We spent four nights in Manchester and stayed in a hotel chain near the Gay Village. This provided us with a central location to walk to the nearby bars, restaurants, and shopping areas. A heat wave affected the United Kingdom during our trip with the average temperature at 24°C/75°F. While the locals complained about abnormally high temperatures, we enjoyed the mild weather in comparison to our home city of Houston, Texas.
Neither of us had previously traveled to Manchester, so we didn’t have any expectations going in. I logged into my Scruff app profile to set my travel dates and used their Explore feature to browse the advertised events occurring near me. That’s how I found a list of parties and drag shows throughout the weekend. We also discovered that we would be missing Manchester Pride at the end of the month, but now we have a great reason for returning next year!
While exploring the city we discovered great places to grab a quick bite and others to sit and watch passersby. Leon, a fast food restaurant offering a healthy selection of Mediterranean meals, quickly became our favorite spot. Not only is their menu balanced to provide health-conscious options full of plants, fresh herbs and spices, and well-sourced protein, they also actively work to make a positive impact on the planet by reducing their use of plastics and embracing renewable energy sources. The “Smoky Paprika Chicken Wrap” and “Thai Green Curry” rice box were two of my favorite menu items. We were so impressed by them that we brought back a jar of their “Korean Mayo” sauce to try on our meal prep when we returned home.
The Gay Village was a short walk from our hotel and there always seemed to be something happening at the various bars that lined Canal Street. It was refreshing to see queer venues collaborate with each other to elevate their collective businesses. Each bar stood out for its individual offering, from drag bars and dance clubs to local pubs and kink spaces, and never competed for patrons. We gravitated toward Via Manchester for their live cabaret performances in the evenings and enjoyed a pint in their street-side patio during the days. Each bar along the canal had outdoor seating available, making both people watching and meeting new friends easy and enjoyable.
Mancunians were quite friendly, offering directions when we appeared to be lost, kindly introducing themselves at bars, and even taking our photos to add to our collection of memories. I often found myself daydreaming of what it would be like to live in such a place. It gave me everything I wanted from a city: walkability, a vibrant queer neighborhood, friendly locals, and an amazing selection of international food. Manchester Pride starts at the end of August, so we may just have to plan our next trip to the UK around those festivities!
