Matt & Phred's
Matt & Phred's occupies a basement on Tib Street, running as Manchester's dedicated jazz bar since 2001. The room is low-ceilinged and intimate, holding around 100 people, with the band positioned at floor level rather than on a raised stage. Live jazz, funk, soul, and blues play six nights a week, with the house band (The Matt & Phred's Allstars) performing on Sundays. The venue doubles as a pizza restaurant, and the food is genuinely good rather than an afterthought. Neapolitan-style pizzas cost GBP 9-14. A full cocktail menu runs GBP 8-11, and beer costs GBP 4.50-6. Entry is free on most nights, with occasional GBP 5-8 tickets for special acts.
Where to stay near Matt & Phred's
Hotels and rentals within walking distance.
What to Expect
A basement jazz bar with live music, good pizza, and a cocktail menu. The space is intimate enough that the band and audience share the same energy. Tables are close together, conversation happens between sets, and the atmosphere builds through the evening as the music picks up tempo.
Warm, low-lit, and musical. The basement setting creates natural intimacy. Pizza smoke mixes with the sound of a saxophone. Conversation happens naturally between sets. The crowd is a mix of jazz regulars and Northern Quarter bar-hoppers who wandered in.
Jazz, funk, soul, blues, and Latin. The house band covers classic and contemporary jazz. Guest acts range from traditional quartets to experimental fusion.
Casual. The Northern Quarter standard applies. No one dresses up for Matt & Phred's.
Jazz fans, couples looking for a relaxed evening with live music and food, and anyone who wants a different pace from the standard NQ bar crawl.
Cards and cash accepted.
Price Range
Entry free-GBP 8, pizza GBP 9-14, cocktails GBP 8-11, pints GBP 4.50-6
GBP 4.50-14 ≈ USD 6-18 / EUR 5-16
Hours
Tue-Thu 5 PM to midnight, Fri-Sat 5 PM to 2 AM, Sun 1 PM to midnight. Closed Mondays. Live music typically starts 8:30 PM.
Insider Tip
Book a table on Friday or Saturday evenings; the basement fills quickly once the music starts. The Sunday jazz brunch (from 1 PM) is a local favorite. Sit close to the band for the full experience, but be aware that volume levels in the basement are high.
Full Review
Tib Street runs parallel to Oldham Street, one block east, and Matt & Phred's sits in a basement below street level. The staircase down is narrow and the room at the bottom is low-ceilinged, which contributes to the intimacy but limits air circulation. On a packed Friday night, the room gets warm.
The live music is the draw. Six nights of jazz, funk, and soul in a room this small means the sound is direct and physical. The musicians play at floor level, inches from the nearest tables. When a trumpeter hits a high note in this room, you feel it in your chest. The quality of the bookings is consistently good. The house band on Sundays provides a reliable baseline, and guest acts through the week include some of Manchester's best jazz musicians.
The pizza is the unexpected bonus. The kitchen produces proper Neapolitan-style pies that would hold their own in a dedicated pizzeria. The Margherita at GBP 9 is the test, and it passes. Toppings range from classic to creative, and portion sizes are generous. Having a genuinely good food menu lifts Matt & Phred's from a music venue with bar snacks to a restaurant where live jazz happens.
The cocktail menu is short but well-executed. Espresso martinis and Negronis are the reliable picks. Beer selection includes local craft options alongside mainstream lagers.
The main limitation is space. On busy nights, getting a table without a reservation is difficult. The room doesn't have a standing area that works well for watching the music, so seats matter. Book ahead on weekends. Weekday evenings are easier and often feature equally good music with room to breathe.
The Neighborhood
Tib Street is one of the Northern Quarter's secondary streets, slightly quieter than Oldham Street. Afflecks Palace is around the corner. The surrounding blocks have coffee shops, vintage stores, and small bars.
Getting There
Piccadilly Gardens tram stop is a 4-minute walk. Piccadilly station is 6 minutes. The venue is walkable from any city center location.
Address
64 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LW
Other Venues in Northern Quarter
Night & Day Cafe
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Band on the Wall
Historic live music venue on Swan Street, recently renovated, hosting jazz, world music, and electronic acts since 1935. Two performance spaces.
Cane and Grain
Three-floor bar on Thomas Street with a dive bar in the basement, cocktails on the ground floor, and a speakeasy upstairs. Each level has a different vibe.
Terrace
Rooftop bar above the Northern Quarter with views across Manchester's skyline. Cocktails, DJs on weekends, and a retractable roof for British weather.
Afflecks Palace Bar (Takk)
Specialty coffee shop by day on Tariff Street that transitions to craft beer and natural wine in the evening. A quieter alternative to the main strips.