The AXM Bar is one of the more hi-tech places on the legendary Canal Street in Manchester’s Gay Village.

The Venue
AXM Bar has come under new ownership and has recently been voted the Best Bar in the North West in the Pink Paper Readers' Award. But awards are not a new trend for AXM. They have scored a host from other gay publications and it's the only gay venue to have won a Best Bar None award. Inside it’s all pretty smooth, modern and hi-tech. There’s an upstairs area which opens up to absorb the overspill on Friday and Saturday nights, or it's hired out by private parties.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays it hosts the warm-up parties for the famous Poptastic gay club night which is very popular with students. Although the staff are pleasant enough, the first timer or less hardcore types might find the austere décor a little intimidating. Like the majority of bars along this stretch there is outside seating by the canal which is very popular when the sun shines.

The People
A hardcore gay crowd and lots of guys with shaven heads and tight T-shirts mingle with students and raucous groups of happy clappers.

The Drink
It's a fairly standard selection, with Fosters and Kronenbourg on draught. Then there’s Kopparberg, Bulmer’s, Corona, Budweiser and Beck’s in bottles plus a stylish cocktail menu. They also serve Cuvée Rousson wines which cost a tenner a bottle. There are always deals on vodka and Red Bull and happy hour is every day from 5pm to 7pm.

The Last Word
AXM is quite a full-on party venue and certainly packs them in on student nights and at the weekends, and with all those awards its future looks bright.

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