Gay quarter manchester
History of the Gay Village and LGBTQ+ nightlife in Manchester
Manchester’s Gay Village has been a haven for many in the Diverse Community for decades and welcomes thousands of people from across Manchester and beyond to celebrate Celebration every year. But before becoming Europe’s largest Lgbtq+ Village, this area was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester.
Canal Street gets its name from the Rochdale Canal that flows alongside it, which was used to transport materials and goods to and from Manchester’s many mills and factories, fuelling the Industrial Revolution. The buildings that are now home to iconic clubs and bars were once warehouses and workshops used by merchants to house cotton, cloth and building materials.
Following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 the use of canals began to decline in favour of the much faster and more convenient method of transporting goods that steam engines provided. By the cease of the 19th century rail had firmly replaced the canals as the main mode of transportation between Manchester and Liverpool.
It was this industrial decline of Canal Street that saw it take on another use as a clandestine meeting
The Gay Village in Manchester is without doubt one of the liveliest areas of the metropolis and this is reflected by the number of pubs, bars and clubs dotted around Canal Street, or 'anal treet' as it's also affectionately acknowledged locally.
Whilst Canal Street is the name most widely associated with Manchester's Gay Village, the area is actually spread out on all the streets that fall between Princess Street and Minshull Street, finalize to Piccadilly Station and China Town.
Lined with gay bars, clubs, cafes, hotels and shops, it's packed at overnight time with gays, lesbians, transexuals and transvetites who possess flocked to the area from all over the planet, many attracted by the Queer As Folk television drama which was based here.
Whilst 'The Village' is full of gay bars, most of them are straight friendly and the popularity of the area with hetrosexuals underlines the welcoming open-minded attitude Mancunians are famed for.
A great hour is guaranteed for anybody on Canal Street - homosexual, straight or bisexual.
Planning and regeneration City centre regeneration areas
The Gay Village
The Gay Village is a truly singular and vibrant area of the metropolis centre. Located next to the Rochdale Canal, it has a mix of residential, commercial and leisure destinations. It's home to the city’s lesbian, same-sex attracted, bisexual and trans person communities. The flourishing gay culture created a safe and welcoming village-like collective. And it's world-famous for its night-time and leisure scene.
We've collaborated with the local community to create an move plan for the Gay Village. It looks at how we can preserve the character and spirit of the area. And how we ensure the needs of the LGBTQ+ community are at the heart of anything taking place in the Village.
As part of our commitment to the Gay Village, a series of listening exercises own taken place. So we better perceive the priorities, wants and needs of the community who live in, serve and visit it.
There are a range of proposals to enhance the area in the compact and long-term. They include:
- Developing a neighbourhood management plan for improvements to the physical environment
- Replac
Manchester Gay Village
Manchester Gay Villageis the gay quarter of Manchester, centred on Canal Streetwhich runs along the Rochdale Canal. When the cloth trade declined in the 20th century, the canal and the warehouses along it went into decline, and the area became a cruising ground for gay men.Subsequently a number of establishments opened catering for gay people, and the area has at times been well-liked with straight as well as gay people, and for hen nights.
The village includes one open space, Sackville Gardens, which contains the Alan Turing Memorial and the Beacon of Long for.
Local establishments, 1995
Gay Europe (1995) lists the following gay establishments in Canal Street, Richmond Highway, Bloom Street, Sackville Street and Princess Street:
Establishments, 2014
Clubs, bars and restaurants
Village Shops and Services
External links
References
- ↑https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0030x1j2lo 'Oldest gay bar' loses licence after raid