Manchester’s Gay Village is home to some of the most well known and best gay bars and clubs in the UK. With over 27 venues in the Gay Village, all conveniently located within a short walk from each other. The Gay Village does have something for everyone, from award-winning drag queens & drag shows to underwear, rubber and kink parties. You will be sure to find something to do.
Check out our “Manchester’s Ultimate Travel Guide” for an ultimate guide to what to get up to as an LGBTQ+ traveller visiting Manchester.
Manchester’s Gay Village Map
I made a map! (GO ME!) Highlighting Manchester’s Gay Village bars and clubs and tearoom.
Manchester’s Gay Village Bars & Clubs
Most of the LGBTQ+ bars and clubs are situated around Manchester’s Gay Village surrounding the famous Canal Street, which was made famous by the UK TV hit and gay dramas of Vince, Stuart and Nathan in the 1999 series of Queer as Folk. The Gay Village and Canal Street have also appeared in many other LGBTQ+ TV shows, including Channel 4’s drama of “Cucumber” and “Banana.”
As painful as it was, 😉 I dragged myself to every bar and club in the village. It wasn’t that hard at all, and I love a good drink! Don’t worry. I didn’t do it all in one day! But I have done it to give you as much up to date information about these fantastic venues in Manchester’s Gay Village. If you want more information about any of the bars or clubs and to find out what’s on. Click on the link, and it will take you to the venues website or social media pages.
Bar Pop
In the centre of Canal Street, Bar Pop is an all-singing, all-dancing bar. Playing as you can properly guess by the name, a range of pop music and handbag classics! Bar Pop’s drag show team regularly puts on shows in the bar and around the village. Downstairs is another bar (Not always open) that offers additional space for performances and event nights. Bar pop is the sister venue to Churchills.
Bar Pop attracts a mixed crowd of all ages and people who love pop, drag and karaoke. The bar also sells food at selected times during the week.
The Brewers
Only just opened its doors before the Pandemic forced them to close at the start of 2020. The Brewers (sister bar to Via and formally known as KIKI) offers a fantastic atmosphere for casual drinking upstairs by day and a fabulous dance venue with a light-up dance floor by night. Downstairs The Brewers also offer “Club Brewers”, which is open on selected days and offers a range of entertainment.
During the week between 4 pm and 8 pm and weekends 2 pm till 6 pm, they offer 2-4-1 beautifully delicious cocktails.
Centre Stage
As the name might suggest, Centre Stage offers live cabaret on selected nights and plays a range of music, including pop classics and musical theatre hits. Like most cabaret bars, you are sure to find a drag queen entertaining or DJing most nights.
Usually, an older crowd here in the daytime and weekdays but depending on what events are on can attract a younger audience.
Churchills
Sister bar to Bar Pop when it changed hands in 2019. Churchills is pretty much the same type of bar as Bar Pop. Offering drag and pop music with pretty much the same drink menus and deals. Like Bar Pop, they offer karaoke, and the drag queens work between the two venues.
A mixed crowd of people, anyone who loves pop music and cheesy classic hits.
Club Tropicana
Club Tropicana, where unfortunately drinks are not free! Upstairs above Rem bar (entrance on the side street). They are playing Pop music from the 70s, 80s, 90s & 00s.
A mixed crowd of people and the bar actively welcome hen parties and is popular with the straight community, hen parties and screaming straight girls.
The Cockatoo Club
Another new venue in Manchester and replacing the old Richmond Tea Rooms. The Cockatoo Club (insert jokes here!) is the gay villages new vibrant and welcoming cocktail and cabaret bar. Cabaret shows during the weekend and most weekdays, including a range of drag. The stage is tiny, I mean TINY, but it’s a lovely small intermate venue for a show and a few cocktails.
The Cockatoo Club has a mixed LGBTQ crowd of all ages and genders.
Company Bar
A small and imitate downstairs basement bar, located under The Molly House, offers a dark drinking chilled experience.
Popular with the fetish and leather crowd. You will typically find older gay and bisexual men drinking and socialising here. This men’s only space with dark areas opens late and is often open till very late.
Cruz 101 & Sub 101
The villages biggest and most popular nightclub. Cruz 101 and downstairs at Sub 101 offers a range of club nights throughout the week. The music upstairs tends to be more pop music with harder music played downstairs, although different nights host different music and themes.
Mixed LGBTQ crowd, popular with your young party-goers. Drink offers and discounted entry are available by using and downloading the Cruz app.
Eagle
This men’s only venue. Eagle has two sections, the front bar and the Black Eagle. Eagle also hosts regular monthly nights like Jock and Stretch, to name a few. Come Sunday afternoon Eagle hosts its famous Sunday service, with some of the most popular names in drag from all over the UK.
When there is no event on, it’s a nice bar for men to know men. You will typically find an older crowd (30+) and people into a range of fetishes and leather that reflects the nights they offer. Membership is required but is free and can be purchased online.
Eva Bar & Lounge
A lounge bar over two floors offers a range of entertainment and late-night discos and serves a range of cocktails, spirits, and all-around drinks.
A varied range of customers from younger to older. Eva is Open 7 days a week and is open till late.
G-A-Y
One of the UK’s best-known LGBTQ bars. G-A-Y offers cheap drinks and cheesy pop from open to close. A sister bar to G-A-Y in London, it has two floors, packed with wall to wall TV screens showing whatever pop hits are blaring out. The upstairs bar usually is only open at busier times on weekends or events.
This bar caters to a younger crowd. Often on quieter weekday nights out, I have felt like one of the oldest in there, and I’m only in my early 30s! Whilst I have never had an issue entering the bar, reports from other visitors have said they get turned away at the door and told it’s a regular’s venue only.
The Goose
Set out like a traditional English pub, The Goose serves some excellent food and a good selection of gins and vodkas. You can find some form of entertainment on selected nights, from a quiz night to a drag show. An excellent alternative venue for people who like a more relaxed atmosphere.
A mixed crown with a charming atmosphere.
Iconic Bar
One of the smallest bars in the village. Iconic used to be an old car garage, now turned into this little back street bar boasts of stocking up to 200 different gins, which is quite impressive in a small bar of that size. Mixed crowd, mainly locals, but tourists are more than welcome.
The bar offers themed nights and events like quiz nights and plays your cards, right to name a few.
The Lodge
Above The Eagle Bar and part of the same company, The Lodge offers a relaxed drinking environment with friends. Offering your usual beers, wines and spirits, it also provides a range of cocktails from its cocktail menu.
Unlike The Eagle, it is open to men and women. It still tends to cater to a 30+ crowd.
Molly House
Tucked away behind Canal Street, the Molly House is a traditional bar spread over two floors, with an upstairs balcony area for the warmer days. A traditional pub feels that offering food at selected times in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with a range of local beers and ciders.
Low-level music playing and a fantastic place to either catch up with old friends or meet new friends. A mixed crowd from young to old. Whilst the bar does not offer any entertainment, it is a fantastic bar for a few drinks after exploring the city or before a night out.
New Union
Located right at one end of Canal Street is The New Union Bar and Hotel. The New Union offers a lively atmosphere with DJ’s, drag cabaret and karaoke. It’s part of the long-running New Union Hotel and has a camp feel with resident drag queens most nights of the week.
A mixed crowd and weekends, during the day and mid-week, it attracts an older crowd.
New York, New York
Any bar that gives the name ‘The Party Palace’ must be a good night, right? We can’t disagree. The bar describes its customers as party-goers. If you’re looking for loud pop music, drag entertainment and a bit of camp, this is an excellent bar to try. One thing I love about this bar is the owner, Tracey. She always speaks to customers and makes you feel at home, just like a good landlady should.
A mixed bunch of people visit New York, New York, with a mixture of ages. More of a party bar than a relaxing one.
No 1 Canal Street
It is located at the top end of Canal Street, No.1. Canal Street is a fantastic little bar and restaurant to grab a nice meal or a quiet drink and catch up with friends, new or old. It offers a range of cocktails along with a complete wine list. The bar and restaurant also provide a range of spirits, beers and ciders.
Mixed crowd with a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere.
On Bar
On bar opened its doors in Manchester’s Canal Street in 2015 and offers a range of experiences. With top, drag acts, bottomless brunch and club nights. Spread over three floors on busy days, On bar really does offer a range of mixed nights out. On bar markets itself as a versatile venue (who doesn’t like a good vers!), with food and drink during the day and music into the early hours of the morning.
Oscars
If you love musical theatre, gin, wine and cocktails, then Oscars is the bar for you. This small bar in the basement is well done up and plays musical numbers from the past to the present.
Excellent atmosphere for a quiet few drinks with friends or a sing-song to your favourite musical number. Some nights they have a piano player and musical theatre singers. Popular bar for 30+ crowd.
Rem Bar
One of the oldest gay bars on Canal Street, Rem, which used to be marketed as a men’s only bar, is now open to all. The bar offers live entertainment on selective dates. The bar still advertises on its Facebook page a place for horny guys with a great atmosphere.
Mainly a more male crowd but does attract the ladies when entertainment is on. Popular with the leather, fetish and bear tribes.
The Thompsons Arms
Popular gay bar with a large dance area which can get busy during weekends. Weekend drag shows and late-night DJ’s attract all ages and sexualities.
In my experience, I always order a bottle or a pint as the spirits are a bit like paint stripper. However, they have some excellent drinks promotions and a sofa area to relax, with a pool table.
Tribeca
Opposite Sackville Gardens, Tribeca offers a range of events for a range of people. The arts, culture and diversity are the heart of Tribeca’s ethos. From live music to club nights and even the odd quiz night. Tribeca boasts itself as Manchester’s only New York Loft Style Bar and boasts a 550 capacity venue over two floors.
Mixed crowds depending on the events that are on. The bar also has a large bar area with chill out sofas in its lounge area.
Vanilla
Re-opened from COVID restrictions as of 23rd July 2021, and running since 1998. Vanilla has been described as the lesbian mecca of the north.
Men are also welcome at Vanilla, but need to respect it’s a Woman’s world.. well, bar anyway! Offering a range of party nights and events. Check out their Facebook page for full details of what’s on. Currently only open Friday and Saturday nights.
Velvet Bar
Part of Velvet Hotel and Velvet Brasserie, this bar offers a pleasant chill-out experience with a fully stocked bar and an excellent cocktail menu. Grab a cocktail, head outside, and sit by the canal watching people pass in the summer months. In the winter months, head inside to the nicely dressed bar and enjoy a cocktail or bottle of wine with friends.
A mixed crowd of people from older to young, as you won’t find your usual cheap drink offers, you won’t get your young party gays (or straights drinking here)
Via
One of our favourite bars and one in the centre of canal street. Via is the type of bar where you can chill out with friends in the daytime and grab some food. They even have a lunchtime menu which is excellent value. Food is served through till 10 pm every day. On the weekend, Via has a range of drag queens and tribute acts like Cher, Lady Gaga performing on their front stage. By night the dance floor is open for a party. Via also has Club Via downstairs and is open till late.
A mixed crowd all the time.
Richmond Tea Rooms
Richmond Tea Rooms has moved in recent years to its new location on Sackville street. Offering a range of speciality teas and coffees with the most amazing cakes and treats. The tea rooms also offer lunch menus for food as well as alcoholic beverages. It also has a downstairs area available for hire for private events.
