Best Gay Bars in Manchester: Looking for the best gay bars in Manchester? This guide focuses on the top gay bars and clubs in Manchester’s Gay Village (Canal Street), so you can plan exactly where to go on a night out.
For a complete overview of the city including hotels, events and things to do, read my full Gay Manchester travel guide.
Manchester’s Gay Village (Canal Street) has some of the best gay bars in the UK, all contained within just a few streets, making it very easy to explore Manchesters gay nightlife scene.
Here is my guide to the best gay bars in Manchester (and gay clubs).
Where are the Gay Bars in Manchester? (The Gay Village/Canal Street)
The Gay Village is where you will find all the best gay bars in Manchester.
Manchester’s Gay Village is made up of Canal Street and a few surrounding streets. This is in the very centre of the city, minutes away from the main train station (Manchester Piccadilly).
Canal Street is full of gay bars from the start to the very end of the street.
Everything is close together so that you can easily do a gay bar crawl and not have to travel or get taxis between bars like you need to in some other cities.
Read on for the best gay bars in Manchester:
Best Gay Bars in Manchester
Whilst there are over 20 gay bars in Manchester on and around Canal Street, here is my list of the best gay bars and clubs which you won’t want to miss.
Via
My favorite gay bar in Manchester, this has been running for years!
I love the style of the bar, it’s always busy with a good crowd, plays typical mainstream pop and have some really impressive acts and performances for free (like really good!).
Ideal way to start the night, come and watch whoever is on, whether that’s a queen or Absolut Britney (the impersonator that will have you second guessing is they are an impersonator) and even the likes of Christina Bianco!
Velvet Manchester
This is best for cocktails and to have a catch up with friends in a nice setting.
Velvet is one of the more classier bars in Manchester, known for its cocktail menu and stylish bar area. This is a great option to warm up before heading somewhere busier and louder.
Thompsons
This is the cheapest bar in the Gay Village. It gets a little bit dirty but I love it.
This is always packed and for good reason. It has a couple of floors, is open very late and has a real mix of music.
Expect to be hearing very current music, along with the Steps medley thrown in somewhere throughout the night.
The Brewers
The Brewers is at the very top of Canal Street and naturally becomes one of the first places people go to. This attracted a very young trendy crowd and is always busy.
G-A-Y Manchester
I used to include G-A-Y because I enjoyed it for years. Nowadays not so much as it feels a lot quieter, but there is no harm in checking it out en route though!
Other Gay Bars in Manchester for every taste…
There are so many more bars I could mention, bars for every interest.
Churchills, Eagle and The Rembrandt attract a more mature crowd, in particular catering to bears etc.
Best Gay Club in Manchester
The main late-night gay club in Manchester is called Cruz 101.
Cruz 101
This is the biggest gay club in Manchester and has been going for over 20 years.
Like many other places, it has different levels for different musical tastes and is open until the early hours of the morning. Most people will not arrive here until 1am after they have finished at Via.
At Cruz, they often put on stage shows, competitions and performances to get the night started.
Gay Bars with Food
Velvet Brasserie
Velvet has a bar upstairs and a restaurant downstairs. This is a relatively high end place if I am looking for a sit down three course meal with wine. I love the menu here as it’s a real mix of styles and flavours from all over the world.
Via
This place is one of the nicer bars and offers typical bar/pub food. Head here on Sunday for Sunday lunch.
Gay Hotels near Canal St
If you want to stay close to the Gay Village for a night out, take a look at the DoubleTree below, I also have a more extensive list here: Best Gay Friendly Hotels in Manchester.
DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester
Hilton have done so much work globally for the LGBTQ+ community, making them a brand I stand behind.
When it comes to Manchester, DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester sits just a 5 minute walk from the main train station (Manchester Piccadilly) and a mere 2-minute walk into the gay village – ideal!
The service, breakfast and everything about the hotel is exactly as I would expect from the Hilton brand and I am sure to receive a warm welcome (and warm cookie!) on arrival.
If you’re visiting Manchester for the first time, I recommend starting with my detailed Gay Manchester travel guide where I share everything you need to know to plan a trip, events, hotels, cafes and more!
