Bars, Pubs & Drinking

• introduction
• bars map

Canal Street is undoubtedly the heart of Manchester's Gay Village and is lined with gay and gay-friendly bars, pubs and restaurants. On a sunny afternoon you'll find the bars setting out chairs and tables on Canal Street itself providing al fresco drinking - an ideal location for a bit of people-spotting as you sip on your drink. But of course Canal Street isn't the only place you'll find fabulous drinkeries... We bring you a growing list of our favourite places to enjoy a drink in Manchester.
 

		Spirit Purpose-built for your socialising pleasure on Canal Street, Spirit Bar is a deceptively large venue. Arranged on several floors, there are plenty of squashy sofas in which to kick back and relax, not to mention those cheeky beds on the mezzanine floor upon which to make the first move with that first date! In fact, whether it's a romantic date, a quick one after work or a night out with your mates, the relaxed and friendly atmosphere is perfect for drinking and chatting. 63 Richmond Street, Manchester, M1 3WB 0161 237 9725 click for details
		View The interesting coupling of a Victorian industrial canal-side building and an exciting gay village nightspot is perfected at View, a cavernous bar on Manchester's famous gay strip. 40 Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3HW 0161 236 9033 click for details
		Taurus Café Bar & Restaurant Set in the heart of Manchester's gay village, this wonderful restaurant and bar manages to retain a true LGBT community-focus, whilst maintaining extremely high standards 1 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3he 0161 236 4593 click for details
		Brasserie on Portland The Bar on Portland is cosy yet has that friendly lean towards chic that makes everyone welcome in a nice place to drink. The relaxed surroundings and friendly staff make it the perfect rendez-vous - whether for a quick drink after work or the gathering point before a night on the town. 101 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 6DF 0161 236 5122 click for details
		Vanilla If you're wondering where all the girls have got to then Vanilla's the answer! Right in the heart of the Village, this busy bar has been serving the lesbian community since 1998. 39-41 Richmond Street, Manchester, M1 3WB 0161 657 8890 click for details
		Manto Manto on Canal Street is legendary - one of the original features of the gay village and has been through a number of changes over the years. Set on three floors with a covered and heated external balcony on the second level which also serves as a sheltered smoking area, this is very much a place to see and be seen. 46 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3WD 0161 2362667 click for details
		Bar Below For the connoisseur of sophisticated socialising, Bar Below is spot on. A cocktail bar on Canal Street but set down a flight of steps and, therefore, a civilised step away from the hurly-burly, this is an intimate venue with more than a touch of class. 34 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3WD 0161 923 4720 click for details
New York New York		Tracy and her team have been here for many years - a formula that works! 94 Bloom Street, Manchester, M1 3LY 0161 236 6556
Queer		Queer Bar & Cafe serving drinks and food daily. 4 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3HE 0161 228 1360
Manhattan Showbar		54 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6HS 0161-236-6151
Via		Busy upstairs-downstairs traditional (ish) pub in the middle of it all. 28 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3EZ 0161 236 6523
Scubar		Pub with occasional live music. 136 York Street, Manchester, M1 7XN 0161 274 3189
Coyotes		Entertainment and quizzes. 14 Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3HY 0161 236 4007
Pure Space Cafe Bar		11 New Wakefield Street, Manchester, M1 5NP 0161 236 4899
Hollywood Studio & Lounge		Split level bar/club experience, with a piano bar upstairs and gogo boys on podiums downstairs. Princess House, 105-107 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DD 0161 2366151
Velvet		Chic and sexy. 2 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3HE 0161 2369003
Napoleons		The 'oldest gay in the village', this bar and club has been around for yonks and there's probably a good reason for that! 35 Bloom Street, Manchester, M1 3LY 0161 236 8800
Churchills		37 Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3HN 0161 236 5529
The Outpost		This is where the bears and cubs hangout - a wild west theme, where you can sling on your chaps and your holster and get down to some serious bourbon drinkin' 6 Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 3QW
Baa Bar		Small chain of contemporary bars in Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan. 27 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3LZ 0161 247 7997
New Union		Infamous establishment with two distinct bar areas and entertainment. 111 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6JB 0161 228 1492
Alter Ego (was Mutz Nutz)		Subterraneon club with two areas - home of Poptastic! 105-107 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DD 0161 2369266
The Thompsons Arms		Great bar in the middle of it all with regular entertainment. 21 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3LZ 0161 2283012
Dry Bar		Barn-like club-bar experience with live entertainment now and again. 28-30 Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JN 0161 2369840
Café Paradiso		Hotel Rossetti, 107 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2DB 0161 247 7744
Bar 10		A new kid on the block... swish split level bar. 10 Canal Street, Manchester

key	mostly straight
	mixed
	mostly gay