Manchester gay scene
LGBTQ+ Manchester
Manchester has a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, centred around the world famous Canal Street – home of “The Village”. A beacon of celebration in the city, the Gay Village is a must for any visitor to Manchester.
Located just south of Chinatown, the village is not only a thriving hub for nightlife, but living proof that Manchester is one of the world’s leading gay-friendly cities.
With a combination of bars, clubs, restaurants and lush spaces set alongside a long stretch of the Rochdale Canal, Manchester’s Homosexual Village has something to suit all tastes. The Village is also renowned for hosting a number of regular annual events and special community activities – perhaps most prominent is Manchester Pride. Standing as one of the biggest Pride events in the UK, Manchester Pride attracts a huge number of visitors to the city each year.
Manchester also proudly hosts Sparkle, the national transgender celebration weekend in July, whilst the Superb British Bear Bash sees the homosexual village taken over by the larger, bearded, hairier chap over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Gay culture has flourished into a village-
Gay Village
The neighbourhood reference to the Lgbtq+ Village
The Gay Village, or just the Village, is your place to travel for LGBTQ+ bars in Manchester. Centred around the pedestrianised, waterside Canal Lane, it’s a group hub, a buzzy nightlife destination, and a chilled setting for daytime drinks. It’s also the home of the annual Manchester Celebration Festival held on August bank holiday weekend.
The area has been a focal point for same-sex attracted life in Manchester since the 1950s when the Recent Union became a meeting place for lesbians and queer men. The village really took off in the 1990s when continental exclude culture was becoming a big thing in the urban area centre, and Manto (a bar and club in the spot now occupied by On Bar), was at the centre of it all.
In 1999 the TV drama Queer as Folk brought the Village international attention and for a while it was seen as ‘the’ place to go out in Manchester; not always a good thing when you’re trying to maintain a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.
Nowadays, with the go up of the Northern Quarter as Manchester’s main nightlife neighbourhood, you’re less likely to find Canal Street overrun with hen parties, and more likely to find the homosexual com
The Village
AXM Bar & Club
AXM opened its doors in 2004 and offers a tardy night clubbing experience with DJs, cabaret shows and…
MAYA
Situated at the bustling intersection of Chorlton Avenue and Canal Street, the 20th-century…
Napoleon's
Friendly bar over two floors with a varied crowd.
New Union Hotel & Show Bar
Built in 1865, the New Union was one of the first ever homosexual establishments in Manchester and has been…
Oscars
Oscars is an intimate, theatre style bar showing classic and modern musical film clips in glamorous…
Salon Madre
Manchester’s much loved Mexican restaurant, Madre, has expanded and opened a tequila…
The Eagle Bar
Men only basement bar with industrial and well-dressed décor open seven nights a week with a faithful…
The Molly House
The Molly House is a charming, rustic, vintage bar over two floors with outdoor smoking terrace…
Via
A Gay, gothic labyrinth exclude serving quality dishes with specials, in a unique relaxed environment…
View
View is a large bar and club over two floors and open seven nights a week. Entertainment includes a&hell
Gay Bars And Clubs In Manchester
Found across Gay Village and the famous Canal Street, gay bars and clubs in Manchester certainly aren't few and far between. These fun spots are renowned for party antics, from drag divas strutting their stuff around you and karaoke before the main event, to heaving dancefloors packed out with an inclusive crowd.
Via Manchester
320 reviews
🌯 Fajita Fridays 🌯
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Looking for somewhere that can take you from daytime tipples to late-night dancing without a hitch? Via is the lgbtq+ cocktail bar in Manchester for you. Start off your journey with waterside drinks, before heading indoors where regular entertainment and a lively crowd of punters await.
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On Bar
1 review
A list of Manchester Gay Village clubs wouldn't be complete without giving On Bar a mention. Not only is it the home of killer performances across bottomless brunches and other boozy happenings from Bougie Flamboyant & Boy Toy Events, but this place sure knows how to hurl a party too.
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The Brewers, Manchester