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Gay Village

Gay Village, Manchester: Address, Phone Number, Gay Village Reviews: 4/5

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Gay Village

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Gay Village
4
1,172
#36 of 231 things to do in Manchester
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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
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,164 within 3 miles
One Plus Restaurant
1,005
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Chinese • Barbecue • Asian
Teppanyaki Chinatown
1,995
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Japanese • Sushi • Asian
Sangam Manchester City Centre
2,844
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Indian • Healthy • Vegetarian Friendly
Bravissimi!
164
0.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • Italian • Pizza
Turtle Bay - Manchester Oxford Street
2,937
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Caribbean • Bar • Healthy
Arnero
1,002
196 ft$$ - $$$ • Indian • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
No. 1 Canal Street
592
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • European • British
The Molly House
293
89 ft$$ - $$$ • Bar • European • Spanish
Listo Burrito
370
0.2 mi$ • Mexican • Fast Food • Central American
Habesha Restaurant & Bar
286
85 ft$ • African • Ethiopian • Vegetarian Friendly
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Attractions
391 within 6 miles
Sackville Gardens
25
191 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Parks
Alan Turing Memorial
107
261 ftMonuments & Statues
Night People
1
462 ftConvention Centers
Napoleons Casino, Restaurant & Bar Manchester
10
0.1 miCasinos
Colin Jellicoe Gallery
2
0.1 miArt Galleries
Chinatown
889
0.2 miNeighborhoods
Manchester Art Gallery
2,164
0.2 miArt Galleries
Boom Whisky
1
0.1 miDistilleries
A Monument To Vimto
3
0.2 miHistoric Sites
Manchester Central Library
1,118
0.3 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Libraries
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,172 reviews
Excellent
537
Very good
337
Average
129
Poor
61
Terrible
108
Paul Legate
St Ives, UK20,064 contributions
Iconic and trendy area of the city
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.
calamari by your name
Hell, MI4 contributions
its really gay
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.
GK91
Liverpool, UK163 contributions
Great night out
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.
becsb
Derbyshire29 contributions
Discrimination in a place where there should be none…
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.
Keegab
6 contributions
Disability discrimination
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.
Rachael
Blackburn, UK6 contributions
Are we aliens
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.
Simone M
3 contributions
Terrible, rude staff
Friends
I have just got back from my cousin’s hen do in Manchester. We went to Churchill’s bar in the gay part of Manchester, what a terrible experience all 30 of us had! The drinks were flat and when we told the staff they all moaned at us and did not want to replace our drink’s. The supervisor, was so rude to us all, calling us abusive swear words, upsetting many of us on what was to be the start of a lovely evening. We have on video his behaviour. I asked for the manager to complain about they way we was all treated but he did not want to know!! Would i recommend this bar? Absolutely not!! Unless you want to pay for flat beer, flat gin and tonic and be rudely abused by staff!
Written July 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mr W
York, UK5 contributions
Pretentious / overpriced and unprofessional
Solo
Overpriced and unprofessional.

Ordered a £45 bottle of champagne. Didn’t see the bottle and we were served a liquid of some sort in dirty plastic glasses because “no glass is allowed outside”, despite this not being the case elsewhere on Canal Street.

Despite being assured by security that he “definitely heard a pop” we refused to pay and left.

Pretentious bar with absolutely no atmosphere on a Sunday afternoon, and a place we certainly will not be visiting again.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Faerycakes
Stoke-on-Trent, UK140 contributions
Good and bad
Friends
Canal Street has good and bad sides.
The good:
The vibe. I love the Canal Street vibe.
The bad:
The discrimination!! The ONLY place I have ever been refused entry is on Canal Street. The first time for being female (it was a men's only bar but this wasn't explained to me by the doorman. Had it been i would've been fine with it). The second time was last week when myself, my mum and sister were refuses entry for absolutely no reason at all! Ageist?! Who knows. No explanation given just a flat out no!!
For a place that is supposed to be all about inclusion, I struggle to see it with the doorstaff on some of the bars.
Written April 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joanna A
Oldham, UK231 contributions
Always a fab night out
Friends
Always a brilliant night. Everyone is just up for a laugh, friendly and just want to sing dance and have a good night. You don't get hounded by sleazy people you do in other places. Always much more relaxed and comfortable in the gay village.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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