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If you are looking for the gay capital of the North, look no further than Manchester! I have spent my entire adult life living in this vibrant city, and as a gay man, I have to say it has one of the best gay scenes in the UK.
Manchester is one of the world’s best cities for LGBTQ travellers. There’s fascinating history, fun clubs, and bars for everyone, no matter what tribe you fall under. Manchester has plenty to offer, whether you’re travelling solo, sightseeing with friends, or visiting for a romantic getaway.
If you’re a gay traveller in Manchester, the famous Gay Village, aka Canal Street, will be your first port of call. Read on to discover everything Manchester has to offer LGBTQ visitors.
For a broader look at the best things to do in the city, check out our guide for things to do in Manchester.
Gay in Manchester: Is Manchester gay friendly?
Manchester is an inclusive city and has the second-largest LGBTQ population in the UK (behind London). In fact, in 2011, Expogays named Manchester the most gay-friendly city in the world, ahead of San Francisco and Amsterdam.
Whilst you should feel safe all across the city centre of Manchester, the heart of everything for LGBTQ people and where you will feel the most welcomed, is the Gay Village aka Canal St.
Manchester’s gay area
The Gay Village in Manchester is concentrated around Canal Street, which runs along the west bank of the Rochdale Canal. By the 1950s, the New Union Pub (at the end of Canal Street) had become a popular meetup spot for LGBTQ people, paving the way for what was to become the Gay Village.
With British laws prohibiting the “promotion of homosexuality” in the 80s, Canal Street became one of the few places in Manchester where queer people could feel comfortable being themselves. The street was thrust into mainstream popularity when it was used as the primary setting for the iconic 2000s TV show Queer As Folk. You’ll find lots of gay bars, clubs, and restaurants along Canal Street and on the surrounding avenues.
Manchester’s gay bars
Most gay bars in the Gay Village run along Canal St, so you can easily bar hop. However don’t limit yourself to Canal St alone as there are more hidden gems and bars on the streets parallel to Canal St (which together make up the Gay Village).
One small note from locals with the mainstreaming of Canal Street has been an influx of straight visitors, especially hen parties. This has led to some concerns about maintaining the Gay Village’s position as a genuinely gay neighbourhood.
The venues I’ve chosen to highlight are welcoming to all visitors, and if you experience a bar that is not your vibe, you can be sure that an excellent alternative is just around the corner.
Via Manchester
This is my favourite and one of the most popular gay bars in Manchester.
Via is one of the gay bars in the village that has stood the test of time. Whether you come here during the day for food and to chill or visit during the evening, you are bound to have fun.
Via perfectly mixes the vibes of a bar with a club. It’s a place where you can start your evening for a few drinks and still be here many hours later to finish your evening dancing to the latest pop.
The bar’s main draw is that it is also a performance venue hosting drag queens, singers, cabaret artists, and some of the best impersonators I have ever seen. My tip is to try to time your visit to see their Celine Dion impersonator.
Velvet
The Velvet Hotel, Bar & Brasserie is one of the more luxurious options on Canal Street. It’s known for its excellent selection of cocktails and exquisite dining options. It offers the usual classic cocktails as well as a few signature recipes, including the Velvet Passion Berry (featuring raspberry vodka) and the Sweet Tennessee, which blends whisky and Chambord with flavours of lime, vanilla, and blackberries.
The interiors are a pleasing mix of calm, moody walls, warm lighting, and gold accents. You can choose between cosy booths indoors and the terrace overlooking the canal. It offers a range of specials throughout the week, such as £40 Sunday Roasts for two and Steak Wednesdays from £19.95 per person
G-A-Y
The G-A-Y brand is an iconic one and the huge G-A-Y sign welcomes you as you enter the bottom of Canal St. The bar is large and stretches across three storeys, with most of the space reserved for dancefloors.
The crowd here has changed over the years as the bar has changed ownership. Nowadays, the crowd is typically very young and mixed.
There is also a rooftop area with seating available. G-A-Y is also one of the only bars in the area with a rooftop terrace that’s smoking friendly. The music is pop, the drinks are affordable, and the atmosphere is incredible.
Eagle
Like most of the large, popular gay cities in the world, Manchester has its very own Eagle bar. The Eagle is split over two levels. Upstairs is open to all, but downstairs is a mens-only bar (inclusive of trans men). Expect some of the wildest parties in Manchester here, including Jock Party and DILF.
Molly House
Molly House is a great venue in Manchester’s gay scene and has been going for a long time. While it serves lovely ales, wines, and other alcoholic beverages, many people head here for tea and coffee.
It also serves low- or non-alcoholic alternatives. It’s tucked away on Richmond Street in the Gay Village, and it’s a cosy spot to recover from a night out, to prepare for your next spot, or to just chill out. Molly House bills itself as “a place for the discerning, eccentric and alternative” and everyone is always welcome.
Thompsons
If you are looking for cheap drinks, the best pop music and a no frills fun time then head to Thompsons. This is another staple in the gay village that runs over two floors (mainly focused on dancing), has a fun crowd and is a perfect warm up to Cruz 101 later in the night. Yes it’s cheap, slightly tacky and the floors may be sticky, but most of all, it’s fun. And it doesn’t pretend to be anything else.
The Lounge By EVA
The Lounge By EVA hosts drag shows, cabarets, and other live performances in a cosy, comfortable setting. Upstairs you’ll find the lounge bar, serving a range of cocktails and other drinks, and the stage where performers show off their talents.
If you’re visiting with friends, be sure to head downstairs and try your hand at karaoke. This is one of the smaller gay bars in Manchester, so it’s the perfect place to visit after a night out at the larger gay clubs in Manchester like G-A-Y.
On Bar
On Bar has a little bit of everything, with fun cocktails, hearty pub food, late-night dancing, and excellent drag performances. It’s run by Orange Nation, one of the UK’s biggest gay club promoters, so it knows how to put on a show. If you’re after a fun night of entertainment or you’re interested in the history of Manchester’s queer scene, then be sure to pay a visit to On Bar.
Gay clubs in Manchester
When it comes to clubs in the gay village of Manchester, there is really only one choice…
Cruz 101
If you are planning to go ‘out, out’ so to speak, I can pretty much guarantee this is where you (and the rest of Canal St) will end up until the very early hours of the morning.
Cruz 101 gets going around 12:30/01:00 and is split across two levels. The upper level is more pop, often with performances on stage, and the lower level is more intense with electronic music.
You haven’t truly done a night out in Manchester until you have partied to the early hours in Cruz 101.
The Manchester LGBT Heritage Trail
This walking trail can be done on your own or via a series of guided tours. It takes you throughout Manchester, from the bars of Canal Street to the Alan Turing Memorial to the Manchester Art Gallery. Interesting highlights include the site of the 1880 Manchester Drag Ball and the Church House, where the first meeting of the organisation Campaign for Homosexual Equality was held.
Each point on the tour is marked by a mosaic rainbow flag set into the pavement. You can explore the locations yourself or go on one of the tours offered by the City of Manchester throughout the year. Guided tours are free, but you will need to book a spot. Keep an eye on their website for details of upcoming tours.
Gay events in Manchester
Manchester hosts many LGBTQ-oriented events throughout the year. These festivals, parties, and parades celebrate queer identities, cultures, and communities in Manchester. Most are held in the summer months, but there are also options for those visiting outside of summer. Most events take place within the day or on weekends.
Manchester Pride
Manchester Pride Festival takes place every year on the August Bank Holiday weekend and is one of the largest and longest prides in the UK. Most festivities are organised in the Gay Village, on and around Canal Street, but the Pride March heads through Manchester’s city centre.
During Pride, the village is split up into different areas and stages and you can expect some big names and performances. Most recently the Sugababes and Natasha Bedingfield took centre stage. Other moments to look out for include Queer Women’s Takeover, Fat Pride, and HUSK’s “Trans Filth and Joy.”
Manchester Pride has its roots in the 1988 protest against Section 28 and the queer fundraising events that often occurred on Canal Street over the bank holiday weekend in the 80s. The first official Manchester Pride event was held in 1985, and today it is the biggest and most attended parade in Manchester.
Homobloc
Homobloc is a queer block party that welcomes everyone. Its first party, held in 2019, saw 10,000 visitors from around the world arrive to celebrate queer expression and party to great music. Hosted at The Depot on Fairfield Street, Homobloc’s lineup has included a wide range of incredible singers and DJs over the years.
Singer-songwriter Roisin Murphy, DJ The Blessed Madonna, and indie band Tokky Horror are just a few of the acts that have performed in previous years. Homobloc also partners with charities, including the LGBT Foundation and the Proud Trust. The event usually takes place in November and runs on a Saturday from 2 pm to 3 am.
Sparkle in the Park
Sparkle in the Park, or Sparkle Weekend, is a music festival run by the charity Sparkle. The event aims to provide a safe space for anyone who’s gender non-conforming along with their friends, families, and allies. It has live music and other entertainment, workshops, and wonderful guests. Attendees also get the chance to engage with local charities and businesses run by transgender people.
Historically, it’s been the world’s largest event celebrating gender diversity that’s also free to attend, with over 22,000 visitors in 2019. It’s usually held in early July, so it’s a perfect mid-summer event where you can soak up some sun. Sparkle also hosts a Transgender Day of Remembrance service in Manchester, held on the 20th of November every year.
The Pink Picnic
The Pink Picnic is a daytime event hosted in Peel Park in Salford (a city within Greater Manchester), less than 20 minutes from the Manchester Piccadilly.
The event is run by Salford Pride and is Manchester’s largest grassroots pride event. The Pink Picnic is heavily community-focused, welcoming everyone from families to young groups of friends and everything in between.
Expect lots of fun acts on stage, from RuPaul’s drag queens to singers like Nadine Coyle.
Gay hotels in Manchester
While most hotels in Manchester are friendly and inclusive, these places are chosen specially for LGBTQ visitors because of their excellent qualities. Some are close to Manchester’s Gay Village and some are even connected to Manchester’s most popular gay bars.
Velvet Hotel
This would be my number one suggestion. Velvet Hotel is an excellent option for those who want to be seconds away from the bar when they’re in their hotels and seconds away from their bed when they’re at the bar.
The Velvet Hotel Bar & Brasserie has multiple guest rooms with unique, individual decorations. Visitors love the comfortable beds and luxurious bathtubs in particular.
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
One of the most beautiful hotels in Manchester, the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is also a long standing ally of the LGBTQ community. The hotel hosts events such as ‘Come as you Are’ and other LGBTQ focused initiatives.
Dubbed as industrial glamour in the heart of Manchester, with some excellent restaurants on site and walkable to the gay village, this hotel comes highly recommended. If you really want to treat yourself book the heritage suite.
New Union Hotel
This popular and historic venue isn’t just a bar. The New Union Hotel also offers guest rooms, so you can stay out all night and still be close to your bed afterwards.
Obviously, its prime location is one of the main reasons that keeps satisfied visitors returning, but the comfortable rooms, friendly staff, and games room are also worth the compliments.
Remember, your rooms will be right next to the bar, so if you don’t plan on staying out late, you might want to choose one of the other hotels to avoid the noise.
Motel One
Motel One Manchester-Piccadilly is a lovely budget-friendly option that’s close to Canal Street. It’s also located near the train station, and many of Manchester’s finest landmarks, such as the Town Hall and Piccadilly Gardens, are within walking distance.
Queer cafes in Manchester
It’s easy to get caught up in the gay village and miss what the rest of the city has to offer. I highly recommend that you visit both venues listed below to slow down and take a minute while enjoying the city.
Feel Good Club
‘’The world is a better place with you in it’’. The tagline to Feel Good Club sums up exactly what they stand for.
Feel Good Club is one of Manchester’s queer-owned cafes in the trendy Northern Quarter. It serves food, drink, and some very decadent treats. Most of all, it is a safe space for the LGBTQ community to work, socialise, get resources for LGBTQ topics, and enjoy a full schedule of community events throughout the week.
Social Refuge/Queer Lit
Queer Lit is Europe’s largest queer bookstore which can be found in Ancoats. The venue doubles up with Social Refuge being their coffee house and bar.
This is another great safe space for the LGBTQ community and goes beyond simply selling coffee and books. They also host quizzes, comedy nights, live performances and book clubs, something a little more wholesome than partying in Cruz 101 until 6am!
Gay shops in Manchester
Clonezone
If you are coming to Manchester for the weekend and are looking for something new to wear, or you need to prepare for a big night out, then visit Clonezone in the gay village.
Clonezone is well stocked with all the latest gay focused clothing brands including one local to Manchester called Taste. Downstairs you will find a cheekier range of accessories.
Gay sauna in Manchester
Basement Sauna
Like most big cities with a thriving gay community, Manchester does have a gay sauna called Basement Sauna which can be found in Ancoats. Facilities include a dry sauna, steam room, multiple spas, a licensed bar and of course some more private spaces.
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