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The gay scene
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Manchester has one of Britain's most vibrant gay scenes, centred on the Rochdale Canal between Princess and Sackville streets, in the so-called
Gay Village
. Although the annual Mardi Gras carnival bit the dust a while back, it's been replaced by a smaller scale
Gayfest
, held every August bank holiday in and around the village. Other events, including an annual arts festival every May/June, are co-ordinated by
queerupnorth
(information on 0161/833 2288,
).
Out on the town, early evenings kick off at one of the cafAŠ-bars along Canal Street - Manto, Metz, Bar 38, Spirit , or Velvet - at the extravagant Via Fossa pub or at the more macho New Union , 111 Princess St, just off Canal Street. An older crowd drinks in the Rembrandt Hotel; Vanilla on Richmond Street is a women's cafAŠ-bar with club nights. Clubs include Essential , 8 Minshull St (tel 0161/237 5445); Cruz , 101 Princess St (tel 0161/237 1554); the Hollywood Showbar , 100 Bloom Street (tel 0161/236 6151); and Follies , 6 Whitworth St (tel 0161/236 8149), a lesbian favourite. And the Paradise Factory , 112-116 Princess St (tel 0161/273 5422) can always be counted on, too.
For further
information
, call the Lesbian and Gay Foundation (daily 4-10pm; tel 0161/235 8000,
). Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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United Kingdom,
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