Canal street manchester gay village

The Gay Village is a truly unique and vibrant area of the city centre. Located next to the Rochdale Canal, it has a mix of residential, commercial and leisure destinations. The flourishing gay culture created a safe and welcoming village-like community. And it's world-famous for its night-time and leisure scene.

LGBT Manchester: the best bars and clubs on Canal Street

This vacuum created a red light district, attracting sex workers and gay men to the area. On the corner of Canal Street today stands a pub called the New Union. It was built in , and in the s became a place for lesbians and gay men to meet up. In homosexuality was partially decriminalised — gay men could have sex as long as it was in private, was only between two men and both were over James Anderton, Chief Constable made a famous statement about gay men 'swirling in a cesspit of their own making'.

The Village

Canal Street: The history of Manchester's iconic 'gay village'

Dark, deserted, but in an accessible central location, Canal Street became a popular meeting spot. Its clouded glass windows protected those visiting from being spotted by curious eyes. More than just a place to meet romantic and sexual partners, these venues fostered a sense of community by providing the opportunity to meet like-minded people with a shared identity.