Very good this place. Used it many times over the years and for our studio album, (Glory Days)…read more 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

Whist these rehearsal rooms at Big Fish might have a silly name, the quality of rehearsal space is…read morevery 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.

Greenhouse rehearsal studios provide high quality rehearsal space for some of the biggest acts in…read morethe Manchester music scene. Acts such as Doves, Elbow and Ian Brown have all used the Greenhouse to hone their live act. Despite this, normal musicians like me can still get in and use this excellent rehearsal space for a bargain price. I've been in loads of rehearsal rooms all over the country, including many in London, and these are absolutely the BEST I've ever been in. Greenhouse run two rehearsal rooms, including the Ancoats-based G2 as well as their original Stockport studios. The rooms are clean, spacious and carpeted wall to wall. There are plug sockets everywhere, which is just the best and most sensible idea ever. The PA is loud and crackle free, and the sessions are long and priced at just £25. It's amazing value for money. There's no backline provided, which has always been fine for me. That means you'll be bringing your own mics, stands, drum kit and amps. If you'd like to hire backline for your rehearsal, then prices are listed on the Greenhouse website. Once you actually get playing, the size of the rooms mean that there's plenty of space for you to get your sound right and actually hear what everyone in the band is doing. I couldn't recommend G2 more highly.