Squash in Manchester: Courts, Clubs & Where to Play

Squash fell off a cliff in the noughties when a lot of clubs converted their courts to gym space, but it has been coming back strongly over the last few years, driven partly by a new generation of players and partly by the sport’s campaign for Olympic inclusion. In Manchester, the standout venue for serious players is Manchester Racquets Club – a long-established city-centre club with proper competition courts, league teams and a member base that knows the game. It is not a budget option, but the quality of play and the court conditions are a level above most alternatives.

For casual or introductory play, Fitness First sites in the city have squash courts included with membership, and the university sports facilities – particularly those at the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan – are available for public hire outside of peak student hours at reasonable rates. Court shortage is a real issue: there are genuinely fewer squash courts in Greater Manchester than there were twenty years ago, so booking ahead is non-negotiable rather than optional. England Squash’s club finder will show you affiliated clubs within range, and a handful of newer venues have been built with squash courts included. If you played at school or university and want to get back into it, the current squash scene will feel smaller than it once was but still very much alive.