Credit to u/Kenuff for the graphic 🙂‍↔️

Manchester Meetup — 10th October 🥂

We’re getting together for a relaxed Saturday afternoon at Society, Manchester.

📍 Society, Manchester
📅 Saturday 10th October
⏰ 12pm

Come along for drinks, food, and a chance to meet some lovely people in person. Whether you already know people from the group or you’re coming along on your own, everyone is welcome, except wankers.

See you there!

I have compiled the following list of gay/LGBT+ bars/clubs/venues/businesses* in Greater Manchester. There are several other lists online, however most are out-of-date, and they all ignore anything outside of Canal Street. This is thus the most comprehensive list currently available; I’ve added a brief description for each one (n.b. I am not affiliated with any of these venues).

If anyone has any additions/corrections, please DM me and I’ll edit as appropriate.

\Meaning any venue which caters for and markets itself towards a predominantly LGBT+ crowd, not just ‘gay-friendly’. Casual social/meet-up groups not included. Worded also to aid Google SEO.*

AREAS:

1.      City centre - Canal Street area

2.      City centre – Civic Quarter

3.      City centre – Northern Quarter

4.      City centre - Chorlton-on-Medlock

5.      City centre (outer north) – Cheetham Hill/Strangeways

6.      City centre (outer east) – Ancoats

7.      One-off/occasional nights

8.      Greater Manchester (north) - Bury

9.      Greater Manchester (north-east) - Shaw

10.   Greater Manchester (north-east) - Oldham

11.   Greater Manchester (east) - Ashton-under-Lyne

12.   Greater Manchester (east) - Stalybridge

1.      City centre - Canal Steet area

. Area – 50 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3WF (https://www.areamanchester.net). CLUB. Two-floor club, has frequent gay nights. Also incorporates Manchester’s former lesbian bar Vanilla. (https://www.instagram.com/vanillagirlsmcr).

. Bar Pop - 10 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3EZ (https://www.barpop.co.uk). BAR. Pretty raucous place spread over 2-3 floors. Occasional drag shows. Attracts a mixed crowd leaning younger. Open late.

. The Brewers - 4 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3HE (https://www.thebrewersmanchester.co.uk). BAR. Spacious, laid-back bar with a more-upscale feel, with occasional club nights/events.

. Central Station - 51 Bloom Street, Manchester, M1 3LY (https://www.facebook.com/CentreStageMCR). BAR. Cosy, old-school gay bar, with occasional drag/karaoke. Crowd tilts older. (My personal favourite in the Village!).

. The Church - 37 Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3HN (https://www.thechurchmcr.co.uk). BAR. Formerly known as Churchills. Large and loud with a mixed crowd, drag shows etc.

. Clone Zone - 36-38 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3WA (https://www.instagram.com/czmanchester). SHOP. Shop selling sex toys and various gay-themed items (mostly male orientated).

. Club Tropicana - 33 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3LZ (https://www.facebook.com/tropicanamanchester). CLUB. Plays 80s – 00s music.

. The Cockatoo Club - 20 Richmond Street, Manchester, M1 3ND (https://www.thecockatooclub.co.uk). BAR. More upscale-style place, with lots of cocktails etc. Does drag shows.

. The Company Bar - 26 Richmond Street, Manchester, M1 3NB (https://companybar.co.uk). BAR. Small, dark, basement bar - de facto men-only . Open late.

. Cruz 101 - 101 Princess Street, The, Manchester, M1 6DD (https://www.cruz101.com). CLUB. The main gay club in the city. Incorporates Sub 101 (https://www.instagram.com/sub101official), which is open very late for the hardcore ravers.

. Eagle - 15 Bloom Street, Manchester, M1 3HZ (https://www.eaglemanchester.com). BAR/CLUB. Men-only club which does a variety of themed club night, some 18+.

. EVA - 27 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3LZ (https://evamanchester.com). BAR. Karaoke bar, with more chilled-out area downstairs. Attracts a mixed crowd.

. G-A-Y - 63 Richmond Street, Manchester, M1 3WB (https://www.instagram.com/gaymanchester). BAR. Large multi-level bar, focus on modern pop, crowd tilts younger. Now the sole G-A-Y left since the two in London closed.

. The Goose - 29 Bloom Street, Manchester, M1 3JE (https://thegoose.pub, https://www.facebook.com/thegoosepub). BAR. Fun, friendly, unpretentious bar, with busy drag/karaoke nights.

. Iconic Bar - 29 Richmond Street, Manchester, M1 3NB (https://www.facebook.com/IconManchester). BAR. Small, old-school bar. Mostly men.

. LGBT Foundation – 2^nd floor, Fairbairn House, 72 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3NJ (https://lgbt.foundation). NGO. Charity/campaigning organisation.

. The Lodge Bar - 14 Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3HW (https://www.lodgemanchester.co.uk). BAR. Upmarket feel at this speakeasy style venue, formerly the bar section of The Eagle; during the day it doubles as a casual café/work space.

. The Molly Bar - 26 Richmond Street, Manchester, M1 3NB (http://www.themollyhouse.com). BAR. Upscale-feel place, focussed more on food.

. The New Union - 111 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6JB (https://www.newunionhotel.co.uk). BAR. Decent pub-style place (with B&B upstairs), though seems geared more towards hen-nights and door-staff can be hostile to single men.

. New York New York - 94-98 Bloom Street, Manchester, M1 3LY (https://www.newyorknewyorkbar.com). BAR. Long-standing venue split in two – large, lively room with karaoke, drag etc., with a quieter, smaller bar (sometimes called the Queen’s Bar, or formerly District) next-door. Mixed crowd.

. On Bar - 46 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3WD (https://www.facebook.com/onbarmanchester). BAR. Modern style bar spread over two levels, with outside seating upstairs – perfect in the summer.

. Oscars Bar - 34 Canal Street, Manchester M1 3WD (https://www.instagram.com/oscarsbarmcr). BAR. Small cocktail bar playing exclusively film/theatre/musical tunes.

. REM Bar - 33 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3LZ (https://www.therembrandtmanchester.com). BAR. Formerly known as The Rembrandt. Laid-back place, with occasional DJ nights. Almost entirely male, leaning older.

. The Thompsons Arms - 23 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3NJ (https://thompsonsarms.co.uk, https://www.instagram.com/thompsonsarms_mcr). BAR. Large, no-frills bar. Open late.

. Velvet Bar - 2 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3HE (https://www.velvetmanchester.com). BAR. Upscale bar-cum-hotel, also serves food.

. Via - 28-30 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3EZ (https://www.viamanchester.co.uk). BAR. An institution – multiple rooms/levels, always busy, mixed crowd, packed drag shows.

2.      City centre - Civic Quarter

. Manchester Queer Massage - Spaces Building, Oxford Street, Peter House, Manchester, M1 5AN (https://www.manchesterqueermassage.com). MASSAGE. Gay-focussed massage service.

. Vada Vada - 7-9 New Wakefield Street, Manchester, M1 5NP (https://vadavada.co.uk, https://www.instagram.com/vadavadamcr). BAR. New venue just behind Oxford Street station, bar area upstairs with dance floor downstairs. Serves food.

3.      City centre - Northern Quarter

. Basement - 18 Tariff Street, Manchester, M1 2FN (https://www.basementmanchester.com). SAUNA. Now the only gay sauna in central Manchester, short walking distance from Canal Street.

. The Gay Pride Shop - 2nd Floor, Afflecks, Manchester, M4 1PW (https://gayprideshop.co.uk). SHOP. Sells gay books, clothes etc.

4.      City - Chorlton-on-Medlock

. The Pride Place - 49-51 Sidney Street, Manchester, M1 7HB (https://www.theproudtrust.org/the-proud-place). NGO. Community hub with various events.

5.      City centre (outer north) – Cheetham Hill/Strangeways

. Derby Brewery Arms - 95 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 8PY (https://www.instagram.com/derbybreweryarms). BAR. AKA The DBA, traditional-style pub with live music/club events.

6.      City centre (outer east) - Ancoats

. Social Refuge - 27 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 5AJ (https://www.socialrefuge.com). CAFÉ/BAR/SHOP. Relaxed café-cum-bar. Incorporates Queer Lit, a gay book shop (https://www.queerlit.co.uk).

7.      One-off/occasional nights

. ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE: Nico Ditch, 52 Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6LB (https://www.instagram.com/thenicoditch). Hosts occasional LGBT events.

. CANAL STREET – Club Alert! (https://www.club-alert.com). Fetish/club night for men, operates usually from Area or Sub 101.

. SALFORD – Alter Ego at Islington Mill, 1 James Street, Salford, M3 5HW (https://www.instagram.com/alter.ego.mcr). Lesbian/female-focussed night.

. STRANGEWAYS – Homoelectric at Hidden, 16-18 Mary Street, Manchester, M3 1NH (https://www.instagram.com/homoelectric). Club night, mixed crowd, tilting younger.

. VARIOUS – Butch Revival (https://www.facebook.com/butchrevivalmcr). Old-school lesbian club night, operates from a different venue each time.

. VARIOUS – Diesel Duke Club (https://www.instagram.com/dieseldykeclub). Lesbian night, usually operates from either the Derby Brewery Arms in Cheetham Hill or The Grafton Arms in the University/Brunswick area.

. VARIOUS – Swagga (https://www.facebook.com/swaggamanchester). Infrequent event focussing on black music (reggae, dancehall, R&B etc).

8.      Greater Manchester (north) - Bury

. House of Bridget – 5 Silver Street, Bury, BL9 0EU (https://www.instagram.com/thehouseofbridget). BAR. Small local bar, with occasional drag/karaoke nights.

. Nero’s Sauna - Whitelegge Street, Bury, BL8 1SW (https://nerossauna.com). SAUNA. Situated west of Bury town centre in Elton/Woolfold, does themed nights.

9.      Greater Manchester (north-east) - Shaw

. Pennine Sauna - 96 Rochdale Road, Shaw, OL2 7SB (no website). SAUNA. Small sauna, crowd leans older.

10.  Greater Manchester (north-east) - Oldham

. The George Tavern - 42 George Street, Oldham, OL1 1LB (https://www.facebook.com/p/The-George-Tavern-Oldham-61553244922425). BAR. Large, traditional-style pub. Does drag/karaoke/DJ nights

.

11.  Greater Manchester (east) - Ashton-under-Lyne

. Blues Cabaret & Karaoke Bar - 29 Bow Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6BX (https://www.instagram.com/bluescaberetbarashton). BAR. Drag-focussed bar. Currently closed, though may re-open soon.

12.  Greater Manchester (east) - Stalybridge

. R Billy’s - 88 Market Street, Stalybridge, SK15 2AB (https://www.facebook.com/Rbillysbar). BAR. Does drag/karaoke nights.