Gay Village

Gay Village

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.
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The area

How to get there
  • Piccadilly Gardens • 5 min walk
  • Piccadilly • 6 min walk

See what travelers are saying

  • BluemoonCH
    Bellinzona, Switzerland854 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It 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 2025
    Traveled with family
    Written March 8, 2025
  • Trip50920870261
    4 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Manchester 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 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 20, 2024
  • Rhea D
    2 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    This 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 2025
    Traveled with friends
    Written March 3, 2025
  • Lauren
    Bathurst, Australia53 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visited 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 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 4, 2024
  • arpitam
    Gurugram (Gurgaon), India1,074 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    This 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 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written October 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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
4.0 of 5 bubbles1,198 reviews
Excellent
551
Very good
342
Average
134
Poor
65
Terrible
106

5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 ❤️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🐝
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
2.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
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
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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
2.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
2.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.

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Gay Village (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)

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