Pride 2019 is here!
Official Pride events
The Gay Village Party (August 23 – 26)
The heart of Manchester Pride’s August bank holiday Manchester Pride Festival is the Gay Village Party in partnership with Thomas Cook Airlines.
The four-day event, which will happen in Manchester’s Gay Village, will this year bring live performances, a food and makers market, family-focused activities and more to the iconic cobbled streets and the area surrounding them. The focal point of the event will be Sackville Gardens which will play host to the Thomas Cook Airlines stage and family space.
The Parade (August 24, midday)
This year the theme for The Parade will be Deep Space Pride: A Future World of Equality, and those marching are asked to think about what LGBT+ communities and the attitudes towards them could look like in the future. Colours are expected to be as diverse as the communities that march, as the charity looks to a world where all people are free to love without prejudice.
The theme of the Parade acknowledges the fiftieth anniversary of The Stonewall Riots, an event that is widely considered to constitute the most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBT+ rights in the United States. The Manchester Pride Parade starts on Liverpool Road, passing by the Town Hall and the Gay Village before finishing on Whitworth Street.
The Superbia Weekend
The Superbia Weekend is a recent addition to The Manchester Pride Festival and provides a free to attend, dry alternative to The Gay Village Party. Its three-day programme of events takes place in a welcoming fully accessible, alcohol-free space across both The Refuge and 70 Oxford Road (the former Cornerhouse building), now part of Manchester Metropolitan University.
The Candlelit Vigil (August 26, 9pm)
The culmination of The Manchester Pride Festival is The Vigil in which Sackville Gardens is turned into a sea of flickering candles as visitors take a minute to remember those lost to the HIV virus and join together to fight the epidemic worldwide and the stigma that still exists.
The Candlelit Vigil also provides visitors with a space to remember those who may no longer be with us and presents an opportunity to stand together in a united front as we recognise the many challenges that still exist and face LGBT+ communities from Manchester to the rest of the world.
Club nights
The Spice Gals (August 24)
People of the world, Fever up your summer with this epic drag show! The greatest girl band of all time, The Spice Girls, is coming back to Manchester, but as you’ve never seen them before.
The fierce, funny and fabulous drag extravaganza that is The Spice Gals is coming to Cruz 101 in Manchester’s Gay Village on August 24. Join Geri, Mel B, Mel C, Victoria and Emma in this hilarious tribute show paying homage to the highs and lows the fab five, from the early days to the reunion tours. Get your tickets here. Cruz 101 101 Princess Street, M1 6DD.
Swagga Manchester Pride R&B Weekender (August 24)
DJ Stacy Bee is bringing Swagga is back for all the real R&B lovers! Come and celebrate Manchester Pride with 3 DJs playing all your favourite R&B, Dancehall, Old Skool R&B, and Old Skool Garage! You do not need a Pride Wristband for this event and it is still in the Gay Village, in Bed Bar – downstairs in Tribeca, Sackville Street. Swagga brings nothing but good vibes and good music. Click here to book your tickets. Tribeca Bar 50 Sackville Street, M1 3WF.
Swiftogeddon – The Taylor Swift Club Night (August 24)
End of summer blues getting you down? Don’t despair, Pride is just around the corner and Gorilla is giving us the chance to shake, shake, shake, shake, shake them off. The club will celebrate Manchester Pride with a club night dedicated to the one and only T-Swizzle.
And Swifties are invited to head over and do some worshipping at Tay Tay’s altar. Expect non-stop Swifty all night; deep cuts, extended mixes, fan favourites and all the hits. Fill in that blank space in your diary on August 24, because this night is Taylor-made for you! Get your tickets here. Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth Street, M1 5WW.
Brunches
Drag Brunch and Lunch (August 24)
TUCK IN: Drag Brunch & Lunch is an all-singing, all-dancing, brunching experience served up by some of the UK’s most talented Drag Queens! Taking place on Saturday 24th August at No. 1 Canal Street, you will not only have a feast of delicious food and drink, but you will also have a visual feast of a two-hour show from some of the most glamorous drag acts that the UK has to offer. Click here to get your tickets. No 1 Canal Street 1 Canal St, Manchester, M1 3HE.
The Ivy Pride brunch (August 22 – 24)
Celebrating love in the heart of Manchester, The Ivy Spinningfields has unveiled a spectacular Pride brunch and limited-edition cocktail menu ahead of this year’s Pride weekend. On Saturday (August 24) the restaurant’s roof garden will be transformed into a show-stopping Pride brunch from 11am – 2pm.
Complete with Champagne, cocktails and Pride-inspired entertainment including Carmen Miranda Champagne pourers, dancers and other colourful acts. Guests will be able to enjoy a range of Ivy brunch classics such as hot buttermilk pancakes, eggs Benedict with thick-cut chips and a lobster and asparagus gratin. In addition to the brunch, The Ivy will also be serving up three bespoke, Pride-themed cocktails, available on all floors of the restaurant until August 26 (Monday). To book a table click here. The Pavilion, Byrom St, M3 3HG.
The Pen and Pencil (August 24 – 26)
The Pen and Pencil will be serving up some real treats to get us in the Pride spirit this weekend. It’ll be hosting its famous bottomless brunch this Saturday, with a disco twist! Unlimited drinks, unlimited brunch food, and a boogie alongside it. Brunch AND disco? Name a more iconic duo!
And it doesn’t stop there. The folks at The Pen and Pencil will be rolling in the bank holiday weekend with live DJ sets from the fabulous Nev Johnson, Sam Flanagan, and Mark Hogg! And to top it all off – they’ll be offering a 25% discount to all Pride wristband holders, all weekend long. Click here to reserve your table. Fourways House, 57 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EJ.
Bars
Alberts love parade (August 23 – 25)
Albert Schloss will be flying the rainbow flag high over its doors to celebrate Pride weekend. As the annual parade marches past Manchester’s Bier Palace, Schloss is the prime location to celebrate Pride and the Bohemian party palace has unveiled one hell of a lineup! For more information click here.
27 Peter St, M2 5QR.
Corn Exchange
With 13 culinary destinations to choose from and a variety of outdoor drinking areas, bars and food menus, Corn Exchange Manchester is the perfect place to celebrate Pride this August bank holiday weekend. And this year the bar is promising a great choice of special edition cocktails, so delicious, it’ll be hard to have just one! Click here for more information. Exchange St, M4 3TR.
The Refuge
including a launch performance from The Sunday Boys choir and a collab with Superbia Weekend, as The Refuge hosts a Manchester first on the Saturday night, with the city’s premiere of DEEP IN VOGUE. Click here for more information. Oxford St, M60 7HA.
Shops
Afflecks
As a registered hate crime reporting centre, Afflecks has always been a safe space for those who may feel marginalised, discriminated against or are feeling isolated. This is a building that has embraced and nurtured self-belief, self-love and pride in being yourself, even if it is a little bit different to the mainstream. 52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW.
Pride-themed food and drink
Frankie’s Toasties
Frankie’s Toasties will be serving up rainbow toasties this weekend to celebrate Manchester pride. The limited-edition toasties will only be available over the weekend and can be made with vegan cheese on request. 98 Portland St, M1 4GX.
Cloud 23
This year, Cloud 23 in (based on the 23rd floor of Beetham Tower) has created a special ‘Pride Colada’ which they’ll be serving this weekend. For every cocktail sold, they’ll be donating £1 to LGBTQ+ charity, Stonewall. Beetham Tower, 303 Deansgate, M3 4LQ.
Wilson’s Social
The bar and live music venue based in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter will be serving delicious rainbow bagels all weekend. Better still, 50 per cent of all sales will go to The Albert Kennedy Trust. 50 Newton St, M1 2EA.
Black Milk
Black milk will be serving Pride-themed rainbow Freakshakes all weekend. 88 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LF.