Hi Dan,
I've recently joined the Rucksack club, who are based in and around Manchester. People have been very friendly and welcoming and the clubs a great way to meet people to climb with, and the social side is good too. Good list of well attended meets- in the last year including summer and winter Alpine meets, Spanish sun rock, Gogarth, Scottish winter and much more. There's also meets every Wednesday evening- Manchester walls in winter and local crags in summer.
Members also get a key to the three huts owned by the club- in the Llanberis pass, South lakes, and between Glen Coe and Fort William.
If this sounds interesting then take a look at
http://www.rucksackclub.org/
or give me a shout through here.
Cheers,
Will