My five favourite bars... Badly Drawn Boy

Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy, has been making music since he was at school, but it is only this year, aged 30, that he has achieved widespread recognition. His album, The Hour of Bewilderbeast, has been nominated for a Mercury Prize. Gough worked for the family printing business in Bolton before moving to Manchester and setting up his own record label, Twisted Nerve. He lives in Chorlton. ;

Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy, has been making music since he was at school, but it is only this year, aged 30, that he has achieved widespread recognition. His album, The Hour of Bewilderbeast, has been nominated for a Mercury Prize. Gough worked for the family printing business in Bolton before moving to Manchester and setting up his own record label, Twisted Nerve. He lives in Chorlton. ;

1 Night And Day Cafe

26 Oldham St, Manchester (tel: 0161 236 1822)

Jan, the owner, is from Holland and he has managed to bring café culture to Manchester, without the drugs obviously. The first time I went there, eight years ago, I thought he was a bit of an ogre, but he's become a good friend. Jan has gradually restored the café over the years. It's a gigging venue for local talent. I've played there a few times. There's no dress code so you can turn up in your jeans and trainers and enjoy a few games of pinball.

2 The Polar Cafe

Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton, Manchester (tel: 0161 881 0901)

The Polar's a modern place with a themed decor of icicles and lights that look like icebergs. It's my favourite place in Chorlton. It's fairly small, which means it always seems full and has a great vibe. Dee, the girl who runs it, is often playing my records. On any given day you can find me having a drink with the guys from the band Doves.

3 Max Fish

178 Ludlow St, New York (tel: 001 212 529 3959

There aren't too many bars for chilling out in New York. You tend to get stared at for having a beard and wearing a woolly hat. Max Fish has been there for about 30 years and lots of musicians hang out there. I was taken by an American PR company, but I'm not sure I'd find it again. What I do remember is that it had the best pinball machine ever - the South Park version. You have to keep hitting Kenny until you kill him. I befriended an English guy who lived in New York and together we whipped the arses off the Americans at pool. Easy, as the pockets of their tables are so big.

4 Iguana Bar

115-117 Manchester Rd, Chorlton Cum Hardy, Manchester (tel: 0161 881 9338)

The Iguana's got a late licence so it's a good place to go on to later in the evening. It's nice to have a late-night option in Chorlton. A friend of mine, Mark Rowlands, DJs there on a Thursday night. The staff are really great, and they have more of an American barman's work ethic. They take real pride in what they do. They also don't go berserk trying to kick you out at closing time.

5 Central Pier Bar

The Promenade, Blackpool (tel: 01253 623422)

I used to go to Blackpool with my family, but the other weekend I took my girlfriend for the weekend. The Pier Bar is a place where you don't feel intimidated - there are no stag and hen nights. It's got a sort of wedding vibe to it, a good mixture of people, from grandmothers to kids and the odd couple. The Pleasure Beach brought back lots of memories. My mum could never bear to watch us on the rides so Dad took us and she went off shopping. This time I had people shouting out "Liam Gallagher" and "Jamiroquai" at me, because of my woolly hat I suppose. But the one that really got me was "Happy Mondays". I didn't realise I looked like a Shaun Ryder type of Mancunian.