Very good this place. Used it many times over the years and for our studio album, (Glory Days). Even did some live recordings up on the 5th floor which has a big stage, (so gives you the feel of a proper gig/showcase). Oscar Novak MANDRAKE www.mandrakemanchester.com read more

Whist these rehearsal rooms at Big Fish might have a silly name, the quality of rehearsal space is very professional. During a recent visit, my guitarist accidentally walked into the wrong room to find that he was interrupting an Elbow rehearsal! They were polite, and he quickly scampered away. Well, if it's good enough for Elbow, then it's certainly good enough for me. The rooms are all of a big size, and full of character too. The rehearsal rooms are set out over five floors of an old mill, and all of the old brickwork and window fittings remain. The showcase rooms on the 3rd and 5th floors are amazing, with stages and big PAs giving you the option to practice as a line-up or even do an industry showcase. That's what these rooms are built for. There are plenty of different sized rooms to choose from though. Heck, they've even got an interactive map on their website. Go check it out! The sound can rattle about a bit in the bigger rooms, so it may take someone skilled in that department to get everything sounding balanced. Price wise, it's a bit more expensive than some of the other rehearsal studios in Manchester, but the character of the rooms really makes up for it. read more

If you're in a city centre based band and are looking for somewhere central to rehearse, then Beehive is probably the place you want. It used to be called Big Fish, but I think it must be under new management, I've been told they have given the place a makeover too! What swung it for me was friendly and knowledgable staff and a little tuck shop for quick breaks in practice time. The price for a room varies depending on the size, and from what I believe come with a basic backline set-up. Well worth a try! read more