Last updated: April 2026
I’m based in Poulton-le-Fylde but Manchester is where a lot of my friends and family are, so I find myself there regularly. And in the last couple of years paint and sip nights have gone from a niche curiosity to one of the most popular things to do in the city for a birthday, hen do, date night or just a midweek excuse to do something creative with people you actually like.
I’ve spent 16 years in the UK art industry — a decade of that as Digital Marketing Manager at one of the UK’s largest art supplies retailers — and I also run Discount Art Supplies, a platform with 30,000 UK artist subscribers. So while I’m not exactly the target demographic for a paint and sip night (I tend to get slightly opinionated about brush quality), I understand art, I understand Manchester, and I know a good creative experience when I see one.
Here’s the honest guide to paint and sip in Manchester in 2026.
What Actually Happens at a Paint and Sip Night?
For anyone who hasn’t been — the concept is simple. You turn up to a venue, you get a canvas, paints and brushes, a professional or experienced artist walks you through creating a specific painting step by step, and you have a drink (or several) while you do it. No experience necessary. Everyone leaves with something they’ve made themselves, which is more satisfying than it sounds.
Sessions typically last around two hours and most Manchester options cost between £25-45 depending on the operator and venue. Some include a drink in the ticket price, others don’t — I’ll flag this for each option below because it matters for the overall cost.
The materials provided are generally decent — canvas, acrylic paints, brushes and sometimes an apron. Don’t expect professional grade Winsor & Newton but equally don’t expect supermarket quality. If you want to practise at home afterwards and buy your own supplies at a discount, check our acrylic paint deals page — we track the best prices from UK retailers.
1. Cork & Canvas — Freight Island and New Century
Cork & Canvas is probably Manchester’s most talked about paint and sip operator and for good reason — they’ve nailed the combination of excellent venues with a genuinely fun, unpretentious atmosphere.
Their two main Manchester locations are Freight Island — the sprawling creative hub at Mayfield depot that’s become one of the city’s best leisure destinations — and New Century, the recently restored venue on Hanover Street that once hosted Jimi Hendrix and Tina Turner. Both are excellent spaces and a significant upgrade on the function room settings that some paint and sip operators default to.
Sessions are guided by experienced artists and they’re happy to accommodate all skill levels from genuine beginners to people who paint regularly. They specialise in private events — hen dos, birthdays, corporate team building — but also run public sessions you can join individually. They offer bespoke painting themes if you have a specific idea which is a nice touch for anyone planning something memorable.
One genuinely unique option — they offer a Drag Queen upgrade for hen parties where a local Manchester queen joins the session. Not everyone’s thing but if it’s your thing, it’s their thing.
Best for: Hen dos, birthdays, private groups who want an excellent venue alongside the painting.
→ Book Cork & Canvas Manchester
2. PopUp Painting — Various Venues
PopUp Painting runs sip and paint events across the UK and Manchester is one of their busiest cities. The model is exactly what it sounds like — they set up in existing venues around the city rather than having a fixed location, which keeps things fresh and means you’re often painting in a pub or bar with a proper atmosphere rather than a blank room.
Past Manchester venues have included Seven Bro7hers brewery and The Treehouse Bar — both decent choices that add to the overall experience rather than detracting from it.
Sessions run for about two hours, all materials are included, and a practicing artist guides you through the painting step by step. Non-alcoholic options are available which is worth noting if you’re organising something inclusive. Tickets typically run around £35.
Best for: People who want a relaxed, pub-based experience with a friendly atmosphere. Also good for those coming from outside Manchester who want a central, easy to find location.
→ Book PopUp Painting Manchester
3. Paintvine — Various Venues
Paintvine does something slightly different to the standard paint and sip format — they also offer sculpt and sip sessions alongside the painting, which gives them a broader appeal for groups where not everyone wants to paint. The sculpt and sip uses air dry clay and is genuinely fun as an alternative if you’ve already done a paint night and want something different.
Their Manchester events run across various venues in the city and they’re good at the community aspect of it — the sessions feel genuinely social rather than just a class you’re sitting through. They describe themselves as prioritising fun over artistic perfection which is the right attitude for this format.
Private bookings are available and they’re responsive about organising bespoke events. They also offer online sessions if you want to do something similar from home — worth knowing about for groups who can’t all be in the same place.
Best for: Groups who want options beyond just painting, or anyone who’s already done a standard paint and sip and wants something a bit different.
4. Paint Away Events — Manchester Art Studio
Paint Away Events have their own dedicated Manchester Art Studio space which immediately sets them apart from operators who use borrowed venues. Having a proper studio means the setup is better, the materials are more consistently good and the whole experience feels more considered.
They run both public events and private bookings covering hen dos, birthdays, children’s parties and corporate team building. Their themes are often inspired by specific artists or subjects — Bob Ross, Frida Kahlo, floral arrangements — which gives each session a distinct identity rather than the generic “paint this landscape” approach some operators default to.
Introductory tickets at £29.99 with a complimentary drink on arrival have been available for their Manchester studio events — worth checking their current pricing before booking as offers change.
Best for: Anyone who wants the consistency of a dedicated studio space rather than a pop-up setting. Also good for themed events based on a particular artist.
→ Book Paint Away Events Manchester
5. ClassBento — Multiple Operators
ClassBento isn’t a single paint and sip operator — it’s a marketplace that aggregates creative experiences across the UK, including multiple paint and sip options in Manchester. Think of it as the Airbnb of creative workshops.
The advantage of booking through ClassBento is the breadth of choice — you can compare multiple operators, dates, venues and styles in one place rather than hunting through individual websites. They also donate a portion of each booking to mental health charities which is a nice addition.
Options on ClassBento include everything from classic sip and paint to Banksy-themed sessions, portrait painting and themed workshops. Prices vary by experience but generally sit in the £30-45 range.
Best for: Anyone who wants to compare multiple options before committing or who wants something more specific than a standard paint night.
→ Browse Paint and Sip on ClassBento Manchester
6. Neon Brush — Northern Quarter
Neon Brush is the most distinctive option on this list and the one I’d pick if I was going with a group who’d already done a standard paint night and wanted something genuinely different.
The concept is paint and sip but with fluorescent paints under black lighting in a retro UV space, accompanied by music. It’s more of an event than a class and the results look spectacular under the UV lights even if your painting skills are questionable. Based at Studio Bee in the Northern Quarter at 14-16 Faraday Street — which is one of the better parts of Manchester to be in for drinks before or after.
Monthly sessions run regularly so there’s usually something coming up soon. Worth booking in advance as these tend to sell out.
Best for: Groups looking for something genuinely different, anyone who wants more of a party atmosphere than a class, and anyone who’s already done a standard paint and sip and wants a step up.
7. Paint a Pic — Various Manchester Hotels and Venues
Paint a Pic runs regular sessions at central Manchester venues including the Maldron Hotel — which makes them particularly convenient if you’re coming into Manchester from outside the city and want something easy to find near the centre. Their sessions are themed around specific masterworks — Monet’s San Giorgio Maggiore, Van Gogh’s Starry Night — which gives them a slightly more educational feel than some of the more party-focused options.
Tickets from around £38-40, maximum 25 people per session which means more time with the artist. All materials provided, drinks available at the bar separately.
Best for: Visitors to Manchester who want a central location, and anyone interested in recreating a specific famous painting rather than creating something original.
→ Find Paint a Pic on DesignMyNight
Quick Comparison
| Operator | Price From | Best For | Fixed Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork & Canvas | ~£35 | Hen dos, private groups | Freight Island / New Century |
| PopUp Painting | ~£35 | Relaxed pub-based experience | Various |
| Paintvine | ~£30 | Sculpt and sip option too | Various |
| Paint Away Events | ~£30 | Dedicated studio, themed sessions | Manchester Art Studio |
| ClassBento | ~£30 | Comparing multiple options | Various |
| Neon Brush | ~£35 | UV/neon twist on the format | Studio Bee, Northern Quarter |
| Paint a Pic | ~£38 | Central location, masterwork themes | Maldron Hotel and others |
Tips Before You Book
- Book in advance. Popular sessions — particularly at weekends and for hen dos — sell out weeks ahead. Don’t assume you can book the day before.
- Check what’s included. Some operators include a drink in the ticket price, most don’t. Factor the bar tab into the overall cost.
- Private vs public. If you’re going as a group of 8+ a private session often works out similarly priced to individual tickets and gives you much more flexibility on timing and theme.
- Wear something you don’t mind getting paint on. Most venues provide aprons but acrylic paint has a way of ending up on clothes regardless.
- No experience necessary is genuinely true. Every operator on this list guides you step by step. The whole point is that you don’t need to know what you’re doing.
Want to Keep Painting After Your Session?
One thing that consistently happens at paint and sip nights is people discover they actually enjoy painting and want to carry on at home. If that’s you, the materials provided at most sessions are decent but not exactly what you’d choose if you were buying your own. We track deals on acrylic paints, canvases and brushes from all the major UK retailers on our live deals page — and our watercolour deals page is worth a look too if your session sparked an interest in a different medium.
And if the experience of creating something has made you think seriously about selling your own art — which happens more often than you’d think after a paint night — we have a complete guide on how to sell your art online that covers everything from choosing a platform to building an audience.
Know a paint and sip night in Manchester we’ve missed? Let us know in our Facebook community of 15,000 UK artists — we’re always looking to keep these guides as useful and up to date as possible.
