The Village

One place you will be checking out when you are in Manchester is no doubt going to be the gay village. Based in the city centre around Canal Street the gay village is a vibrant place for the gay community to feel safe and secure, canal street being the centre it stretches from Whitworth Street to Portland Street and from the bottom end of Canal street on Princess Street to Aytoun St by Piccadilly Station. Obviously Canal Street is the main focus but there is lots more in the village than you might think. Here is our guide.

AXM - Stylish modern bar on canal street, events include last stop b4 pop and federation pre party.

Baa Bar - Very cheap student bar, available for free hire at all times

Bar Below - Lush underground bar on one of the corners of Canal Street

Churchills - At the top of the street next to Queer a nice and cheap night

Coyotes - A predominantly lesbian bar with cheap drinks and a good atmosphere - Next to Chorlton Street Car Park

Hollywood - A tribute to all Hollywood legends past and present, cabaret nights and other events held here

Manto - The oldest member of the community, celebrates 16 years in 2007

Napoleons - 3 floors of entertainment across the road from Baa Bar on Bloom Street

New Union - The longest standing pub in the village at the bottom End of Canal St

New York - Next to Hollywood An old pub with a lot of character

Paddys Goose - On Bloom Street, much like a local in a small village

Queer (Glam bar) - A new stylish cafe bar at the top of the street, holds all the Essential pre-parties during the evenings and during the day has a relaxing atmosphere with a very nice menu. Glam Bar opens downstairs every evening at 8pm til late and has the Essential All Star Pop DJs playing every night

Spirit - A nice cosy new bar in between Manto & the New Union cocktails 2 4 1 and beds to lie on.

Thompsons - Behind Chorlton St Car Park this bar is normally full of a Saturday night and always has a great atmosphere.

Vanilla - The lesbian Mecca of the north, this lesbian bar/club has long been noted at the place to go for lesbians and bi women, on a Friday it hosts in bed with Essential.

Via Fossa - Voted the best bar in the North West by pink paper readers, a long standing member.

View - Same kind of bar cafe as queer with a good food menu by day and a good atmosphere by night.

Alter Ego - The home of Poptastic which is held every Tuesday and Thursday nights here. It is on Princess Street next to the LGF

Cruz 101 - The oldest club in the village open 6 nights a week, hols poptastic back2back on a Thursday and other events such as Red & Wild at other times

Essential - Officially Manchester's best club in the past 10 years, owned by the same people as Queer, this club has 3 floors, the pop lounge, middle floor and main arena large dance areas and on Thursday holds a student night with free student entry and £1.50 drinks all night. Friday night is Flip when the pop DJs come downstairs and Saturday is the UK's most wanted gay clubbing experience Bender, Sunday is Sabbath, holds regular events such as Bad Drag & School Flip and Military, Chav & Kinky Bender. On the corner or Bloom St and Minshull St.

Here is a weekly guide to what's on at the clubs during the week.

Monday: The only club open on a Monday night is Cruz 101

Tuesday: Tuesday is Poptastic night at Alter Ego all drinks £1.80 all night.

Wednesday: Cruz 101 & alternative rock night everyother week at Vanilla

Thursday: Student night at Essential all drinks £1.50 and free entry for students. Cruz 101 hosts back to back with Poptastic, free student entry before midnight.

Friday: Alter Ego - open, Friday is Flip at Essential, free entry for members before 11.30, Cruz 101 open

Saturday: Poptastic at Alter Ego all drinks £1.50, Essential holds Bender with the most up for it crowd of clubbers in the UK, Cruz 101 - open. Sunday Morning downstairs at Queer is Mornin' Glory opens at 5am and closes at midday-ish. The must see after hours party in the village, playing the best hard house music Manchester has to offer with the Essential All Star DJs.

Sunday- Cruz 101- open, Sunday is Sabbath at Essential with changing themes between red, blue, and gold.

The Rembrandt - Also a bar on Canal St offers good sized and priced rooms as well as cheap drinks.

Eden - Has it's very own barge on the canal with exquisite dining and a bar

Villagio - Across from Eden very reasonably priced delicious food

Clonezone - Whether you're looking to spice up things in the bedroom or just after something a bit different Clone Zone has it, DVDs, books, toys, aromas, clothing, calendars, rainbow flags and much much more.

H20 Sauna - Next to Clone Zone this sauna offers a student discount but be aware things do happen in here.

The Village Off Licence - This is just like any other off-licence but it’s in the village and is run for and by the gay community.

Street Cars - Based behind Canal Street near Vanilla.

Village Cars - Next to the Village Off-Licence, please note this company is currently being boycotted by many members of the community after many homophobic incidents and one recently which involved a dancer from Essential being beaten up for defending someone which the staff were homophobically abusing.