EIGHTEEN months ago, the future of Night And Day Café on Oldham Street looked uncertain due to noise issues with new city centre residents. At the time there was a mass of local, national and then international support to keep the quirky bar and music venue open.

For Night And Day the story has a positive ending and I'm back to revisit the bar that epitomises the great independent spirit of the Northern Quarter.

It's difficult to describe the bar to someone who has never set foot behind the fancy Victorian faéade, without mentioning the atmosphere. The décor is like a cross betweena hip indie hangout and an American bordello, with fancy ceilings, Wild West-style bar and wooden benches and tables.

But what ties it all together is a friendly and cool attitude that makes you feel immediately welcome and part of a special crowd - in fact, very special before the days of the venue's air conditioning when you would happily stick to the person beside you!

For most people Night And Day is one of Manchester's best live music venues, nurturing young, local acts and pulling in the bigger independent stars. Long-serving manager Jay Taylor is also a modest philanthropist at heart and has allowed the venue to be the setting for many charity nights.

DJ Joel Turner, who hosted the charity after-show party for Ian Brown recently, tells me: ``Jay made the charity night possible, his support and enthusiasm really made all the difference when all other bars were telling me to get lost, but he said yes and the gig was amazing.''

This sort of testimony is quite common, but it is not just a band and club venue that thrives there. The haunt has always been a great get-away-from-it-all café bar. Open from 10am for breakfasts for é5.95, Night And Day also offers a vast selection of freshly-made meals, most under é6. The menu now features huge Thai fishcakes, a tapas menu, new vegetarian choices and a changing specials board.

It's also a perfect place to wind down after a day at the office or shopping, with one of the widest range of bottled beers available in the city.

One tip for band nights is to get your tickets early via the website and for a top weekend tip get along to see 2 Gallants this Sunday before they hit the big time.

Night & Day Café, 26, Oldham Street, Northern Quarter (0161 236 4597, www.nightnday.org). Mon-Sat 10am-2am.