Essential clubbing: Cocoon ft. Sven Vath at Albert Hall

Each autumn/winter season in Manchester brings the promise of shoe-squelching rainfall and The Warehouse Project’s parties, inviting world-renowned and local favourite DJs to the city. This year WHP returned to its Store Street home  – but it has also hosted some parties in other venues too. This December sees a Cocoon takeover at the neo-Gothic Albert Hall. Starting as a series of parties in 1996 by the highly revered German techno/trance DJ/producer Sven Vath that didn’t initially show much promise, it has gone on to become a booking agency, events and a record label that has helped establish now-well respected artists such as Guy Gerber, Roman Flugel and Loco Dice. The Cocoon parties are a mainstay in Ibiza and, after neglecting Manchester for more than a year, Vath comes to our rainy city to play an exclusive four-hour set.

Fri 5 Dec, Albert Hall, 22 Peter Street, M2 5QR, 9pm – 4am, £25 – £60, www.seetickets.com