Gay Village
Gay Village
4
About
Centered around the Canal Street area in Manchester is a thriving gay scene, which offers a plethora of bars, clubs, restaurants and other nighttime venues for gays and straights alike.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Gay Village and nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
How to get there
- Piccadilly Gardens • 5 min walk
- Piccadilly • 6 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,516 within 3 miles
Attractions
511 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- BluemoonCHBellinzona, Switzerland854 contributionsIt is a colorful and lively neighborhood. Many clubs and bars. It's good for everyone in my opinion. People very different from each other, even in terms of clothing style gathered in one place with lots of music. I really like it.Visited March 2025Traveled with familyWritten March 8, 2025
- Trip509208702614 contributionsManchester may not be the first city you think of for a city break, but we particularly liked it. Nice center and special places (Chinatown, GayCity). A great shopping paradise in the retail district, but also a few small authentic pubs among all modern high rises. At the Quays it was very quiet on the Sunday and actually less spectacular than expected. Easy to reach by tram (very cheap). Science Museum is nice and free. Football museum is expensive and mediocre (really focus on English football). Wanted to visit the library but have to buy your ticket in advance (understaffing in vacation). For the enthusiast an interesting whisky shop corner Market Street. We slept in The Alan which is definitely recommended. In short, a nice escape for a long weekend!Visited August 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten August 20, 2024
- Rhea D2 contributionsThis place used to be so good in the 2000s, I think it needs an uplift. Went out Saturday, got turned away because we was in fancy dress 😂 a lot of miserable bar staff that refuse to serve you because by the looks of it you think we were straight even though I'm not. Definitely wasn't feeling the vibe. Drag queens were the most friendliest people there tbh. If you hate your job, change it.Visited March 2025Traveled with friendsWritten March 3, 2025
- LaurenBathurst, Australia53 contributionsVisited the "Gay Village" whilst in Manchester on Monday morning. So most venues were closed or setting up for lunch trade. Set alongside a lovely canal with locks. A Bright and colourful area with plenty of murals and seems to be a safe and friendly area. Love it!Visited June 2024Traveled with friendsWritten June 4, 2024
- arpitamGurugram (Gurgaon), India1,074 contributionsThis is an ordinary place buzzing with pubs and cafes in the Sackville neighborhood. In honour of the great mathematician Alan Turing the Sackville park is dedicated. The whole area goes alive during the Pride festival and I'm sure it would be an unique experience.Visited October 2024Traveled soloWritten October 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,198 reviews
Excellent
551
Very good
342
Average
134
Poor
65
Terrible
106
Ruth A❤️🐝🇬🇧❤️🐝 🇬🇧❤️🐝🇬🇧❤️🐝🇬🇧
Manchester, UK4,701 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
This weekend has seen the annual Pride Festival, with the amazing Pride Parade, and Canal Street has been a hive of activity and loads of fun.
There is always security down the Canal Street and I have been with friends several times for many years and never felt threatened or seen any trouble. It’s a brilliant place to go and engage with the community. Love it.
The Pride Parade this year was bigger than ever and the support & love we can feel whether being a part of it or watching it, is immense.
Manchester is just a great place and always welcoming ❤️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🐝
There is always security down the Canal Street and I have been with friends several times for many years and never felt threatened or seen any trouble. It’s a brilliant place to go and engage with the community. Love it.
The Pride Parade this year was bigger than ever and the support & love we can feel whether being a part of it or watching it, is immense.
Manchester is just a great place and always welcoming ❤️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🐝
Written August 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
becsb
Derbyshire25 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
Where to start… really shocked by the whole place to be honest. Everyone used to rave about going down to Canal street and the gay village but I have no idea why.
I was out shopping with friends and we decided to go for a drink and some food. It was busy outside very bar as it was such a nice day. We found a table that was free only to be getting dirty looks from some men. Next thing the bouncer comes over and said these men were waiting for that table….
They came out of nowhere they hadn’t been waiting at all. Very discriminatory against women obviously, and after reading a few of the reviews it’s very prevalent this is the case.
We went to a bar down the street, still in the gay village but it wasn’t the cleanest. We had a bottle of Prosecco and every glass was sticky and dirty, we ended up cleaning them with alcohol wipes.
Needless to say I won’t be going back, the whole “village” is a dive and has a lot of discrimination issues that they need to sort out.
I was out shopping with friends and we decided to go for a drink and some food. It was busy outside very bar as it was such a nice day. We found a table that was free only to be getting dirty looks from some men. Next thing the bouncer comes over and said these men were waiting for that table….
They came out of nowhere they hadn’t been waiting at all. Very discriminatory against women obviously, and after reading a few of the reviews it’s very prevalent this is the case.
We went to a bar down the street, still in the gay village but it wasn’t the cleanest. We had a bottle of Prosecco and every glass was sticky and dirty, we ended up cleaning them with alcohol wipes.
Needless to say I won’t be going back, the whole “village” is a dive and has a lot of discrimination issues that they need to sort out.
Written April 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keegab
6 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
Absolutely disgusting that a place that does not discriminate actually does discriminate against people with disabilities. Me and my friend spent 2 days in Manchester Christmas shopping and decided to go clubbing on the night time. My friend is a 48-year-old man with cerebral palsy And due to this he suffers with low confidence in going to places. After convincing him to have a look around Canal Street with me I was absolutely shocked and disgusted with how he was treated by door staff in the following bars, Bar Pop, Thomson’s, Eagle, Centre stage refused us in full stop along with New York bar who told us members only but I know this is a way of stopping people from coming in that they don’t want in which is fair enough but when it’s down to the fact that the Doorman says my friend looked worse for wear and I explain to him that he had cerebral palsy he ignored this and refused us entry. My mates words was there’s no point me coming to Manchester again for a night out because this is all I’m going to get. I felt terrible that I brought him to a place that is all about promoting non-discrimination but in fact turned out to be full of discrimination.
Written December 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C...
Gippsland, Australia94,716 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
Celebrating diversity is what this neighbourhood is about… it embraces the freedom of choice.
When I walked here I found the area subtly beautiful with lights adorning the businesses and flags along the canal.
I really enjoyed my visit to the neighbourhood- it really is something special.
When I walked here I found the area subtly beautiful with lights adorning the businesses and flags along the canal.
I really enjoyed my visit to the neighbourhood- it really is something special.
Written April 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,945 contributions
Apr 2021 • Solo
*Visited April 2021* Manchester’s Gay Village is a vibrant district in the heart of the city with Canal Street being it’s hub. Canal Street runs along the Rochdale Canal with a range of bars and restaurants and although hugely significant there are other areas in the village including Bloom Street, Richmond Street and Sackville Gardens where there is a monument to Alan Turing who was a founder of modern computing who was treated inhumanely for being gay. I have been visiting the gay village since late 1980’s and it has always been a great place to visit, it is especially nice in the summer months.
Written December 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachael
Blackburn, UK9 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
By treating a family like a family instead of something they have seen in a horror movie!!! We went with my daughter and son in law to meet my husband’s friend who is gay. Soon as we walked into canal street the people stopped talking and started giving us bad looks like we wasn’t meant to be there. The bar staff was extremely rude and I blame the fact because we wasn’t gay lesbian bi or tran. I have always supported the lgbt community I have many lovely friends who are gay and trans. I was really disappointed how we was treat it was mainly the men, I won’t be visiting again and I will be telling all my friends about our experience. Maybe if you want to be accepted in to the community treat everyone the same kindness matters. Anyway to the few that smiled happy pride month
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Plamsky
Manchester, UK69 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Going I’ve previous comments I’m getting the impression that the Village was a real LGBTQIA+ Mecca long ago. Nowadays is a just business and of questionable quality. If you go two different weeks you will see the same program (let’s not overreact calling it ‘show’). One and the same people ‘running the business’ and no outsiders allowed. It’s obvious that the idea of the place long ago was replaced with greed for profits. And to pump their bank accounts, they are closing it during the Pride days as asking for entry - like the Pride and the Village are their registered trade mark products that has to be sold at any occasion.
Written July 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
calamari by your name
Hell, MI1 contribution
May 2021
being a gay myself it has come to my attention to ga(y)ze at the well-named village. While homey it also gives a warming sensation, as if you were looking at women. This village looks like a ton a gays have frogs and frollic happily. No trumpies here I swear. 100/10 will definitely visit.
Written November 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith F
4 contributions
Sep 2022
These three bars refuse entry to anyone who is single. As a tourist to Manchester I went down to Canal Street only to find these three bars refuse entry on a quite Sunday night. Thank you to The Goose Bar, New Union, central Stage and Eva Bar who were all welcoming and don’t apply this stupid rule as it’s a lone tourist who are not trouble makers.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Doratheexplorer
Liverpool, UK260 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
This place is a good laugh and super safe to visit, so ideal for small to medium groups who aren’t too sure of the area. It is pricey so don’t except a night here to not damage your bank account but I do highly recommend it. Loads of bars with all different themes and offerings. Central Manchester so easy to get to and from places too.
Written July 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello everyone,
My name is Natalie Horrobin and I'm a Journalism Master's student at The University of Sheffield.
For my final project, I'm investigating the pros/cons of allowing stag and hen do's and heterosexual people on nights out in general into the Gay Village, and whether this sustains or threatens the safe space, or if the businesses appreciate their custom.
I was wondering if anyone would be available for an interview about this, whether you have had your stag/hen do here, or if you have had any similar experience of unsafety/issues regarding this issue, whether you are LGBTQ+ or not.
Please let me know if you'd be up for speaking to me about this, it would be greatly appreciated, or reply/message if you have any questions.
Thank you!
Natalie
Written July 14, 2023
Is there any house music on in gay village tonight please it's my youngest daughters 18th please reply
Written May 31, 2023
Are people on their own allowed in to bars? Also I don't get in on flight till 11.30 am what would be open late on a Sunday night that a single person would be allowed in comfortably
Written November 4, 2022
Sorry I don't know. Best contact the venues directly- some places fall in and out of favour as the place to go on Friday / Saturday night. Maybe see facebook pages for latest details of whats hot and what is not.
Written November 5, 2022
Sonia B
United Kingdom
which bars in the gay village have single gay women and what are the bars called
Written September 26, 2020
Do any venues cater for young teens in the day? My son is bi and would like to look around.
Written June 22, 2019
Hi Em
I guess it depends what you are looking for. I have taken my daughter along Canal Street several times during the day time when she was younger. I think the first time I took her she was still in a pushchair! My advice would be to maybe pick a nice sunny weekend day and go and take a walk with him down there and pick a bar that feels right and sit outside and enjoy. As others have said it is much livelier at night, but that may well not be appropriate. If you visit on a sunny Saturday or Sunday afternoon there is usually plenty of people out and about.
Written June 23, 2019
Hi, is it comfortable for a single guy to come to canal street for bit of fun?
Written December 30, 2018
I think it's quite clear from my post that anyone could have a good time in Canal Street. Whether it's comfortable or not will depend largely upon what you're wearing... stillettos or pumps!
Written December 30, 2018
Leandra
Skelmersdale, United Kingdom
Not been to Manchester drinking for a long long time, but been invited for a night out by a friend in a couple of weeks, I only drink double vodka's so was wondering if anyone knew some good bars where the vodka is as cheap as possible in / around the village? Thanks in advance for any replies given.
Written August 27, 2018
Many bars, pubs & clubs in and around the village, quite a few have boards outside with info about drinks offers. Also could ask around when you get there,lots of friendly locals with local knowledge. Enoy.
Written August 27, 2018
…
Showing results 1-10 of 33
Related Stories
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing