City Guides: Liverpool and Manchester

DRINKING

The King’s Arms, Salford: Boozer with gigs and indie plays in its intimate upstairs theatre space as well as a pissed cast of Fresh Meat during filming. 11 Bloom St, M3 6AN, www.kingsarmssalford.com

Berry and Rye, Liverpool: Non-tacky speakeasy-style den. The exterior is unmarked (you have to knock). L1 4JQ, @berry_and_rye

Wählbar, Manchester: Probably the best bar in Fallowfield, where you will inevitably live at some point (Fallowfield, not the bar). Their cocktails are varied and tasty, but also cheap – triple threat. 310 Wilmslow Rd, M14 6XQ, @thewahlbar

EATING

Mughli, Manchester: If anyone says this isn’t the best restaurant on the Curry Mile, they’ve never tasted the meat from their charcoal pit. 30 Wilmslow Rd, M14 5TQ, www.mughli.com

Egg, Liverpool: A relaxed veggie place in a Victorian warehouse. Not a jacket potato with cheese in sight. 16 Newington, L1 4ED, www.eggcafe.co.uk

Pancho’s, Manchester: Two fast-food stands in the Arndale Market that outrun Barburrito for best burrito in town largely due to their hot as fuck habanero sauce. Arndale Food Market, 49 High St, M4 3AH, www.panchosburritos.co.uk

Salem, Liverpool: Amazing Eritrean food. ‘Nuff said. 341 Smithdown Rd, L15 3JJ

GIGGING

Kraak, Manchester: Total sweatbox. Upcoming: Mcr Scenewipe's 'All Killer, All Dayer' with Irma Vep and Temple Songs (21 Sep). Find it down the alleyway on Stevenson Place (off Lever St), www.kraak.co

The Kazimier, Liverpool: The epicentre of Liverpool’s alternative music scene, the Kaz hosts late-night garden parties and the New Year to end all New Years. Upcoming: Swim Deep (18 Sep), Phosphorescent (9 Nov). 4-5 Wolstenholme Sq, L1 4JJ, www.thekazimier.co.uk

Leaf, Liverpool: Tea and cake downstairs and (disco) balled-out gig room upstairs – try Deptford Goth (19 Oct). 65-67 Bold St, L1 4EZ, www.thisisleaf.co.uk

THEATRE

Three Minute Theatre, Manchester: Independent and oddball venue, oozing charm. Catch new work in progress alongside polished pieces. Afflecks Arcade, Oldham St, M1 1JG, www.threeminutetheatre.co.uk

The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool: A family-run theatre offering a haven of creativity in the so-called ‘Baltic Triangle’ area. 7 Blundell St, L1 0AJ, www.lanterntheatreliverpool.co.uk

The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester: Under 26s get £5 tickets every Monday and Friday, and it looks like a spaceship. Bonus. St Ann’s Sq, M2 7DH, www.royalexchange.co.uk

ART

Penthouse NQ, Manchester: Hidden away near the top of the dilapidated-looking Hilton House, this not-for-profit, by-appointment space host films and residencies. On now: Holly Rowan Hesson (until 14 Oct). Hilton House, 26-28 Hilton St, M1 1EH, www.thepenthousenq.com

The Royal Standard, Liverpool: An artist-run gallery and studios; exhibitions have short runs but big impact. Upcoming: SPACE IS NOT A VOID, 14-28 Sep. Unit 3, Vauxhall Business Centre, 131 Vauxhall Rd, L3 6BN, www.the-royal-standard.com

Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool: An independent photography gallery and the only one of its kind in the Northwest. On now: Tim Hetherington: You Never See Them Like This (from 6 Sep). 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, L3 1BP, www.openeye.org.uk

CLUBBING

HAUS, Liverpool: Fronted by trusted local heads Waxxx, the bigger interesting shizz comes here. Don’t miss Zed Bias and Happa on 20 Sep. 35-39 Greenland St, L1 0BS www.waxxx.co.uk

Soup Kitchen, Manchester: Our favourite club venue packs out its grungey basement with the weirder, cleverer end of bass, techno and house – top regulars include meandyou. (with resident Joy O), and Kraut und Owt in the kitchen. 31-33 Spear St, M1 1DF, www.soup-kitchen.co.uk

Sound Control, Manchester: The drinks are cheap and the soundsystem is boss. It’s matched in stature by South (southnightclub.com) in town,which hosts backyard raves (recently featuring Adam Shelton and Midland). 1 New Wakefield St, M1 5NP, www.soundcontrolmanchester.co.uk

The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool: The downstairs club space (‘The Hold’, natch) hosts the likes of local stalwarts Abandon Silence as well as big names (recently, Four Tet). 15 Slater St, L1 4BW, www.theshippingforecastliverpool.com

SHOPPING

Incognito, Manchester: Wanna instantly rose-tint your halcyon days while you’re living them? That pinboard won’t fill itself. Incognito is one of only two UK partner stores for Polaroid’s replace- ment, Impossible film. They also sell rude cards. 5 Stevenson Sq, M1 1DN, www.incognito-uk.co.uk

Retro Rehab, Manchester: Vintage clobber merchants specialising in upcycled dresses (for the boys, there’s Ryan Vintage over the road). 91 Oldham St, M1 1JR, @Retro_Rehab

News from Nowhere, Liverpool: A radical and community store with the biggest range of left and socialist publications we’ve ever seen. 96 Bold St, L1 4HY, www.newsfromnowhere.org.uk

FILM

FACT, Liverpool: four-screen indie(ish) cinema showing a mix of arthouse and mainstream flicks. 88 Wood St, L1 4DQ, www.fact.co.uk

Cornerhouse, Manchester: three-screener catering for true cinephiles. 70 Oxford St, M1 5NH, www.cornerhouse.org

FILM CLUBS: Darkness Into Light bring new or rarely screened films to Camp and Furnace (campandfurnace.com); Cultivate Film Club keep the double feature alive with sharply curated nights at Joshua Brooks (joshuabrooks.co.uk); Certificate X Cult Film prefer cinema of the grindhouse variety – a pop-up outfit, so best to follow on Facebook (facebook.com/CertificateXCultFilmScreenings).

ALTERNATIVE NIGHTS OUT

MANCHESTER: Have your photo taken with a Dalek, buy a shitload of sweets and pretend you’re in space at Fab Café (fabcafe.co.uk); catch a temporal art installation by Volkov Commanders or have your mind turned inside out by clubnight-cum-laboratory Gesamtkunstwerk at Islington Mill (islingtonmill.com), and giggle away at any number of lo-fi comedy nights including Dead Cat at Sandbar (sandbarmanchester.co.uk), XS Malarkey at Jabez Clegg (jabezclegg.co.uk) and Quippopotamus at Fuel in Withington (fuelcafebar.co.uk).

LIVERPOOL: Plate-smashing at Christakis (christakisgreektaverna.com); alternatively, witness 13-strong literary performance collective The Wild Writers (wildwritersimaginarium.wordpress.com); meet some new mates and get your gnashers around some top nosh at Liverpool Supper Club (liverpoolsupperclub.com), an alternative dining experience in a warehouse loft apartment in the historic docklands, and express your artistic side at Draw the Line at Django’s Riff (drawtheonline.com) – taking place the first Thursday of every month, there’s paper and pens everywhere and you can draw pictures with your mates while drinking beer. Woo.