Three friends from Manchester have designed a mobile phone app that allows revellers to jump the queue at their favourite pubs and clubs.

The idea came after Craig Gidley, 31, Craig Davies, 31, and Stephen Powell, 31, were turned away from a bar in Spinningfields in the city centre.

Viper will allow people to buy drinks or secure VIP entry into a bar in real-time from their mobile phone with the first edition being launched in Manchester.

So far Epernay, Bijou, Be At One and Living Room have signed up.

Craig Davies said: “We feel there is nothing coming close to what we are offering and our links to the best bars in Manchester will ensure users have unrivalled access to exclusive upgrades during their night out.

“Whether you need to find the best bars, have drinks ready on arrival, find which bars have VIP booths available or simply need a queue jump, Viper will let you do this from the palm of your hand.

“Although Viper is predominantly an app to allow people to find the best bars, we see it evolving into a very social app.

“There is a section that lets you link with your friends and the initial release will allow users to link with their friends through Facebook and share their nights out with them.”

Viper will be available on IOS and Android and free to download.

Viper has been funded from the trio’s own pockets and is due to launch at the end of August.

The trio hope to expand into other cities but the initial launch will be in the city they know the best.

Craig added: “We absolutely love Manchester for a night out, but we know first-hand there are issues to be resolved in terms how customers currently spend their nights and we feel that Viper is a huge step in improving that in an innovative and exciting way.

“No longer will customers have to walk 30 minutes across the city to find they have to queue another half-an-hour to get into a bar.

“No longer will users have to message a bar on Twitter or phone them up days in advance to book VIP – Viper lets you do it on the night.

“From a bar’s perspective, Viper loyalty points will mean they can make more informed decisions on who they let in through their doors and at the same time push exciting messages to customers in the local area.”

Users can pre-subscribe to the Viper app ahead of the launch by heading to www.vipernights.com to register.

Belvie Maxwell, Sales Manager at Be At One on Deansgate, said: “We’re really excited to be involved with Viper and especially look forward to them launching later this month.

“We will be using the app to promote our featured nights, offer exclusive deals and make sure all our customers get the most from their Be At One experience.

“The Manchester nightlife industry is incredibly competitive and we feel that being part of Viper app network is a great way of us being able to market our bar to our target audience.”

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