Nikki

Roberta

Nikki

Roberta

One of the original gay friendly venues in Manchester, and still a meeting place for first timers.

Along with Via Fossa one of the few places in the village that is busy all week round. At weekends they generally charge £2 to get in, and since the re fit at Churchill’s does not seem to attract as many nut cases as it did. There are still a few un desirables go in here but some of the violence that went on has subsided, defiantly don’t put your coat or bag down it will find a new friend!!!.

To the owners credit he has finally introduced a cloakroom and this is a safer bet.

This is a tranny friendly venue but owing to the number of straights about you will undoubtedly get the odd stare; you would be advised to go with someone at weekend if your not sure of yourself

Has in the past, given a warm welcome to TVs and people of any sexual persuasion. The atmosphere has changed slightly from when it was smaller, and now welcomes a wider cross section of people.

The overall condition of the New Union must now be said to be basic. The pub has a dance floor, live acts, (sometimes drag), a DJ, and three bars.

The toilets are on the rough side and there is generally a queue to get in them. Handbags are checked on the way in at weekends.

Queuing is generally minimal, but it is safe to queue. Charge of £2.00 to enter at weekend. Always very busy late night. Uncertain whether this is a gay pub or simply gay friendly - policy seems to change weekly these days.

Also has rooms that have been reported to us as satisfactory

Nikki

Roberta

This is a very ‘studenty’ place and very mixed.

Music is ravey, but not obtrusive and the staff are friendly. It is TV friendly, however you do need to look reasonably presentable to feel comfortable and to avoid being stared at.

Safer to go with another one or two TVs than on your own.

Used as a feeder bar for the "Paradise factory" (a night club). If you go to the Paradise club you can obtain a stamp to gain admission to Manto’s after 03:00, when only soft drinks are served, but you can continue to dance until very late or early in the morning whichever way you look at it.

I agree with what Nikki says.

Renamed and modified in 2002.

Can be patronised by some that are want to be loud and sometimes intolerant towards us.

The toilets are usually clean and looked after.

Nikki

Roberta

Eden is across a small bridge on Canal Street, you do need to watch your heels in the gaps and it can be slippery when wet.

Eden is a continental style bar with bare brick walls and exposed iron beams and pipework.

For a long time this was my favourite haunt, since changing owners though it went through a long spell where I personally thought that it had lost it’s sparkle. It now seems to be getting back to it's original roots. The bar still attracts mainly 18/25 year olds and a few hen parties. People are up dancing to cheesy disco music - but it works.

Still a bar worth a visit but you will get a lot more sniggers than you used to get in here.

They still serve reasonable food and have a presentable wine list. Staff are friendly and punter still dance on the tables (watch the old barnet on the pipework, it can be pretty embarrassing getting off the table with your wig looking like a birds nest in the ceiling pipe work

Across a wooden bridge, over the Rochdale canal, (watch your heels between the cobbles and the wooden slats!).

Has a floating barge to sit out on in the summer too!

This is an classy bar with very friendly staff and management. The change of name, ownership etc., does not seem to have altered it, thankfully.

Serves good food, which accounts for its very busy early evening trade at weekends.

The bar can, and usually does, become very busy with a very mixed crowd who, as the night warms up, will end up dancing on the tables to an excellent blend of 60s, 70s, 80s and current chart music. Used a lot by local offices for parties.

Has always given a warm welcome to TVs. You should be safe on your own, but do make an effort to chat, the staff appreciate it and you will get more from the night. Open until midnight.

The toilets are usually clean and looked after.

Nikki

Roberta

No information at this time

A new bar that opened in 2002. A very small bar below street level, hence the name!

Its very cosy, classy and modern, with low comfortable couches. It serves excellent varied cocktails.

Purports to be a members bar at weekends, although you seem to be able to get in with no problem.

The toilets are always clean and well looked after.

Nikki

Roberta

For a long time this was the home of the Northern Concord on Wednesday nights, as such it still welcomes tranny's but tends to like you to go to the first floor bar preferring to keep downstairs a gay male only venue.

This bar is very busy throughout the summer months and it can sometimes be a struggle to get passed the crowd that spill out onto the street, though they are generally a very friendly crowd.

Situated on the corner of Canal Street and Sackville Street this is probably the centre of the village and as such its clean and reasonable rooms make an ideal place to stay the night.

Parking will however be difficult and could end up being expensive. If you do stop don’t forget to budget that in for many places in Manchester

A Hotel and a bar. A very TV friendly discrete hotel.

Rooms tend to be in the quiet Annex, back across Sackville street, between Bar Below and 46 Canal St. Rates are reasonable and they are of a very presentable standard and very, very convenient for the Village, being right in the middle.

The Public bar is now a very male oriented establishment, leather and tatoos in evidence.

The Residents bar is quieter, located upstairs above the public bar. Staff are friendly and it is a very safe environment.

The Rem was the original heavy Gay bar in the Village and used to be the home of the Northern Concord for ten years.

Nikki

Roberta

Perhaps the most popular bar in the village, and winner of numerous awards. Decorated in the style of a gothic church with many original reclaimed architectural features. The premises is a labyrinth of layers and balconies, so it’s not difficult to find an area to suit your mood, although there is not a mass of seating available.

The bar opposite the entrance is always busy and has a pleasant mix of people with a generally friendly atmosphere. Either end of the bar are stairs down to another matching pair of bars that tend to be a little less hectic.

Downstairs again and this is now mainly a dance bar that can get very busy, but still friendly. The music played is not too heavy and easy to dance to.

The toilets are male to the left of this bar and female to the right they are generally clean with plenty of space and imaginatively used cell doors for the cubicles.

Generally this is a good bar to visit and as nearly all the staff are gay you should have no problems here

An excellent bar that has won many awards locally and nationally. Architectural salvage is the theme here, looking quite Gothic in places.

As well as good drinking, with a least 4 bars, Via Fossa has an excellent menu, with its own separate restaurant area.

A lively and intimate disco downstairs plays current chart music and dance themes. Has a very mixed clientele, but maintains an excellent atmosphere.

There are many separate areas to meet in, so if you are shy, you can find a quiet corner, amidst the woodwork. or mingle with the masses with no bother.

Some of the best ladies toilets in Village and nearly always clean with no queues. Look out for the cell doors on the cubicles!

Open until 01:00 or later, but if you arrive late you may need to queue to get in.

Winnie LaFreak, a drag artist is often in residence for featured events

Nikki

Roberta

Mainly upwardly mobile student and office types on a night out.

Too cut the mustard here and not stand out like Lilly savage at a rugby club do, you will have to look very presentable.

Not particularly tranny friendly.

The bar is to the rear on the left hand side as you go in and the toilets with unisex hand washing facilities are down stairs by the front door.

Drinks here are an expensive commodity, which is why it’s not busy. If there were 3 or 4 of you on night out you should be ok but I personally have not bothered for a while.

A very modern bar, with not much in the way of seating. It appears to cater for the straighter type of punters, and the now usual weekend hen nights etc.

We have never been made to feel uncomfortable, but you must expect a few stares and muttered comments. A lot of straight people meet in this bar and you may well be the first sight they have had of a TV, so you may feel awkward.

The loos are a talking point, literally, as they have separate cubicle areas but a shared fountain for washing, obviously designed to stimulate conversation.

Open until 01:00. Has had a spate of handbag thefts so watch yours in here?

Nikki

Roberta

This is a very studenty bar with many queuing from 21:00 to get in and dance to very loud modern club music.

The crowd are mainly 21yrs to 30 yrs and dressed in trendy gear. The main dance area is downstairs were the toilets are also situated.

This area can be very crowded dimly lit and hot. The sheer numbers and the occasional smoke machine can help disguise a youthfully dressed tranny.

Drinks tend to be bottled and a little expensive.

Only go if you are with somebody and you feel confident, this is defiantly not for the twin set and pearls girls!!!

Quite a straight bar, originally a Czech bar also, now with a strong dance culture, the lower part having a large dance floor.

Industrial decor is the theme.

Bars on two levels upstairs having a reasonable number of low couches and seats. There is more of a club atmosphere than a bar atmosphere and queues begin early on weekends to get in.

Friendly enough these days, the accent is on dance music.

If you do want to go, go early and with a couple of others for support. Open until 02:00. Serves reasonable bar meals during the day.

The toilets are usually clean and looked after.

Nikki

Roberta

I think when the owners of this bar opened it up they forgot to do their research and placed this in the wrong part of town.

Aimed squarely at the 20 to 35 age group of straight people it has never really caught on, despite having a lot going for it.

From the Chorlton street entrance directly opposite Churchill’s you go up about 12 steps to the first bar. I have yet to find it busy and normally only ever see 30/40 people scattered about mainly Eric normals that have little experience of the village.

On the top floor is the comedy stage area that on Saturday nights from about 23:00 becomes a disco this can get busy and although not unpleasant is not particularly tranny friendly.

Not really worth a visit unless you have nowt else to do.

(Apart from occasional promos drinks are expensive)

Toilets however are clean and huge about 30 cubicles never any queues

Basically above Prague Five around the corner and on two floors.

Bar Risa on the first floor has an open bar area, decorated in rich reds and purples and stripped wood. It looks little different to many of the other city centre bars. An addition here is the showing of short films on screens behind the bar.

There are also two for one drinks offers at selected times.

Jongleurs is the comedy club/revue bar on the top floor, and is part of a national chain of similar comedy store type venues. It has the addition of waiters to take your food order prior to the show to negate the nastiness of interval ordering.

Used to have a drag show on Sunday night, and may still have. I have only been here a couple of times, but found it safe if not too exciting.

Toilets are clean and well looked after.

Nikki

Roberta

The recently re vamped pub has somewhat lost it original appeal. It has now taken over from The Union, and as such has attracted some of their less desirable clientele, this I think is due to novelty factor.

A lot of the customers are the Piccadilly 21 and straight club customers from that area although there is still a reasonably large number of gay and occasional tranny custom.

No matter how good you look due to the influx of straights on a Friday and Saturday night you will get a number of stares. As this bar is near to the coach depot some out of town visitors use it as their experience of the gay village.

Best night to go if you don’t want to be intimidated is Sunday but it wont be particularly busy in the winter months although it ticks over nicely in the summer

The lay out of the bar means there are two entrances, one on Canal street, the main entrance being on Chorlton street, both entrances will take you to bar areas, the dance floor being on the canal street side.

The door staff are friendly though and welcome trannys.

Was a small pub. Refurbished extensively in summer 2002 in a very modern bright bar style, having been extended through into the old cafe next door.

You will always receive a warm welcome from the very friendly staff who also put on karaoke nights and hold events, promotions and talent competitions as well as lively DJ run discos.

Lena X (Lean across?) is the resident friendly Drag artiste on a Wednesday.

Upstairs the unisex toilet is a novelty. There are conventional loos downstairs too. Both excellent standard.

Churchills can become very busy and as a result you may have to queue to get in at weekends. If you lack confidence this is still a good starting point, and people will always make you feel comfortable.

Open until 2.00 a.m.

Nikki

Roberta

Nikki

Roberta

Velvet is a small intimate type of bar, with plenty of seating and a large bar area. Access is via Canal Street and down a set of stairs.

The bar is set in a basement, although there are street level windows that allow you to see in before you commit yourself.

Half way down the stairs is an unnerving  glass panel that means the step is effectively a gold fish tank.

Velvet has an excellent menu and I have only ever heard good reports as to the quality of the food.

The clientele is made up mainly of older students and couples. The atmosphere is generally friendly and have no problems in accepting presentable girls. If you dress outlandishly you will attract attention.

Food is now the main draw so its not as busy as many bars, the upside being its more relaxed if you just want to chill out without excessively loud music

A friendly bar although better suited to a small group rather than going on your own

Situated in a basement you will descend down the stairs crossing a large glass panel set into the stairs, this is a built in fish tank, novel and a little unnerving when you first see it.

Dimly lit Velvet has tended to move towards a restaurant with a bar rather than the other way around, however it has a pleasant atmosphere and is generally friendly.

This is more the place to go if you want slightly more peaceful or intimate time and a chat over fine wine and food. The food is quite excellent and now possibly the best in the village.

Open until midnight.

The toilets are usually clean and looked after

Nikki

Roberta

Northern Concord has held a few meals at Taurus. They are tranny friendly and you are welcome here.

A plush new restaurant-cum-bar at the quieter top end of Canal Street. Ideal for a light bite or full scale meal with a varied and interesting menu.

Nikki

Roberta

No information as yet?

Essential is a vast club with two dance floors: top for pop, ground for house music. Its a Gay/Lesbian dance club that goes on until late in the mornings at weekends.

Rapidly becoming the club to go to for the younger person.  Basically its a house/dance/party music club popular with the younger gay set.

Superb atmosphere. Sound systems are LOUD! After 2.00 there is no alcohol served only soft drinks.

If you want to dance your socks off all night this is for you ! I know quite a few younger gals have been here many times quite safely. Long queues likely later.

Toilets can become unkempt.

(Fri 10.30 to 5.00a.m / Sat 10.30 to 6.00 a.m /Sunday 10.30 to 3.30 a.m.)

Nikki

Roberta

A very busy lively bar/club that generally has a queue to get in.

Set on two levels with the gallery type bar upstairs being slightly more chilled out.

Drinks at the bar tend to be slightly expensive, most of the 20 something trendy crowd preferring to drink bottled water.

It gets packed on the dance floor area and it’s a bit on the warm side so you will need to be young dressed very trendily and ideally with someone else if your going to enjoy yourself.

The toilets have a stainless steel trough for a hand basin so watch your handbag doesn’t float away, and if you need to go plan ahead there is nearly always a massive queue

Almost opposite Essential. This is a sizeable bar on two levels, runs the famous Kat-Club on Thursdays.

Generally frequented by the trendy 20’s something crowd with a generally straight clientele, but with gay door staff who are always pleasant and will make you welcome.

The bar does get very crowded and trendy clothing is 'de rigeur', a posh frock would stand out a mile, dance/club/casual clothes are the norm here.

Not the sort of place to go on your own, but if you go with a crowd you will have a good time.

Downstairs has virtually no seating or tables to put your drink on; also on this floor is a dance area, the music being predominantly dance/rave and very modern.

Drinks are not unreasonable but it may take you some time to get served.

Upstairs is a little more subdued and this is where you want to be if you want to hold a conversation or sit down.

Open until 02:00 or later at weekends.

Nikki

Roberta

Not recommended

This dark basement bar is full of muscle men and designer labels.

Men only.

Nikki

Roberta

If you are dressed in male attire they will charge you to go in.

Clean, bright, noisy, busy, drinks are averagely priced.

Nikki

Roberta

One of the few "pub type" premises left in Manchester situated directly across from the old coach station on Bloom Street.

On entry the bar is to the left and the toilets in the corner to the right.

Due to its location it gets a colourful mixed crowd that can include a few of life’s unfortunates, waifs and strays.

Despite this it has a reasonably friendly atmosphere and most of the regular patrons are gay as are some of the staff.

I personally have never had any problems in this establishment but then again if you walk in, in fishnets and a very short skirt you may well attract the wrong kind of attention.

A small pub painted maroon, opposite the Chorlton St. Bus station, (the bus station is currently, in 2003, being renovated.