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 leafy spaces set alongside a long stretch of the Rochdale Canal, Manchester’s Queer Village has something to suit all tastes. The Village is also celebrated 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 Wonderful British Bear Bash sees the queer 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 guide to the Gay Village

The Gay Village, or just the Village, is your place to go for Homosexual bars in Manchester. Centred around the pedestrianised, waterside Canal Avenue, it’s a community hub, a buzzy nightlife destination, and a chilled setting for daytime drinks. It’s also the home of the annual Manchester Pride Festival held on August bank holiday weekend.

The area has been a focal point for gay existence in Manchester since the 1950s when the New Union became a meeting place for lesbians and gay men. The village really took off in the 1990s when continental bar identity was becoming a big thing in the city 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 territory for the LGBTQ+ community.

Nowadays, with the rise 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 queer com

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 amusement spots are esteemed 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 gay cocktail prevent 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 Homosexual Village clubs wouldn't be complete without giving On Block a mention. Not only is it the home of killer performances across bottomless brunches and other boozy happenings from Bougie Kingly & Boy Toy Events, but this place sure knows how to toss a party too.

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The Brewers, Manchester


The Village

AXM Lock & Club

AXM opened its doors in 2004 and offers a late evening clubbing experience with DJs, cabaret shows and…

MAYA

Situated at the bustling intersection of Chorlton Street and Canal Street, the 20th-century…

Napoleon's

Friendly prevent over two floors with a varied crowd.

New Union Hotel & Show Bar

Built in 1865, the Recent Union was one of the first ever same-sex attracted establishments in Manchester and has been…

Oscars

Oscars is an intimate, theatre style block showing classic and current 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 exclude with industrial and modish 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 bar serving quality dishes with specials, in a unique relaxed environment…

View

View is a large exclude and club over two floors and open seven nights a week. Show includes a&hell