Description
Your Dream Wedding in the Heart of Manchester
If you’re looking for a wedding venue that blends city energy with charming waterside views, Rain Bar on Great Bridgewater Street is a fantastic choice. Set in a beautifully restored Victorian canal-side warehouse—once an umbrella factory—this venue offers a unique mix of historic character and modern style. Its name nods to Manchester’s famous weather, adding a local touch to your special day. Plus, the award-winning beer garden and outdoor terrace overlooking the Bridgewater Canal create a stunning backdrop for your celebration.
Flexible Spaces Tailored to Your Wedding
Rain Bar is fully licensed to host both your civil ceremony and reception, all in one stylish and convenient location. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a lively party, the venue offers versatile spaces to fit your needs:
- Ceremonies: The newly refurbished third-floor boardroom is licensed for up to 50 guests. This air-conditioned room features adjustable lighting and a sound system, helping you create the perfect atmosphere for your vows.
- Receptions: The second-floor function suite includes a private bar and a terrace with beautiful canal views. It comfortably seats up to 60 guests for a wedding breakfast and can host up to 110 guests for a standing evening reception. There’s also an exclusive first-floor event space with its own private bar and outdoor terrace, ideal for your wedding party.
Delicious Food and Expert Planning Support
The culinary team at Rain Bar is passionate about crafting a dining experience that you and your guests will remember. They offer set menus for luncheons, buffets, and BBQs, but are also happy to work with you to create a bespoke menu tailored to your tastes. Their experienced on-site team will support you throughout the planning process, ensuring every detail is handled professionally—from canapés to full buffets. Many couples praise the quality and flavour of the food as a highlight of their day.
Quick Facts to Know
- Location: Central Manchester, right on the picturesque Bridgewater Canal.
- Capacity: Licensed for ceremonies up to 50 guests; receptions up to 60 seated or 110 standing.
- Spaces: Multiple private rooms, some with private bars and outdoor terraces.
- Catering: Flexible menus including bespoke options, buffets, and BBQs.
- Extras: Dancefloor and sound system available to keep the party going.
Experience
Overview of Rain Bar
Wedding Ceremony & Reception
Wedding Venue Details
Wedding Catering
Reviews (6)
- MMr and Mrs G24/02/2024Fantastic wedding reception Fantastic wedding receptionOur whole wedding party thouroughly enjoyed our afternoon/evening at the rain bar. Service was exceptional 5* and praised by all our guests. Food was delicious, generous and surpased our expectations. Evening DJ was so much fun.. Beyond thrilled with our wedding reception and wish i could do i all again exactly the same.The Alex's are a absolute pleasure to deal with and amazing at there jobs. Our whole wedding party thouroughly enjoyed our afternoon/evening at the rain bar. Service was exceptional 5* and praised by all our guests. Food was delicious, generous and surpased our expectations. Evening DJ was so much fun.. Beyond thrilled with our wedding reception and wish i could do i all again exactly the same.The Alex's are a absolute pleasure to deal with and amazing at there jobs.
- TTrip Advisor14/01/2022Great venue for Retirement doGreat venue for Retirement doI booked this bar for a joint Police retirement do on Friday 25th May 2018, for around 200 people.it has an upstairs bar with outside roof terrace,which is a big enough venue for a large gathering. I initially made contact by e-mail with the bar manager Sarah,who promptly replied with various options in relation to time and date and food available.Every query I e-mailed was answered promptly by Sarah or her colleague Alex,who were very helpful,in me making this the choice for a joint retirment venue so we went ahead and booked it. Prior to the date of the do,we went there in the afternoon and had lunch, which was excellent,and I recommend for a pit stop if your ever in Manchester,and near the bar one afternoon. On the evening of our retirement venue we arrived at 5.30pm, and found the bar area upstairs was all ready and set up as we had requested,and there was plenty of bar staff to cope with the expected crowd of people. By 8pm when we had requested food be served,the staff brought out a wonderful selection of our requested choice of sandwiches and chunky chips,samosas etc, amongst other food items which was plenty enough to cater for all the guests present,all at a reasonable price. The venue came to an end at mid night,with everyone having had a good night. Great venue,Great staff service, great food afternoons and evenings.Great value for money,so I would recommend the RAINBAR ,and probably use it again for other future celebrations.I booked this bar for a joint Police retirement do on Friday 25th May 2018, for around 200 people.it has an upstairs bar with outside roof terrace,which is a big enough venue for a large gathering. I initially made contact by e-mail with the bar manager Sarah,who promptly replied with various options in relation to time and date and food available.Every query I e-mailed was answered promptly by Sarah or her colleague Alex,who were very helpful,in me making this the choice for a joint retirment venue so we went ahead and booked it. Prior to the date of the do,we went there in the afternoon and had lunch, which was excellent,and I recommend for a pit stop if your ever in Manchester,and near the bar one afternoon. On the evening of our retirement venue we arrived at 5.30pm, and found the bar area upstairs was all ready and set up as we had requested,and there was plenty of bar staff to cope with the expected crowd of people. By 8pm when we had requested food be served,the staff brought out a wonderful selection of our requested choice of sandwiches and chunky chips,samosas etc, amongst other food items which was plenty enough to cater for all the guests present,all at a reasonable price. The venue came to an end at mid night,with everyone having had a good night. Great venue,Great staff service, great food afternoons and evenings.Great value for money,so I would recommend the RAINBAR ,and probably use it again for other future celebrations.
- TTrip Advisor14/01/2022Amazing serviceAmazing serviceI had my hubby’s surprise 50th here, everything about this place is excellent, the staff, the food, the room were all exceptional, nothing at all was too much trouble, we had the room upstairs overlooking the water of which I would highly recommend, will definitely be booking this bar for any future party’s , thanks so much To all at the rain barI had my hubby’s surprise 50th here, everything about this place is excellent, the staff, the food, the room were all exceptional, nothing at all was too much trouble, we had the room upstairs overlooking the water of which I would highly recommend, will definitely be booking this bar for any future party’s , thanks so much To all at the rain bar
- TTrip Advisor14/01/2022Wedding ReceptionWedding ReceptionBoth myself and my husband would like to thank Alex, Sarah and all of the team at Rain Bar. Also Simon the previous manager who helped with our arrangements. We had the most amazing evening at the bar and all our guests who hadn't visited the venue previously were blown away by this hidden gem. Sarah and Alex couldn't have done enough to carry out all our requests. The stress of the day was taken away from ourselves regarding setting out the room...it looked amazing ! The canapes and buffet were excellent quality and plentiful. We had so many compliments about how everyone enjoyed it. From start to finish everything was carried out so professionally . We would highly recommend Rain Bar for any function.Both myself and my husband would like to thank Alex, Sarah and all of the team at Rain Bar. Also Simon the previous manager who helped with our arrangements. We had the most amazing evening at the bar and all our guests who hadn't visited the venue previously were blown away by this hidden gem. Sarah and Alex couldn't have done enough to carry out all our requests. The stress of the day was taken away from ourselves regarding setting out the room...it looked amazing ! The canapes and buffet were excellent quality and plentiful. We had so many compliments about how everyone enjoyed it. From start to finish everything was carried out so professionally . We would highly recommend Rain Bar for any function.
- TTrip Advisor14/01/2022Great party venueGreat party venueWe held our evening wedding party in the function room at Rain Bar earlier this month. We had great support from Sarah organising the party . It's a lovely room and the balcony was a great hit with the guests ( it did help that we had great weather). All the food was amazing and the staff that looked after us on the night couldn't do enough for us. A highly recommended place if your looking for a party venue. We have eaten the the bar a few times and the food in the main bar is great too.We held our evening wedding party in the function room at Rain Bar earlier this month. We had great support from Sarah organising the party . It's a lovely room and the balcony was a great hit with the guests ( it did help that we had great weather). All the food was amazing and the staff that looked after us on the night couldn't do enough for us. A highly recommended place if your looking for a party venue. We have eaten the the bar a few times and the food in the main bar is great too.
- TTrip Advisor14/01/2022Amazing Wedding ReceptionAmazing Wedding ReceptionWe had our wedding reception in the room above the main bar, this was a great space that we could set up in whatever way we wanted. All the staff (especially Sarah!) made the night perfect for us, they did everything they could and made sure the bar was always well staffed, that our needs were met and that everything went smoothly. We had a large buffet with a great range of foods all of which was loved by our guests and it was very reasonably priced. Sarah made it really easy for us to get everything we wanted from the night and was so helpful the next day when we went to collect our gifts, decorations, etc that we couldn't take with us the night before. Sinead and I can't recommend Rain Bar enough, we were so happy we decided to go with them for our wedding reception, they took all the stress out of it, we felt in safe hands from the minute we met Sarah. Thankyou so much Rain BarWe had our wedding reception in the room above the main bar, this was a great space that we could set up in whatever way we wanted. All the staff (especially Sarah!) made the night perfect for us, they did everything they could and made sure the bar was always well staffed, that our needs were met and that everything went smoothly. We had a large buffet with a great range of foods all of which was loved by our guests and it was very reasonably priced. Sarah made it really easy for us to get everything we wanted from the night and was so helpful the next day when we went to collect our gifts, decorations, etc that we couldn't take with us the night before. Sinead and I can't recommend Rain Bar enough, we were so happy we decided to go with them for our wedding reception, they took all the stress out of it, we felt in safe hands from the minute we met Sarah. Thankyou so much Rain Bar
Location & Contact Details for Rain Bar
What is the location of Rain Bar wedding venue?
Rain Bar is centrally located in Manchester at M1 5JG, Greater Manchester, England. It's beautifully situated on Great Bridgewater Street, right on the picturesque Bridgewater Canal, offering charming waterside views for your special day.
Can Rain Bar host both the wedding ceremony and reception?
Yes, Rain Bar is fully licensed to host both your civil ceremony and wedding reception, all in one stylish and convenient location.
What is the maximum capacity for ceremonies and receptions at Rain Bar?
Rain Bar can accommodate up to 50 guests for ceremonies in its newly refurbished third-floor boardroom. For receptions, the second-floor function suite seats up to 60 guests for a wedding breakfast and can host up to 110 guests for a standing evening reception.
What types of event spaces are available at Rain Bar?
Rain Bar offers multiple flexible spaces tailored to your wedding needs, including:
- A third-floor boardroom licensed for ceremonies with air-conditioning, adjustable lighting, and sound system.
- A second-floor function suite with private bar and terrace overlooking the canal.
- An exclusive first-floor event space featuring its own private bar and outdoor terrace, ideal for your wedding party.
Does Rain Bar offer catering for weddings?
Yes, the culinary team at Rain Bar offers delicious catering options including set menus for luncheons, buffets, and BBQs. They are also happy to collaborate with you to create bespoke menus tailored to your tastes.
Is there support available for wedding planning at Rain Bar?
Rain Bar provides an experienced on-site team that supports you throughout the wedding planning process, ensuring every detail from canapés to full buffets is handled professionally.
What amenities are available at Rain Bar to enhance the wedding celebration?
Rain Bar offers amenities such as a dancefloor and sound system to keep the party going, as well as private bars and outdoor terraces with beautiful canal views.
Can Rain Bar accommodate intimate and larger wedding gatherings?
Yes, its versatile spaces are suitable for intimate gatherings as well as lively parties. The third-floor boardroom can hold up to 50 guests for a ceremony, while the reception spaces can host up to 110 standing guests for evening events.
What is the historical significance of the Rain Bar venue?
Rain Bar is located in a beautifully restored Victorian canal-side warehouse that was once an umbrella factory, combining historic character with modern style for your wedding day.
Is outdoor space available at Rain Bar for weddings?
Yes, Rain Bar features an award-winning beer garden and outdoor terraces overlooking the Bridgewater Canal, providing a stunning waterside backdrop perfect for wedding celebrations.
