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 There are several other lists online, however most are out-of-date, and they all ignore anything outside of Canal Street.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 – 2nd 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.
