Manchester has been christened Europe's Dance Capital, as they really do know how to party, particularly over Pride weekend. Manchester boasts
more gay households per capita than any other in the UK city apart from London - way over the national average.
OutUK correspondent Adrian Gillan hits Manchester and can't resist where else but Canal Street,
arguably the gayest street on Earth - amidst Earth’s most perfectly-proportioned queer quarter!
SIGHTSBut first, on arrival - before all-things-gay - do take a quick look around! Browse Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Town Hall and the City Art Gallery; or jump a tram to renovated Salford Quays for The Lowry arts centre and Imperial War Museum North. | |
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Catch a play or show at the Royal Exchange Theatre or Palace Theatre. Definitely hear a concert at the state-of-the-art Bridgewater Hall, home to the world-renowned Halle Orchestra, oft under the baton of Sir Mark Elder, and offering an eclectic programme to suit all tastes, all year round. Shop at the mammoth Arndale Centre; or eat well in China Town. |
Imperial War Museum North at Salford Quays. Courtesy: Marketing Manchester |
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Enjoy the Manchester United Museum & Tour and National Football Museum).
Then, wait for it boys: that world-famous scene and the UK's best Pride event outside of London!
MANCHESTER PRIDE | |
| Manchester Pride is an LGBTQ+ charity which campaigns for equality; challenges discrimination; creates opportunity for engagement & participation; celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life; and fundraises to enrich and empower LGBTQ+ organisations, charities and communities throughout Greater Manchester. |
Pride Contributors drive a Highway Patrol Police Car Photo: ilbusca |
| They deliver an annual programme of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans + events throughout the North-West. This includes the Manchester Pride Spring Benefit, a year-round calendar of art & culture events, and their flagship Pride events towards the end of August each year. | |
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Manchester Pride in all its glory - I Robertson CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
The Manchester Pride Festival takes place in the heart of Manchester's city centre and is an award winning event celebrating LGBTQ+ life.
This year it takes place between Friday 16th August and Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2024.
There is an unforgettable line-up of LGBTQ+ performers and global icons in celebration of queer life and love at the Gay Village Party, in Manchester’s world-famous Gay Village, across The Village Stage, The Alan Turing Stage in Sackville Gardens and the Indoor Arena. Their line-up aims to centre and empower the diversity of Greater Manchester’s incredible LGBTQ+ talent, showcasing the importance of party as protest and bringing Pride back to its roots. |
| Friday 23rd August: Jessie J, Keala Settle, Bimini, Trans Filth & Joy and Runway by Banksie. Saturday 24th August: Loreen, Rita Ora, Katy B, Black Peppa, Louis III and DJ Paulette. Sunday 25th August: Sugababes, Claire Richards, Chinchilla, Danny Beard, Ginger Johnson, Natasha Hamilton and Queenz: The Show With Balls. | |
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The event highlights this year include: THE GAY VILLAGE PARTY the ultimate LGBTQ+ street party celebration from Friday 23rd to Monday 26th; THE PRIDE PARADE with a theme this year of 'Buzzin' to be Queer - A Hive of Progress' on Saturday 24th; THE CANDLELIT VIGIL which is free and closes the bank holiday weekend on Monday 26th with a moment of reflection in Sackville Gardens; SUPERBIA Manchester Pride's arts and culture programme with events throughout the 10 days of Pride. YOUTH PRIDE MCR a free-to-attend event especially curated for the younger members of our LGBTQ+ family on Sunday 25th and FAMILY PRIDE MCR with events suitable for little ones taking place all weekend from Saturday 24th to Bank Holiday Monday 26th August. | 
Magnificent Manchester - Photo: I Robertson CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons |
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This year the organisers also offer a VIP Experience for only the most glamorous divas, dolls and darlings. There are exclusive drinks events,
relaxation, exclusive parties, a glam-station, a fast-track queuing system and stunning views of all the performance stages.
The Pride Parade on Saturday normally has around 150 entries, with over 4000 colourful participants and is for many, the highlight of The Manchester Pride Festival. The city is turned into a kaleidoscope of colour, as floats and marchers weave their way throughout the city centre in front of tens of thousands of spectators who are out to show their support to the LGBTQ+ communities. Their arts programme Superbia aims to support, curate, fund and celebrate LGBTQ+ life across Greater Manchester with debate, film, comedy, literature, music, sport, theatre, family and community-led projects. | |
| The Candlelit Vigil on Bank Holiday Monday evening sees Sackville Gardens turned into a sea of flickering candles as the community takes a moment to remember those lost to HIV and reflect on the stigma that even now still exists. The gardens are the home of Alan Turing's statue and memorial, The National Transgender Memorial and the Beacon of Hope. |
Manchester Metro's Pride Tram Photo: Michael McNiven |
The vigil provides a space to remember those close to us who may no longer be alive and presents an opportunity to stand together in a united front as we
recognise the many challenges that still exist and on an everyday basis face LGBTQ+ communities from Manchester and around the world.
SCENEWhether you are in Manchester for Pride or there at any other time of the year there's always lots to enjoy. Here are some of our top tips to check-out, although there's a lot else besides!The New Union in Princess Street, of Queer As Folk fame, is an earthy punters’ pub which has strived more recently to revert to its former gay glory days, so crowds of come-and-be-cool hens aren’t bumping the froth off your beer! An equally established option is the Rem Bar in nearby Sackville Street, just along the canal – now all modern with a spacious bar. Those happiest to just sip-and-stare-and-sip in a comfy local can safely hang out in The Goose. Catering to more dragged-up glitzy, cheesy tastes, check out friendly New York, New York in Bloom Street. Via boasts a busy, sprawling Gothic-themed wooden interior. | |
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On Bar is an all day venue from lunch food and drinks to early hours of the morning, with up to the minute sounds & a bespoke cocktail menu.
It's operated by the gay club promotion company Orange Nation. If you are out to eat then try the nearby bohemian and rather swish Velvet which is both a restaurant and hotel - it's great food and their rooms are wonderfully decorated in different styles. |
Canal Street. Courtesy: Marketing Manchester |
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G-A-Y Manchester is the main gay nightclub in the Canal Street area, with good dance music, live acts and special drink offers. It's based on the success
of its London counterpart and attracts a Mixed/LGBT crowd. They have strict door codes and are open with a late licence every night until 4am.
Napoleons is a very established venue in Manchester's Gay Village. It is open five nights every week (Wednesday to Sunday) until very late, with a host of nights to suit everyone. The Eagle Bar offers a unique experience for MEN from all over the UK and beyond. Each of the different segments of this incomparable venue aims to explore the depths of your mind, and promises to deliver a diverse night out in a relaxed enviroment. In a lighter vein, Company Bar is designed for gay men to visit after work for a relaxing drink before the trip back home with a happy hour drink offer going on late into the evening. Within the same building The Molly House serves up real ales, beers, wines and spirits alongside fresh, authentic Spanish and South American tapas. | |
Cruz 101. Courtesy: Apex - Cruz 101 |
All that's enough to set you dancing? Cruz 101 in Princess Street is Manchester's longest-running gay club - a real stalwart,
arts ‘n all, busy all-week-round.
It's a wonderful place to go dancing and frankly what Queer As Folk was really all about.
It's open from Wednesday to Sunday and offers a range of Gay clubbing nights with music policies from Pop & Chart to Vocal & Commercial House.
Bar Pop right in the heart if the village on Canal Street is a classic bar food & a full drink menu, dancing, & live shows, in a buzzy space with coloured lights. Close by on Sackville Street is The Thompsons Arms which boasts an array of classic cocktails with moody lighting, lounge seating and events. |
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Across the village many other tastes are catered for with gay bars such as:
Churchills on Chorlton Street,
Centre Stage which is halfway down Bloom Street, and
back on Sackville Street where you'll find EVA & Lounge by EVA.
For all your shopping needs there's Clone Zone which opened its first shop right here! For something even more steamy don't forget to check out the Basement Sauna in Tarriff Street, it's just a short distance away. PLACES TO STAYAdrian stayed at the stylish, modern 4-star Novotel Manchester Centre, slap-bang in the middle of Manchester, near all scene and sights. There is a wide choice of accommodation including both hotels and apartments in the city centre.
For general info on Manchester: visitmanchester.com Revised July 2024. |
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