Carlton Club

Tucked away in the heart of suburbia a club for dancing. But not a dance club, if you see what I mean.
This is a big old Victorian mansion, the sort that Whalley Range has oodles of. It’s quite shabby in an 80s way but it’s got a kind of charm to it. It’s got a few different monthly nights. One is 80s/​90s hip hop, another northern soul and also a psychedelic night.
The night I went to was Home on the Range (geddit!) which is the last Friday of the month and «is a night of soul, funk, hip hop, house, reggae and lots in-​between for the dancefloor hungry» according to the people that run it. I had a great time and everyone was totally up for dancing. Actually with the dated function room and slightly older crowd it felt like we’d crashed a wedding but nobody minded as they were all too busy dancing. They really did dance hard, it felt like a very sweaty night in Ibiza. And I was reminded when they played some house music that this is the generation that invented clubbing.
It’s also cheap. It’s a fiver to get in. Then I paid another fiver for a pint of Heineken and a can of red stripe. Yes to social club prices! They also let you bring your glass of beer outside (!) when you need to cool down at the picnic tables. The woman on the ticket desk said when I asked «there’s not that many rules around here». Probably because the crowd came to dance and have a good time.
I’m going back soon.

Hidden Gem in the Range. Famous for one-​of gigs by Manchester’s ex heroes and trend setters who’va all settled down and had babies. This is one hell of a cool place to get invited to. Try also the polish night there — its fab. A blast from the past. Keep it that way please. could do with a place like this in the Northern quarter –0 but then it would never be the same would it? ON second thought, keep it where it is.

Went to a friends 40^th Birthday party here a few weeks ago, it’s a very good sized club, large dancefloor, bar was well stocked apart from not having malibu– and they were selling small bottles of whisky and vodka behind the bar! But prices were very cheap! 2 full sized snooker tables, clean toilets. décor wise it needs a revamp. Location wise it’s a bit of a weird place to have a social club in the middle of lots of houses! easy to get to on the 86 from Piccadilly then a 5 min walk