunes from the DJ, who’s based in the loo. A must do if you’re visiting Manchester. You need to book first, no walk ins.”
- Scott Graham
“1st time visit last Saturday, a unique experience. The cocktail bar itself has nice decor and is well laid out. Staff were helpful and pleasant enough. Cocktails are pretty expensive at £15 a throw, although you are paying for the experience more than anything. I'm still convinced they are probably not for me, my cocktail with beetroot ingredients was too funky and reminded me exactly of this.”
- Luce
“Worth a visit if you’re in Manchester. The whole novelty factor is great, and the cocktails are tasty. If you can find the secret menu - get the Coco Pops cocktail! Also try to find the slide. Staff were friendly and explained the cocktails which is a nice touch. Really fun place”
- Cattokatto
“Such a cool cocktail bar, from the outside it literally looks like a laundry room but when you go in and ring the phone it opens up the vending machine door to let u into the actual bar. the cocktails were so good too, they actually tasted good instead of just being pretty. The “alien abduction” was definitely my favourite so 100% get one.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“The Washhouse is Manchester’s most secretive speakeasy cocktail bar, hidden behind a working laundrette in the Northern Quarter. Accessed through a secret door, our hidden bar offers an extraordinary cocktail experience unlike anything else in the city. Our award-winning bartenders serve theatrical, handcrafted cocktails across four distinct menus — from accessible signatures to fully avant-garde showstopper serves with OTT vessels, dramatic presentations and ingredients nobody else is using. Upstairs, The Mirror Room is Manchester’s most unique private hire and event space — an intimate disco loft available for exclusive hire for hen parties, stag dos, birthday celebrations, corporate events and group bookings of all sizes. Groups”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Location
Cocktail bars near The Washhouse
- 0.4 mi
bottomless brunch, 2 for 1 cocktails, croquettes
- 0.5 mi
margarita cocktail class, duck bao, dirty martini
- Speak In Code4.89670.5 mi
pandan cocktail, incense and low lighting, truffle fries
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Washhouse | 4.61,892 | — | vending machine entrance, secret menu, alien abduction cocktail |
| Slug & Lettuce - Piccadilly Manchester | 4.44,802 | 0.4 mi | bottomless brunch, 2 for 1 cocktails, croquettes |
| The Anthologist St Peter's Square | 4.3882 | 0.5 mi | margarita cocktail class, duck bao, dirty martini |
| Speak In Code | 4.8967 | 0.5 mi | pandan cocktail, incense and low lighting, truffle fries |
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