Manchester is known for welcoming the LGBTQ+ community with open arms, even being home to its own Gay Village where everyone is welcome. As you might expect, this means the city has a whole host of great LGBTQ+ venues where you can enjoy a drink or exciting entertainment in an open and welcoming setting. If you're wondering where to have your next night out, we've got some great suggestions. Check out this guide to the best bars in Manchester's Gay Village.
The best bars in Manchester's Gay Village
In this guide
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Manchester's best gay bars and Gay Village bars
- The New Union – Long-standing inclusive venue
- Rem Bar – Award-winning canalside bar
- Via – All-day hang-out
- On Bar – Energetic award-winner
- G-A-Y – Vibrant and fun
- Bar Pop – Independent drag bar
- The Cockatoo Club – Cocktails and cabaret shows
- The Brewers – Well-established Gay Village favourite
- New York New York – Open all hours
- The Goose – Quiet drinks and lively entertainment
- Centre Stage – Theatrical cabaret venue
- The Molly House – Cosy gay pub
- Eagle Bar – Men's members club
- Iconic Bar – Big treat for gin drinkers
- Company Bar – Discreet basement bar
- Red Light – Sleek cocktail spot
Manchester's best gay bars and Gay Village bars
Long-standing inclusive venue
The New Union was one of Manchester's first openly-gay venues and has a lengthy history behind it. This showbar, club, and hotel has a traditional exterior, comfortable spaces inside, and an inclusive atmosphere. There's lots of room for dancing and lively parties take place every night of the week including karaoke nights and cabaret events.
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111 Princess St, Manchester City Centre
- Website • 016-187 000 31
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Award-winning canalside bar
Located in the Gay Village, Rem Bar is an award-winning venue. It's known for its friendly and cheeky staff, welcoming atmosphere, and bustling crowds both indoors and outside. A variety of drinks are on offer to cater to every preference and tapas dishes are also served at the weekends.
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33 Sackville St, Manchester City Centre
- Website • 016-121 139 31
- Read more on Thatsup
All-day hang-out
Via has been open in Canal Street since 1995. This red brick venue has various eclectic areas inside, as well as outdoor tables. A varied choice of drinks are available, plus street eats like pizza, burgers, and tacos. Live shows are on here regularly too, making it a popular place to hang out both by day and by night.
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28-30 Canal Street, Manchester City Centre
- Website • 016-123 665 23
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Energetic award-winner
On Bar is an energetic and award-winning LGBTQ+ bar. It's a comfortable venue decorated in natural colours, plus it has a spacious outside area. Guests can enjoy a wide range of drinks as well as food like wraps and fish and chips. Events such as drag brunches, live performances, and themed parties are on regularly.
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46 Canal St, Manchester City Centre
- 016-120 721 07
- Read more on Thatsup
Vibrant and fun
At G-A-Y you'll discover a fun and inclusive venue with a vibrant aesthetic and its own rooftop terrace. Pop classics are typically on the playlist here but exciting live entertainment takes place too like performances, drag acts, and games. The bar serves a wide range of drinks, with special offers available throughout the week.
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63 Richmond St, Manchester City Centre
- 016-122 862 00
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Independent drag bar
Located in Canal Street, Bar Pop is an LGBTQ+ owned and operated independent venue. This bright, colourful, and lively bar is committed to making everybody feel welcome. Visit for drinks, watch glamorous drag stars strut their stuff, and enjoy fun events like drag brunches and live performances every week.
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10 Canal St, Manchester City Centre
- Website • 016-123 604 46
- Read more on Thatsup
Cocktails and cabaret shows
Visit The Cockatoo Club for cocktails and cabaret in the Gay Village. This venue is luxe, welcoming, and has lots of exciting events taking place. You can visit just for drinks or enjoy activities like cabaret shows, drag bottomless brunches, and a queer book club that meets here monthly.
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20 Richmond St, Manchester City Centre
- Website • 016-169 744 83
- Read more on Thatsup
Well-established Gay Village favourite
A well-established bar and nightclub in the Gay Village, The Brewers is known for lively entertainment and parties with live bands, DJs, and drag stars. A varied range of drinks for all tastes are served here. This venue is cheerful and friendly, illuminated with coloured lights that add to the atmosphere.
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4 Canal St, Manchester City Centre
- Website • 016-123 654 37
- Read more on Thatsup
Open all hours
New York New York stays open from afternoon until late at night. This welcoming spot serves coffee and cocktails by day but things really come alive as night falls. Lots of events take place at this bustling establishment including drag performances, charity events, and themed parties. This venue sits right in the heart of Manchester's Gay Village.
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94-98 Bloom St, Manchester City Centre
- Website • 016-123 665 56
- Read more on Thatsup
Quiet drinks and lively entertainment
Everyone gets a warm welcome at The Goose, a friendly gay bar and pub. A choice of drinks including wine and various beers are served here in a traditional pub setting. Guests can also enjoy lively entertainment here such as drag shows, cabaret, karaoke, and quizzes that are sure to get everyone in the party mood.
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29 Bloom St, Manchester City Centre
- Website • 016-123 681 58
- Read more on Thatsup
Theatrical cabaret venue
Located in a Gay Village side street, Centre Stage is a theatrical venue for cabaret and nostalgic music. Indoor and outdoor tables are available, and the interior is decorated with deep colours that add to the atmosphere. Visit for cocktails and enjoy entertainment like games, karaoke, DJ sets, and drag performances.
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51 Bloom St, Manchester City Centre
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Cosy gay pub
A pub rather than a bar, The Molly House gets its name from the 19th century equivalent of a gay bar. This award-winning venue has a traditional interior and a cosy outside area. A broad range of drinks are on offer including craft beer, cask ales, and wine, plus tapas dishes are available if you're hungry.
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26 Richmond St, Manchester City Centre
- 016-123 793 29
- Read more on Thatsup
Men's members club
Men-only venue Eagle Bar is a fixture of the city's LGBTQ+ scene. This members bar and fetish venue is located in a low-lit basement space with comfortable drawing room-style decor. The bar has a busy schedule of performances and parties that'll keep you entertained throughout the night.
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15 Bloom St, Manchester City Centre
- Website • 016-169 744 83
- Read more on Thatsup
Big treat for gin drinkers
Iconic Bar might be compact but it remains a popular venue in the Gay Village. The bar has the second largest collection of gins in the city but a range of other drinks are also available. The space is bright and comfortable with a friendly atmosphere. Events like quizzes take place here regularly too.
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29 Richmond St, Manchester City Centre
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Discreet basement bar
Company Bar is a low-lit venue housed beneath The Molly House. The music policy at this men-only bar is broad, but it's particularly popular for its 80s nights. The venue is intimate and sociable, staying open until late. Enjoy a drink and check out the jukebox, featuring a wide array of music genres.
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26 Richmond St, Manchester City Centre
- 016-123 793 29
- Read more on Thatsup
Sleek cocktail spot
Located at the edge of the Gay Village near Kampus, Red Light is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in a historic building. This LGBTQ+ bar welcomes everyone and has an interior that's modern, sleek, and intimate. There's regular music from DJs. Well-crafted cocktails are the speciality here but a variety of different drinks are on offer.
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Little David Street, Manchester City Centre
- Website
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