FAB Café

Normally I wouldn’t come to this bar but as I was with two friends who their knowledge of Manchester is slightly better than mine they suggested that we tried out the place as they had a few good nights here.
We went about 12am and the atmosphere was quite vibrant. It has loads of memobrallia around the place such as Star Wars, Doctor Who just to name a few.
The Drinks were not bad but not great. There is a probability that I will come back if I am close by but I wouldn’t make a trip to visit this place as it is not really my vibe.

This bar is somewhere where I would usualy walk staright past but as we were with a friend who knows Manchester better than I do he suggested we tried it out as he has had a few good nights in here (drunken ones…).
We went in about 10pm and the place was pretty quiet so it lacked a little atmosphere. There is loads of cool memrobelia from various films… star trek, dr who etc. They also have a good selection of retro video games. Time crisis brings back many memories.
The drinks were just ok, not bad but not excellent. I will probably come back here if i’m nearby but wouldn’t make the trip across town just for here as it really isn’t my type of place.

My favourite dive :) love both rooms, the décor is random as all hell and that’s the great part of the charm!
The bar is reasonable enough on price for a city bar and there is plenty of space with a lot less pretence than some other so called «quirky» bars.
Plus… PacMan… :)

the music, the tuck shop, the vintage games, the memorobilia it’s all FANTASTIC!

Fab Café is really kind of ridiculous but I keep going back there.
On a night out, it’s a great option for when you want to dance like an idiot and not worry about getting judged too harshly by your fellow dancers. Also you can get a pint of a lurid coloured cocktail for about £5.
For a quiet drink while the night is still young, there’s often a decent guest beer on, the staff are friendly and you can get a packet of Space Raiders if that’s how you’re feeling.
For a bite to eat, the menu is comfort food through and through. Fish finger sandwiches? Super Noodles? A bowl of cereal? You can order all these things. Or just a portion of chips, which come served in something like a fruit bowl.
This place certainly isn’t classy and it’s probably not very cool. But it’s cheap and it’s a lot of fun, so I like it.

I used to go to the Fab Café in Leeds when it first opened and was crazy about the place. 80’s film and TV memorabilia lined the walls and dangled from the ceiling, they stocked an array of 80’s confectionery behind the bar (think Dib Dabs, Sherbert Fountains, Space Raiders and even Pot Noodles), tables with the BUILT-​IN PACMAN arcade game, decent music and cheap drinks. What was NOT to love?
Well, fast-​forward 10 years and you suddenly realise that walking into a sticky-​floored bar and being greeted by the smell of piss doesn’t quite have the same allure anymore.
Don’t get me wrong, I still think the Fab chain is, well, fab, I just think that the next time I go to the one in Manchester, it’ll have to be at the end of the night when I’m pie-​eyed and youngsters, smells, dirty toilets and crap dancing don’t bother me. Going back to the toilets though — have you read the graffiti on the doors/​walls in there? Some of it is hilarious, poetic even! You could be in there for hours just reading.
Anyway, I think Fab Manchester deserves a second chance as we went in there quite early on in the evening and I guess it doesn’t really come to life until a bit later. I will say that I was a tad disappointed in the state of it though and reckon they could do with putting some money into giving it a revamp, or even just a good scrub.
Crikey, I think I’m turning into a snob.

The only reason I haven’t reviewed this sooner is that I assumed I already had! It’s a sanctuary for movie geeks like myself and has that ripped seat and sticky floor cosiness to it. Take last Friday for example. Where else can you slowly intoxicate yourself on cheap lager whist watching Demolition Man with a complimentary fish finger butty before descending to the dance floor for Jackson 5. Nowhere. Nowhere.

The Fab Café is definitely one of my favourite places for a night out in Manchester. Yes it’s a little bit grungy and full of Dr Who memorabilia (which for some is no bad thing). but the atmosphere is second to none. They play a great mix of 80s, 90s and naughties indie all designed to get your feet moving. I also love the fact they always play a fantastic tune you haven’t heard in years and that there is a good mix of ages so I don’t feel like the oldest swinger in town. Fab Café is certainly one of the best and most unpretentious places in town so can’t wait for my next night out there.

Super fun! Sci-​fi themed drinks! woooo

I LOVE Fab. It is easily my favourite place in Manchester and go there whenever I can. I can’t praise it highly enough.
As a complete Dr Who geek, the fact that I can dance to really fab (pun intended) music — ranging from 50s to current — alongside a TARDIS and a Dalek is really quite pleasing to me. The atmosphere is brilliant, even on a Saturday night when it is so packed you can hardly breathe. I’ve often been one of the last people in there as I get so into dancing away and enjoying myself, I’m disappointed when its time to go home.
The drinks are reasonably priced as is the entry fee.
They are also currently showing Game of Thrones on a Monday night, which is great for those of us without Sky. Its also great to watch it with a bunch of people who enjoy it as much as each other.
Everyone living in Manchester should make a point of coming here at least once in their lives. It is FAB!

FAB has to be my favourite bar in Manchester. It may seem a little grungy on first inspection the bar is actually very good. The prices are exceptional for Manchester and I have rarely seen it over crowded so there is no 30 minute wait at the bar for a drink.
They have a number of specialist and national beers on tap as well as in bottles and bottles of alcopops and shots of spirits.
The DJ area is pure genius … The bridge of the original starship enterprise with Gerard the Dalek protecting it from the side. In the left corner there is a tardis that lights up and the ceiling is full of models from sci if shows like battle star galactica and Star Trek.
Near the toilets there is a number of arcade machines and there are arcade tables near the tardis where you can play classic games such as pacman and donkey kong for a small fee. To top it all off there is also a pinball machine present.
The bar snacks range from sweets to nuts and crisps and they also provide a simple, classic, student type menu. Through out the week there are various theme night such as games nights but there are a number of board games available at any time and these games can easily be played.
The décor is brilliant for fans of science fiction shows and there are a number of posters and signed pictures around the place and there is a glass cabinet of merchandise ranging from classic Star Wars and superman collectables. Next to this here is a table which is a scene from an alien landing and a comfortable booth.
Located near china town I always have to visit this bar when I stay over in Manchester. Thereupon are also tv screens located all around that will play classic cartoons, movies and tv shows.

Wow! it’s been far too long since I’ve attempted at making a review, so fingers crossed I can make comprehensible sentences.
Me and a handful of my friends ended up here after being advised to check it out by the bouncer over at Satan’s Hollow (Due to it being filled up). We decided to give the place a shot, and I won’t lie… It’s pretty damn alright.
It was £2 entry, but I’m not entirely sure if that’s just for Saturdays. The place is pretty large, but VERY WARM! I’m not entirely sure if air-​con was installed or not, but HOLY BALLS WAS IT HOT! But excluding the heat problem, the place was amazingly decorated. Outstandingly awesome movie memorabilia, historical film/​TV posters, and even some kick ass arcade machines. The drinks were averagely priced, and the bar staff were exceptionally friendly and talkative, a quality that’s very rare with bar staff these days.
With the addition of the 80s-​90s music, it made for a pretty enjoyable club to stop by at. I wouldn’t put it in my top 10, but it’s an enjoyable place to check out none the less.
Overall, excluding the heat and everyone being roughly 30 – 40 (Don’t crucify me, I’m not complaining) the bar was pretty enjoyable, great to look at, and I had a great time there :)

Nerd-​vana. Pure and simple, that’s what this place is.
Example: I was sat at the bar, not knowing anyone in the place, and within the hour, I was staring at a model of Fireball XL5 and judging the merits of Keanu Reeves movies. How wrong can you go with that kind of night?
It’s downstairs and well air-​conditioned — a must in this weather — and the prices are pretty damn reasonable for city centre venues. There’s a live DJ who takes requests, or on the night I was in, conducts the pub quiz as well.
Don’t get me wrong though. The décor is the key thing here, and the drawing factor. From Dr. Who, to sci-​fi, to Playschool, the Fab Café covers all bases.
If you’re of a certain age or of the geekly minded, then this is the only game in town. Highly recommended.

Fab café is filled with with memorabilia, games machines and people watching shows on the tv, tnmt and thunderbirds anyone?
Highlights include sitting next to a life size dalek on quiz night, eating refreshers and drinking beer and dancing wildly to 80s music. Can’t go wrong.
Friendly bar staff and crowd, it’s quieter in the week but gets busy at weekends.

There is a full size Dalek in this bar.
I don’t think I need to say any more.
A FULL SIZE FRICKEN DALEK.
**
This is *the place to take your geek friends. Board games, slammin’ DJ, great drink prices, and did I mention the Dalek? Go, your basement dwelling buddies will thank me.

If you like TV21 in the Northern Quarter, head to Fab on Portland Street. It’s trash-​themed and dotted with Space Invaders, Thunderbird Puppets and Daleks. What’s not to like? It doesn’t take itself remotely seriously and there are even sweets for sale behind the bar. Now that’s MY kind of bar.
It’s an eccentric little place, popular with students, boho types and artsy cultured kinds, and the fact that it’s Nerdvana in terms of its décor means it attracts an intelligent clientele also. Each day is themed too, Monday nights offer The Boneyard (ska, punk, psychobilly and alternative), Tuesday’s got Ear Candy (40 years of rock n’ roll), Wednesday gets groovy with The Score (bossa nova, kitsch lounge music, psychedelia, funk and soul), Thursday’s heavy with Overblown (70s punk, alternative rock, metal, indie and so on), Friday’s pretty open with Mojo Rising, Saturday gets all electro with the Robot Reject Club and Sunday’s a film night, screening all sorts of cult, unreleased, banned and video nasty type movies.
I’m a geek. There’s a geek in everyone. And here’s a place where everyone can release their inner dork and be at peace with it. Definitely one to try, and without a doubt bring Manchester visitors here too — it’ll blow their minds.

I did not get this place I am sad to say. It’s just not my cup of tea I suppose. Decked out in sci-​fi and B-​movie paraphernalia its er… unqique I’ll give it that.
This is not a place you want to get dressed up for. The place is full of friendly folk who are not keeping up with this seasons latest trends. If you want a quiet drink with an unsual backdrop this is the place for you. If your glammed up and ready to boogie give FAB café a miss !

F.A.B. Virgil!
Well definitely A.O.K. anyway.
An unpretentious and relaxed little place where the walls are adorned with sci-​fi posters, comics, T.V. memorabilia and geek related things!
The drinks are cheap and the clientele tend to go for the ‘Kurt Cobain with a hangover’ look and forgo complicated dance steps in favour of jumping up and down… even if it’s just Nat King Cole playing…

I only went here to see the Dalek.
I nearly bought one on Ebay a year or so ago, but I was beaten which was probably a good thing as I would have had to sell my motorbike and hadn’t checked whether it would go through my front door.
What I wanted it for was to go to Tesco, drive up and down the aisles with a basket over my plunger, asking in my Dalek voice Please — will — you — pass — me — the — Whiskas? and getting someone to film peoples reaction from a distance :-)
Heh heh heh.

I have never been here before it was a very different experience. It had loads of memorabilia around the place starwars and doctor who are some of them.
They had a couple of old video game which was fun. The drinks wasn’t the best as the coke was a bit flat. The atmosphere was really chilled out and if I prob went a bit later it might have been better when it was busier.