renae unveil T.O.P.P., a new creative space for Manchester’s underground

Manchester's vibiest listening bar, renae, have announced their brand new top-floor venue, T.O.P.P. (The Other People Place), set to provide a "versatile, fully immersive space dedicated to creative expression in all its forms."

T.O.P.P. arrives centring Manchester’s creative community in its mission, providing a flexible environment built for everything from club nights and live music to workshops, markets, and experimental sessions, creating a space where people can connect, collaborate and explore.

While the spirit of renae remains unchanged, rooted in inclusivity, music, and community, T.O.P.P. exists to offer a broader canvas.

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The programming reflects this openness, spanning everything from yoga sessions and life drawing to independent markets, workshops, and networking events. Alongside these, T.O.P.P. will host deep listening sessions, ambient performances, sound baths, live gigs and club nights, creating a fluid, ever-evolving schedule that moves between disciplines and scenes.

Speaking on the launch, co-founder Harris Mouridis said: “T.O.P.P. gives us the freedom to explore ideas we couldn’t realise downstairs. It’s a space for the unconventional to connect and express themselves freely. Head upstairs, disconnect from the daily noise, and tune into The Other People Place frequency.”

However, Music does remain central, and the venue’s sonic identity has been carefully considered. Building on the clarity and detail of the ground floor’s Syva system, the top floor introduces a powerful four-point sound system with enhanced low-end, designed to meet the demands of a more club-focused environment. 

The opening programme testing out the new system fetaures a curated mix of international and local talent, including Marco Shuttle, Ancient Methods, Cosmo Vitelli, Sub Basics, Bill Brewster, Sybil and High Hoops, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

On the Sound System, Co-founder Brad Parkins added: “Sound has always been at the heart of what we do, and with T.O.P.P. we wanted to push that further. The system gives you the feeling of actually being inside the music, incredibly detailed HF drivers for crisp, high-resolution sound and 21” subs giving that low end thump you feel in your core. Extensive acoustic treatment, combined with a room-calibrated 4-point speaker configuration, create something that feels immersive, dynamic, and genuinely exciting for both artists and the crowd.”

With its expanded vision and carefully curated programming, T.O.P.P. positions renae not just as a venue, but as a growing hub for Manchester’s creative underground.

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