26th April 2009

Have you ever sat next to a wall of plastic torsos? Or a wall covered in 70s adverts from old magazines? The Corner is South Manchester's newest bar: a squashed version of Night & Day, only with bits of wall missing and stairs that lead to nowhere. It lies somewhere between being kitsch, urban-Alice-in-Wonderland-chic, and being a complete dive - but purposefully so.

This Monday saw the launch of The Corner's Live Sessions. The tiny bar was rammed by 10pm and people wanting to get in afterwards were pretty disappointed. Which, of course, adds to that hipper-than-thou feeling you inevitably achieve for getting there early and therefore getting to meet Simon Fairbarin whilst mingling with Manchester's underground music scene.

At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Pure at the notoriously riotous Printworks housed a ridiculously fun and tacky night with poppy club tunes and The Inbetweeners – well, Neil from The Inbetweeners. Queue the screaming girls and unabashedly excited guys all pawing to get a piece of him. Sometimes you need a bit of a cheesy night out to get that spark back!

If relentless R'n'B doesn't recharge the batteries, then maybe some thrifty pampering might do the trick. On the last Saturday of every month, the city's favourite veggie den 8th Day hosts makeovers using the best earth-friendly make up. A 30 minute session costs £3, so obviously they're super-popular and prebooking is the only way to go.

The Corner, 254 Wilmslow Road, Free Entry. Aquapop @ Pure, Printworks, £5 VIP entry, includes free champagne all night. Makeovers at 8th Day Vegetarian Shop, 111 Oxford Road, £3 (refundable deposit).