NQ64 Manchester Peter St

NQ64 Peter Street is the latest venue from the team behind the original (and excellent) Northern Quarter bar, offering up video games, high-quality drinks and a great, friendly atmosphere. And yes, the name is slightly confusing given that it’s a ten-minute walk from the actual NQ, but are you here for a good time or a discussion about semantics?

The staff are cheerful, the bar is well-stocked and not overpriced compared to some of its near neighbours, but of course, the main draw is the games. You can choose from some of the latest standalone arcade set-ups or a dozen or so free-to-play retro consoles dotted around the venue. Here you’ll find everything from Gamecubes to Mega Drives, rigged up to offer a seemingly endless array of games, from the truly great such as Streetfighter 2 and Micro Machines, to forgettable but amusing trash that’s worth a couple of minutes of your time but nothing more.

It’s not the kind of place you’d go to meditate

It’s a simple idea but executed perfectly, and it’s no surprise to hear that many, many more NQ64s are opening across the country. The decor is as 90s as it gets, all neon graffiti splashes and electric blue lighting (think Bart and Milhouse tripping off the Super Squishee), and while it’s not the kind of place you’d go to meditate, for a raucous night out with a group of mates, it’s hard to think of anywhere else quite as fun.

And as far as meeting new people – all-important after the wash-out of 2020 – Nq64 Peter Street can’t be beat. Just trounced your crew at Mortal Kombat? Challenge the table next to you to a tournament and you’ll almost certainly end up with a night of pixel-perfect button-bashing and a bunch of new mates.

Peter Street is becoming something of a night-out hub of late, with tons of great new spaces popping up alongside established faves like Albert Schloss. NQ64 Peter Street just gave the area a turbo booster.