MANCHESTER: the city that, via Hacienda offshoot Dry 201, spawned bar culture as we know it in the UK.

Looking at the countless style and DJ-bars covering the city today, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it had always been this way.

But there have been ups and downs – the odd stagnant period when the creative juices ran dry.

And that’s just one of the reasons that former Food and Drink Festival Bar of the Year Odd was greeted with such universal acclaim.

The venue, long established as a cornerstone in the busy Northern Quarter drinking circuit, celebrated its third birthday this week and marked it in its own inimitable style: with a Hall Of Fame party where guests’ photos were taken for immortalisation on Odd’s already busy walls.

This two-floored set up has charm (if not floorspace) by the bucket: resolutely unpretentious and good for a relaxed beer daytime or night.

Package

A labour of love, it was created by independent entrepreneur Cleo Forman who channeled her own collection of nik-naks into the quirky interior design scheme. The end result is her pride and joy, and the vibe infectious in the extreme.

Not that the fun extends to the drinks selection: here the choice is reassuringly serious: house spirits set the above-average tone (Wyborowa Vodka, Plymouth Gin, Havana Club rum), the beer selection is continental rather than comedic beers. Fun’s for when, not what, you drink.

Live music and quirky DJ sets plus a celebrated Sunday roast complete the package and rubber stamp Odd’s popularity.

This bar was, of course, so good that they did it again, taking over Zumeba, on Oxford Road, to create Odder.

A third venture, Oddest, is rumoured for later in the year though Cleo is being close-lipped about where the venture will be. The city’s as-yet-to-be-defined Western Quarter, perhaps, or further south still in Didsbury or Fallowfield. Watch this space.

Odd Bar, 30-32 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1ER, 0161 833 0070