A well-located and stylish basement club with great music events.

The Venue
The club is tucked away behind Manchester Central Library and is close to Albert Square. It can be a little hard to find on an initial visit, but its close proximity to the nearby Peter Street drag of bars makes it a good destination after a few pre-club bevies. The club itself is underground, with a small smoking area outside the entrance which is usually packed and offers no warmth from the elements.

Inside is a black and pink interior with two well appointed bars, ample seating and a large dance area. The central strip of lighting leads you onto the main dance area and there are communal booths and hotly contested seating areas where people tend to congregate with drinks. On the whole the interior feels well thought-out and the club can proudly boast a couple of decor awards, although that was a few years’ back.

The People
One Central has a bit more quality than most and, as a result, you can expect a fairly well-turned out crowd on a Friday for Northern Funk or Saturday for Funkademia. Mid week is a little more relaxed attracting a younger, more student based crowd.

Bar staff are courteous enough but, like any busy club, you can expect a wait at the bar during peak times. Door staff generally ask for ID for younger faces and do the occasional bag search.

The Music
You can expect something a little more special than the bland pop based output of most of its local competition. The club's now home to Monday Murkage, a mixture of UK garage, fidget house and dubstep. Romp on Thursdays has become one of Manchester’s longest running and most popular weekly events. The night’s success has gone hand in hand with the continued appeal of the venue, and the resident DJs, Xander and Alix Walker, are well known for their party-centric sets of electro, funk, and disco-fuelled mash ups. The installation of the two big name nights – Northern Funk and Funkademia - at the weekend has been a master stroke for the venue, the residents are joined by the occasional guest, with the likes of Norman Jay the sort of special guest they look to pull in.

The Drink
There’s an impressive range of drinks on offer. A pint of Red Stripe will set you back at £3 and a glass of Pinot Grigio San Antonio will cost £3.15 a glass. A vodka and coke will come to £3.20 and is a little on the small side, with just a dash of coke served in a tumbler. They are well known for their great range of cocktails, including a well mixed Mojito and an ever-popular Dark and Stormy, all at £5. The range is so good, check out the delicious signature Cosmopolitan which has a melon twist, it can be very easy to blow a lot of money.

The Last Word
A good night is almost a guaranteed at One Central; the music keeps you going through the night and space is ideal for chatting with friends or strutting you stuff on the dance floor.