It has been a while since I last visited The Footage, and during that time, it has had a really impressive refurbishment. The refurb was approximately 18 months ago, and I walk past it almost everyday, and say to myself: "the refurb looks good, I must go in at some point!" The Footage is situated on the Oxford Road Corridor amongst the student quarter, and 600 metres away from Manchester Metropolitan University All Saints Campus. Despite being a student based bar, it fully welcomes the non-student population with open arms, and although boasts many student based evenings, it also is the perfect bar in Manchester to watch football. The Footage has projectors with multiple large screens so they can show several games at once, which is very important when the Champions League is on! The interior looks great. To the right of the entrance as one walks in, is cool library setting area with cool furniture for a relaxed visit. In front of this area is an intimate section, which is separated by the main area, where one finds long tables and benches mixed amongst high round tables & chairs. On the opposite side, at the far end of the bar, is a little games area with pool table and arcade machines. Although, I have not sampled the food, it is refreshing to receive considerable change from a tenner when you buy two pints. My visit was brief but very pleasant, and I would happily go again soon if the opportunity was there. read more

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I've always been an admirer of this old building. One of Oxford Road's most delightful heirlooms, it stands out amongst the plethora of revolting 1960s architecture like a supermodel in a room full of Jeremy Kyle guests. So why, as Yelpers before me hath protested, turn it into a student dive-cum-sports bar? Well, on behalf of my male friends, I can't knock it. They love watching football matches there because of its big screen and its cheap booze. Like, extremely cheap. And I'm a good girlfriend who does watch the occasional match with her partner so I've found myself here a few times, and I'm kind of on the fence. On the one hand I should be appalled that this gorgeous architecture is being used thus. On the other, it keeps the building alive and gets people into it. Surely that's good? The perfect spot for students, it sits directly opposite the Humanities department at MMU and was always the first thing I saw after Masters lectures. Believe you me, you need a drink after dealing with Derrida for two hours. It may not be cultured, it may not be sophisticated, but it does its job and it's completely harmless. Let's embrace this big quirky behemoth. read more

The Footage - From website - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

This GRAND historic building used to be a theater before they converted it into a place for alchoholics to sit on comfy couches and watch sports on a MASSIVE telly. With a balcony and stained glass windows, it does not escape your attention that you are sitting somewhere very unique. I am not exhaggerating when I say MASSIVE telly! they just installed a move screen above the bar itself. There are really good meal deals (£4 for a burger and a beer) and I hear the food is actually really good, but unfortunately I didn't try it. There is loads of seating room and comfy couches. There are Pool tables, and a juke box that played predominantly English Music (Stone roses, Oasis.. you know the deal) I had to say If I lived in Manchester I would probably spend a majority of my time there. read more

The Footage - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Watching the Football / Sport - This is a decent venue to watch the football if you happen to be in the area. Was there last night to see the mighty Reds win on the large projection screen whilst also observing the blue section of Manchester lose on a smaller screen in my peripheral vision :-) There are a fairly wide selection of beers on tap including Estrella Damm - (which reminded me of a certain night in Barcelona). Figured it would be downright rude not to quaff a few refreshing pints of that whilst there, PS - Was visiting with my wheelchair-bound Aunt and both customers and staff could not have been more helpful and pleasant. read more

How have I not reviewed the Footage yet?! I love this pub. LOVE IT! I can understand why a lot of people don't and believe me I've had some bad experiences in here but most of the time, they get it spot on. It's cheap as chips. Actually, I think it's probably cheaper than chips...can you get chips for £1 these days?! Because that's how much drinks cost on the Quids night...bad, messy times to be had here. Even not on Quids night you can't complain about the prices really, it's part of the Scream chain, formerly Yellow pubs and you can still get a Yellow card to make things cheaper, happy times. Food is actually good pub food. I really like Sunday lunches in here but you do have to get down early or you will miss out. Another favourite has to be the breakfasts, the Big Scary Breakfast particularly, there is no better hangover cure and no bigger threat to a diet. Yum. Avoid this place on match days if you don't like football. Avoid this place on Freshers week if you don't like students. Embrace this place everyday if you like both. read more

The Footage - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Ok its just been revamped and looks lovely. There are still a few table that you could dance on but it mostly comfy little table to chat at. The menu has upped its game and its very good value and good fun! The burger aren't the best meat but sure are filling and the Mac'n'cheese is great. They also have some good hot sources. The cocktail menu is still full of bad jug cocktails, way too sweet and sticky for me but a big gang of students might love it. Drink are cheap and I think I spotted a few real ales. So all in alll a ok, fine for a post work drink. read more

The Footage - Pot of peppermint tea to get over a hangover perfect! - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Had a surprisingly fun time here. If you manage to snag a table, it's a cool place to chill with friends, have some drinks, and laugh your arse off. The best part is being able to send in texts that show up on the TV screen.. hilarity ensued. Would have given it 5 stars if you could properly dance here. There are only a couple dance floors that were either 4x4ft. squares or awkward empty spaces. read more

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In an era when churches are being turned into luxury flats and the Deaf Institute has been turned into a music venue, is anyone surprised that this gorgeous old cinema has been turned into a Scream Bar? I am personally of the opinion that buildings should be used for something rather than nothing, even if that something is whipping out your Yellow Card and ordering a double whiskey and coke whilst texting the giant screen a personal joke about your mate. The Footage is a fun student bar - one of those places that I wouldn't really choose to frequent now I've graduated, but was a good, cheap stop-off on any Oxford Road pub crawl. There is always enough space for large groups, plenty of bar staff and areas to sit downstairs and up on the balcony. Now I just wonder what they're going to do with the empty Odeon cinema further down the Oxford Road and the beautiful disused cinema in Stretford. read more

The Footage - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Yes, it's a lovely building, complete with stunning interior design, and a rich cultural history as an old cinema. And yes, it's a Scream bar. This kind of upsets me because, although I think that buildings like this are prime candidates for bars and clubs, Scream bars make me a bit angry. All Scream bars are a bit rubbish. It's the nature of the beast. However, The Footage presents the best you're gonna find of any Scream bar; in that it is OK as an eating and football-watching venue during the day, but to be vehemently avoided come nightfall. The Footage boasts two large screens for football and several smaller screens dotted around the place, so unless you're sitting under one of the pool tables you should be able to watch the match. Scream food is not fantastic, but if you want a hearty burger'n'chips combo you could do a lot worse. I'm a fan of the Scream burger, replete with cheese and relish and other goodies, but would advise you to stay away from the curries etc, which are all clearly just microwaved pre-prepared slop. Drinkswise, it's a Scream bar, they're cheap. A good range of the usual lagers and spirits on offer, with just-drinkable vinos too. They offer cocktails, but most of them contain jager, or Red Bull, or both. The service here is OK. It's almost always frustratingly slow, but the staff are friendly enough, and one time when we came to watch West Ham get kicked out of the FA Cup, the kitchen was closed, so they let us bring in our Popolino's. Which was nice. Oh, a word about the décor. They've recently re-upholstered pretty much everything in red and orange crushed velvet. Call me crazy, but isn't crushed velvet just the *worst* thing to use when upholstering a bar? I've not been in in a month, and UI can imagine that the seats are already matted with spilt vodbull and chewing gum. Lovely stuff... read more

The Footage - The new crushed velvet interior of the Footage is a little weird... - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Everything in The Footage was kind of sticky when I went in this place for some lunch. Not bad sticky, just beer sticky. Oh well, I guess that's to be expected. This really is what student pubs are all about, right? I find it such a shame that places like this used to be amazing cinemas or theatres and are now Scream bars. The Footage is a good example of this. I had the chicken with bacon and top and some fries, all part of the two meals for £6 deal which was pretty great. In fact, I would say the food is probably better than Wetherspoons which offers very similar deals. They also have a pool table here and a corner with some racing arcade games. All good for 1st year students just getting their very first beer belly. read more

The Footage - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

The Footage has always been the student pubs of all student pubs. Following on from my knowledge of Scream pubs in general, the Footage continues to please the masses of the students with the Yellow card deals, cheap drinks and pub grub, pool tables and football. What's more the Footage is a place to flaunt your bar crawl costumes and screech to your heart's content. It's another one of the re-done buildings, previously a cinema as its name suitably resounds. Inside you'll find it is very spacious, which means it's often a place you could sit and drink for ages, with the atmosphere bouncing off all the walls. For me it lacks any character, just a big space where students can get ridiculously drunk with pride as there'll probably always be someone looking worse off than you. It's cheap and I suppose good for football and if you love owning loyalty cards, you can flash it here. Stop by if your feeling the student pride. read more

The Footage - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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The Footage is an abandoned cinema that boasts of very large bar area and a balcony that opens up for the major events. If you like a young crowd, good music, cheap booze, great service,bog standard run of the mill pub grub then the Footage is the place for you - and on quieter nights you can watch live football, or play pool. The booze is even cheaper if you have a yellow card. PS. expect promotions such as "cheap as chips" read more

The Footage - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Whose idea was it to turn one of Manchester's most eye-catching buildings into a sports bar? This is the question I ask myself every single time I go past The Footage. Housed in a beautiful green and white tiled building that used to be a theatre, The Footage could have been a brilliant independent cinema, performance space or cafe-bar like The Sandbar and The Deaf Institute. Instead, it's a tacky sports bar that attracts large groups of students and sports lovers with cheap pints, cheap burgers and cheap chips. The decor is pure Weatherspoons and there's a massive TV screen showing every football and ruby match known to man. Strictly one for people that like being surrounded by large groups of drunk, cheering and chanting strangers! read more

I use the Footage mainly for live sport; which it excels at. There are at least 10 screens dotted around with a massive one above the bar. If two or more games are on at once that's not a problem, they show the different games on the various monitors (which is useful for me as the manchester clubs often get priority over my beloved Chelsea). Warning it can get crowded on the big games and you will struggle to find a seat. Anyway from sport, the Footage has a decent beer selection and an ok menu (although you do get the annoying 'chips in a basket' style presentation). They also provide a choice of board games, pool, darts for entertainment as well as the more unique chance to play FIFA in the pub. read more

When you're at uni, you and your friends will find somewhere that becomes 'Your Place'. Like Central Perk, there's always a fail-safe that you gravitate towards where you know you'll have a damn good time, plenty of giggles and can just switch off from the outside world. For my gang, The Footage was ours. On paper, if I'm honest, it's nothing special. It's a pretty non-descript looking pub on a non-descript street in a non-descript part of town, and the inside could do with a serious refurbishment. Despite all this, we completely bloody LOVED IT. Cheap drinks, good atmosphere, friendly staff... the fact that it was on the same street as our halls was also a bonus. A converted cinema on Grosvenor Street, its main attraction has to be the cheap drinks (£2.90 for a double with mixer) and the shameless clientele. Most people who come here and loud, proud, and up for a giggle, and it tends to attract more than just the student-y crowd that most bars in Manchester do (although its close proximity to a couple of halls of residence mean you get a decent amount of students too). All the usual pubby-type stuff are in attendance (pool tables, a karaoke night, cute sofas), but it also converts itself into a little mini nightclub come evening time- the best of both worlds! The Footage also does food, old-fashioned pub grub that's not exactly cuisine but is nice when you're just bumming around with friends (the Scream burgers have to be tried at least once), and boasts several ginourmous TV screens, meaning that the place is usually rammed come match day. The only bad points would be the service (they have nowhere near enough staff) and the manky toilets which the management have painted glittery pink (in the ladies, anyway) to try to cover up the fact that they're nearly always blocked. It hasn't worked. Oh, and don't even think about being able to find a seat on a Friday night. Despite that, my friends and I loved it, and I've spent many happy, drunken nights out here throughout my time as a student. A lot of people knock it, and if I'm honest at least two of the stars I've given it are probably because of the amount of happy memories I've made in there, but it's fun, friendly and has its own particular charm. As long as you've not got too many expectations and you're prepared to leave your inhibitions at the door, then I'd say this is the place for you. Just try not to touch anything in the ladies. read more

This place makes me laugh. I'm afraid I can't really post on the website the entire story but I'll try to give you an idea. We went there one evening to see the football of course. Both into football, I'll never mind a day/evening out like this. What can be best, than watching the game and playing a game of pool as well. Nice one. Meanwhile, there were few guys around us, that were keep trying to talk to me, and making weird faces saying that they are way better than the other guys around. Now portrait a 30 years old lad from Turkey, dancing around and saying this?! Won't you try your best not to laugh? Anyway, I'm sorry, I can't carry on. Something really bad happened with their drinks, and it's all my boyfriend's fault, who obviously got angry and pissed off. I agree with him anyway. Back to the place. You can get a card from them special designed for students, so if you fancy going there quite a lot, you can get some cheap drinks. We didn't do that, we've decided to accept the prices just as they are, and we didn't get disappointed at all. All in all, we actually had a nice night together. read more

How the hell have I not reviewed Footage yet? There was one whole year of my University life when I was here almost every evening. I can bet any student from Uni of Manchester will vouch that this definitely is the best student joints in oxford road. You can never get bored of footage because its always packed (besides when students go for holidays) and a lot of fun! I love the big screen which plays footy during games but otherwise is used as a texting board and people have written many drunk and embarrassing messages there (including me). There are 3 massive pool tables where I have lot of fond memories of pretty much learning pool. I love the music here, its pop music but you can have a blast dancing away. The best thing about footage is that it is so not pretentious and even when you are working and supposed to be all mature and jazz it would be a refreshing change from all the 'grown up' bars in Deansgate. They also have quid nights on Wednesday (yeah you are right any drink for just a quid) where you just pay 1 pound at the entrance and get every drink for a quid for the rest of the night! ( you will be sorted with less than 10 pounds). The building looks like an old British building from outside and definitely has to be one of the landmark buildings on oxford road after the university of course. The interiors is nice and very woody with a decent dance floor! The vibe during any football match here is absolutely phenomenal and can make a non football lover get all excited! Verdict: Cheap booze, great crowd and fun music! read more

I've been here twice in the afternoon time to play pool and twice on nights out and I can definitely say that this place can change atmospheres in a flash! For a relaxed afternoon of playing pool, it's ok... But don't expect more. The place is more or less dead which creates a weird atmosphere if you're only with two people. Bring a group, you need the laughter and chatter to fill the gaps in the room! For a night out, it's worth hitting up this place for a friends birthday just to text in to the huge display board to give them a silly message! Drinks are priced at a little higher than ok but it can be better than other places. This is not a place to hang out at all night. More a pre-drinks place! read more

Footage is a popular spot. This monster of a pub has some great pitcher deals and good selection of ales, ciders and the like. As one of the scream bars of Manchester it does some great burgers and grub. If you hold a yellow card (they cost a pound) you can get a discount off nearly all the drinks going. What makes the footage very popular isn't the gynormous size, the pools tables, cosy sofas, mood lighting area or the fruit machines. It's giant screen television which hosts whatever you text to it, makes for a lot of fun when you're swayin about and some personal joke pops up on the big screen. The footage is a nice point to head for a jolly evening of stupidity or 2 meals for 5 pound deal during the day. The toilets stink to high heaven though; this seems to be a recurring theme for the scream bars, perhaps it's the bleach they use? read more

The Footage - Pubs Near Me - Manchester, XGM

One of the best pubs to come to, especially when you're in university! Obviously for people there are different choices of one's particular favourite, but for me it has always been the Footage! Cheap deals, great food and of course never failing to have a great night! The building is one that attracts one and many, old architectural material giving it an eerie apperance at night time more than adds to its favour. Sitting spot on, on Oxford Road, right in the middle of MMU and Manchester university makes it very popular for all students. The atmosphere inside is of the typical big screens and pool tables which never fails in the department of fun! And then this place also turns into a nightclub later with some really great music! Win-win! Great place to hit even when you're totally confused about which spot to hit for the night! read more

Well it is one of Manchester's better Scream bars I suppose. The Footage, located on Oxford Road, deserves its three stars and nothing more. Its good for watching the football, as they have an absolutely huge screen, and occasionally they open the balcony area at the top which is great because there are some seats organized like a theatre there where you can watch the game from. In other respects it's a scream bar, and that's all. This means moderately cheap but not rock-bottom drinks, and average greasy food for a fiver or slightly more. Its pretty busy at times, so that may be a pull factor for some, but for me as its not a proper club I'd rather they turned the music down and let people chat. If you cant dance, you should be able to hear yourself without shouting. That's my humble opinion. read more

Footage is a great bar right in the middle of all the student halls and accomodation. They serve food and obviously more importantly plenty of drink. They use a yellow card system here so that you can save money on all your purchases. There are plenty of big sofas to sit on if you get down there early on enough. I did eat here once and didnt think too much of it - i had a sausage, cheese and onion sandwich and although i know it's not the most exciting thing in the world, they didnt make it any better. It was bland and boring. This is definitely a chain pub, there more for the cheap pre party drinks than the atmosphere, style or food. read more

A Nice place to Watch a match! Sadly, there are more Spanish people there than locals ;) Hard to find a table to sit sometimes , and very noisy but great atmosphere anyway! read more

I have experienced better food here but the selection of drinks (better selections than most pub around the area which includes local ales) makes up for it and they also provide power sockets and wi fi to do your work when you are bored of teas and coffees in cafes. The place is clean and rather quiet for a pub that is across a university. read more

I worked here for a long time and whilst I found working in the big friendly team fun, I couldn't really bring myself to enjoy this place if I wasnt being paid to be there! The food is cheap and cheerful, and as you'd expect it is gormet ingredints which go into the screamburger. There are pool tables which are usually missing a few vital parts, and a juke box with some rubbish tunes on. There is a good array of drinks to be had, and some brilliant offers to take advantage of. The staff are usually brilliant, the toilets are smelly and the boucers are brash. read more

The footage was formarly a theatre. Seing man united games in this pub is unbelievable!

Found this pub recently, it is an interesting place with a good atmosphere. Tried the wings which were good. With all the to screens it will be good for sport, hopefully they put rugby on read more

Located in the midst of the universities of manchester, this pub is a very convenient location to meet with friends for lunch or drinks. It host a karoake night every tuesday and entrance is free however there's a small cover charge of fridays and saturdays. The drinks are quite cheap and they also show live football and other major sporting games live. The upstairs section is also available for hire. Highly recommended. read more

I have been coming to this pub for almost 4 years I always enjoyed watching football matches there. My last visit on Saturday was shocking! The "premises manager" pretty much screamed at my friend because the bartender had mistaken the order. She blamed my friend who is been going to footage for the past 6 years. I will definitely not step inside footage ever again. From a person that works in the industry that is uncalled for. Extremely rude!!!!! read more

The Footage is located close to Manchester's Universities, so you will hardly meet anyone here who's not a student. It's pretty large with a high ceiling and upstairs seating area. Although the building is quite charming, there is a slightly shabby flair to it. (I mean that in a good, unpretentious way.) There are pool tables and a small dancefloor, and you can send text messages to be displayed on numerous screens all over the place if you want to anonymously hit on someone (or your friends think you do). The drinks are cheap and the music is awful, yet a well-sorted jukebox offers temporary relief. On weekends it can get quite crowded; it tends to be emptier during the week although they have some spectacular offers (on Wednesdays you can get a pint for a pound I think). If you want to watch live football on a super-huge screen this is also the place to go. In my personal opinion it's an ok place to have some drinks with friends, but I wouldn't stick around all night on a weekend, as I prefer an anonymous nightclub atmosphere to the Footage's down-to-earth charm. read more

VERY studenty due to the location, in itself a cool little pub, does good food and there's a wicked little balcony section which can be hired. read more

Now just named The Footage, this renovated cinema provides a perfect place for a pub meal or a night out with the lads. This venue boasts a large area and ability to hold a large capacity of people on its large open plan ground floor along with its large indoor balcony. It hosts two bars, an extremely long bar on the ground floor and a smaller one upstairs which is only open when capacity downstairs is stretched. The interior is rather dingy but comfortable to enjoy a spot of lunch during the day, to watch a football on the old cinema screen (providing a perfect place to watch any football match since it draws in a large amount of fans for any club); to enjoying a pint at the end of a hard day. It also has certain themed nights for St Patricks Day and other random nights throughout the year. My personal favourite night to head to this venue is on a Wednesday when they have a Quids night where popular drinks are priced as low as a pound, to provide a good night for very little money. On football matchdays, especially the Manchester team's matches, the Footage fills rapidly and is normally overbusy with the balcony full to capacity and ground floor being claustrophobic. However, due to the massive old cinema screen and many widescreen TVs dotted around the two floors, getting a view of the football is not hard at all. read more