G-A-Y Manchester

Lots of drink choice at a reasonable price. Great music. We were served by Morgan who was so friendly, welcoming and happy to help. Will be back. Thank you Morgan :) they also offer phone charging facilities at a low cost.

We were denied entry with vague reasoning. My friend, who was dressed in drag, was singled out while others were allowed in. Staff then radioed another venue describing us as ‘troublemakers,’ despite no incident occurring. The experience felt exclusionary and left a bad impression. Its clear they don’t like POC gays, gay comes in all colours. Time to accept it gay village.

Went here for a nightcap after an amazing night in freight island and wanted to take my better half in as this was known back in the day as spirit. Severely disappointed as it was quiet even at almost midnight. One point to make is if you go up to the smoking balcony watch the step! Nearly broke my ankle as the step was not clearly marked and it just seems you’re walking onto black flooring. The most disappointing and embarrassing is that the young ones seem to like taking photos in the same sex toilets upstairs. I’m not opposed to this set up as this is the norm in canal street, but the guy in the cubicle next to me was taking photos up high above the cubicles of his friends and my fiancé saw this and took great offence! As so he should as this is inappropriate! No one should be allowed to do this and none of the staff interacted. It was only when my partner intervened that security was called and he was told to leave! He was protecting a woman in a cubicle in a vulnerable position when others were apparently having fun. This is not on and should not be tolerated and management should take responsibility of what goes on in the premises. Avoid the venue at all costs!

after been given a free shot card outside the club me and my friend went to use them at the bar, she got served straight away and purchased a soft drink and was given the shot with ease! however when I asked for the same drink and handed the card I was refused and was told it had to be an alcoholic drink and even after saying my friend got served a soft drink! If this is the case then it needs to be specified on the card if it has to be alcoholic because to me ‘purchase of a drink’ means any type of drink, soft or alcoholic.

I quite like to visit here in the summer, when I can stand on the roof top bar and people watch from above. It's fascinating. The bar is usually quite vibrant and active. Even early on Saturdays, the dancefloor seems to get people on, gyrating in time to the usually loud music. I was confused by the toilets at first and ended up walking back down the stairs because I felt I had walked into the ladies. Though I later found out they were for both...I hope! Because I had to go and spend a penny. I've heard negative reviews over the doormen, however, in all my visits here and anywhere in the village, I have only been met with politeness off them. I suppose it's the way you interact with them as well. I don't know. Though I don't stay out past 23:00-24:00, so I don't see what goes on after everyone is sloshed. I've been there a number of times and will again.

Alex honestly is the sweetest person ever here!! Amazing customer service and brings the best vibes!! Love you Alex!!

Doorman checked ID, pat me down and then said you couldn’t wear joggers, while so many others are just wearing jeans and whatever. It’s okay if you have a dress code, but just make it clear so people don’t come and get disappointed, unless there’s some unspoken criteria that you are not proud of publishing?

Crazy cheap drink prices. Absolutely no atmosphere and the staff all seem preoccupied and disinterested but the music’s loud, there’s a great smoking area and the drinks are ridiculously cheap. Gets uncomfortably hot when busy though, which isn’t that often anymore.

Fun and lively place with great music and energy. The crowd was welcoming, and the drinks were affordable. Had an amazing night out--would definitely go again!

G.A.Y. is not my cup of tea. I do not like to get drunk, but if I'm working with a happy crew, we usually end up here. It attracts the younger crowd. The top level is excellent because you can see the view of the city streets of Manchester. The music is a bit loud, so it's hard to strike up a conversation with people. The bar plays a lot of pop music like Madonna, Lady Gaga and the latest music that I've never heard of. Maybe I'm too old for the bar scene 'cause I no longer find them amusing. Ohkurr... You know what I'm saying?

A clean and funky bar. Plays great pop/chart music with associated videos in the screens. An outside terrace where the smokers hang out mainly but a great vantage point in the summer months. Sunday-Thurs prices for specials £1.50 and Friday is £2.00... So some great bargains to be had. The crowd is mainly young which can make you feel old or even invisible when at the bar, if you catch my drift!!

A popular gay bar for all ages, however mainly a younger crowd. Great bar prices always with a good selection of lagers and bottled drinks.

My wife & myself was denied access to G-A-Y club last night due to us being heterosexual which in the door supervisors own words is door policy & we was refused access to the venue. We questioned the door supervisors actions, to then be told if we knew a gay person within the premises we would be granted access which we did but was still was not granted access, the door supervisor then went onto saying if we made a compliant she would radio all the other night clubs within the gay community to have us refused access to each venue. Obviously we complainted and went back to the lovely venue we previously socialising within but when we arrived door staff from another club around the corner 'tried' to stop us entering 'New York New York' but the management was involved and we was granted access. The whole situation left us feeling really let down by the door supervisors actions we have lots of gay friends and actively support our gay community but to have a policy that targets hetrosexuals is disputable.

I've been here before and generally find the staff to be very pompous. Tonight, I went to meet my friends in there and one of the doormen asked me a question but I didn't hear him clearly. I asked him to repeat and still couldn't tell what he was saying. The man then accused me of being too drunk to enter because 'he had had to repeat himself'. I don't even drink due to alcohol intolerance. When I explained that I hadn't had a single alcoholic drink and I genuinely couldn't tell what he was asking me, he patronisingly suggested I go and drink some water to sober up. This was after I watched him turn multiple people away because he 'didn't know them.' I've not been there for over a year so there's no way he knew me either, but I evidently passed some form of appearance assessment to avoid this excuse. Too bad I was drunk on fresh orange juice or I'd be busy enjoying their mediocre facilities.

£2 for a San Miguel, what could be wrong with that? Horror horror horror! This place began as Spirit, the purpose built new bar in a reinvented gay scene in the late'90s. Cutting edge build with roof terrace, great food and service. It was a sign of the times. Sadly the time it's a sign of now is bored indifference - a tragic feature of the once fashionable 'west end' of Canal Street. The glory days are over. It looks like a toilet, smells like a toilet yet gives no sense of relief! Doubtless its 3 floors still serve well as an undiscriminating dance space when late in the evening, but apart from cheap beer, it's only redeeming feature in daylight, it's a slum. Top tip - worth it if you're as broke as it is.

I really hope this site is used by management at GAY. Firstly as mentioned by other reviewers the door staff. I usually stick to rem or the Eagle so I'm not a regular at GAY although I have been on a few times. I was refused entry until I showed my Canal street card, stonewall membership and eagle card he allowed me in after a pat down. The bar staff are attentive, and at £1.50 a drink I can see why it's busy. The toilets are in humane, every urinal has a bucket underneath as they are so badly plumbed. No working hand dryer or tissues to dry your hands. The music is good, lighting nothing special. Give it a miss. View is more welcoming.

I promised I wouldn't compare this one to the London one but I have much reason to! Well, in short, this one is better than the London one, so there! Tuff, I have a favorite. This venue is very spacious, kind of like a labyrinth with little goblins lurking around every corner! Its colourful, its cheesy, its dirt cheap and you'll definitely love it! Outside terrace/smoking area! Music is loud! Location is brill, right at the top of canal street! Wide-screen flat-screen TVs built in, purple sofas, nice dance areas, only thing I would complain about is the lack of toilet space/facilities. Three cubilces for men and three cubicles for women in that venue is architectural stupidity (to put in bluntly). Great place to go before you hit your favourite club or a fab place to go at the end of a pub crawl!

Ok £1.5 for a pint of Sam Miguel from Sunday till Friday is wow. Place need little update but with that price for a drinks please not expect Holton standards lol. This place is very busy. For me full recommend Enjoy your cheep drinks include Jug of cocktail for only £5.

G.A.Y. Is a good bar to start the Night off Sunday to Thursday £1.50 a drink, Friday £2 a drink and on Saturday its normal prices. The music is always good with pop videos always playing. They have a private terrace for smokers or just to get an elevated view of the area. So if you just want a cheap night out in the middle of the week is the perfect place to get lots of cheap drinks. Clientelle does tend to be a younger crowd.

If the bouncers at G-A-Y were characters in a Harry Potter book, they would be Crabbe and Goyle. Maybe even Malfoy, depending on their mood. Basically, they'd be in Slytherin, for sure. They are just the kind of people who like to monopolise and maximise the small bit of power that they actually have. Don't even bother trying to flash them a smile, you won't get anything above a grimace in return. Those who know me know that I am a polite person, who likes to hold by the old saying 'manners don't cost a thing' so I am completely perplexed as to what I can have done to make these doormen so irate towards me on several occasions. I know I am not the only victim of this! G-A-Y's doormen have also been called into question a few times on acts of reverse discrimination. That is to say, if you don't look gay enough, you're not getting in, the phrase 'regulars only' has been bought up too often. Not only is the basic principle of this unacceptable (do you think normal clubs get away with denying entry to homosexuals?) but it's totally unfounded as it assumes that sexual identity can be recognized purely on appearance which, of course, is ridiculous. If, you do make it inside, be prepared for pop music galore, accompanied by their music videos flashing at you from numerous television screens on the walls. It's all a bit cheesey, and just a little bit tacky. I'm not a fan. When I'm in G-A-Y I prefer to avoid all this by escaping to the smoking area on the top floor, even though I don't smoke. Oh, and there are definitely not enough toilets for such a big place with a large capacity. So...after all my moaning, what are the redeeming features? In two words: drinks deals. Super cheap offers on drinks (and that it opens until 4am every night) mean that this place can always pull in a large crowd of customers, no matter how awful it is. On one night of the week, Monday I think, any spirit + mixer or certain alco-pops and beers are only £1, it's very dificult to argue with that when there are hundreds of thirsty, empty-pocketed students swarming around. It has become the destination of choice for 'pre-drinks'....much to my disappointment!

Awwwwwwful crowd!! Im a girl and a guy was ready to hit me last night accusing me of spilling my drink on him!! only good thing about this place is cheap drink and good music

G-A-Y is a London based bar, nightclub with the owner Jeremy Joseph deciding to pursue his adventure in a Bar on Canal Street, not a huge fan of Canal Street by the way, but its a fun bar to be at which has multiple levels with a bar on each floor, with the busiest on the first floor, they play most recent pop videos on video screens scattered around the place. They also have a roof terrace but its mainly used for smokers. Its a kind of place for younger gay guys but its very friendly every time we have been in, they do seem to have a strict door policy some nights though with locals only but we have never encountered a problem. Drink prices are very cheap, on sundays to thursdays all drinks are £1.50 and fridays £2 and saturdays around £3 and upwards, all drinks seem to be ok and are all served in plastic glasses. They only serve drinks and don't expect anything fancy but its a good night if you decide to have one or a few in this pretty fun bar!

Got a couple pints and sat outside on the cannel. No complaints. They have a little seating outside and I only went during the afternoon but I'm sure the place goes off at night.

So, G-A-Y has finally made it to Manchester. The famous London clubbing and late night drinking institution has graced us with a northern presence. Some may think this is a good thing, others may disagree. Personally I am not sure about it. GAY use to be good 10 years ago, but not much seems to have happened with the brand other than its transferal from their own club venue in London (The Astoria, which is no-more) to a residency at Heaven. The venue itself takes over from Spirit which was part of the Cougar Leisure group that went into administration last year. I am certainly glad that the site has been taken over and refurbished. It was in need of a face lift in my opinion. What has come of it all is a pleasant refresh to a bar which was always fun to be in. One of the things which is great about the venue is the open top roof terrace. This is perfect for smokers and is even heated in winter. Spirit used to hold BBQ on the terrace from time to time, so let's hope G-A-Y continues this trend. The drinks are reasonably priced (£3.50 a pint), the music is pop (as you would expect from this brand) and the clientele is generally under 35. The venue is gay but anyone can go. Worth a visit, even if just to satisfy your curiosity next time you are in the area.

My hubby and I once tried to go in one evening out of curiosity shortly after the place opened after replacing Spirit. We never got the chance as a guy who worked there told us bluntly that we were too old! (we were in our 40s) On another occasion months later we thought we would try again and were told "strictly regulars only!" Who do they think they are? Studio 54?!!! Never tried again!

Awful service - particularly if you're female. Last night I was waiting to order, bare in mind there's hardly anyone at the bar so you think it would be easy to tell who is next in the queue - especially if you've been waiting for 5 minutes but no as soon as 2 men walk in they wait around 10 seconds and get ordered before me!! Definitely won't be going back there! This has also happened before! Rude bar staff!!! Avoid at all costs

Average bar on Canal Street. The only other GAY outside of London. Cheap booze and good music! What more can the gays ask for? If you are ever in Manchester,make sure you pop down to GAY! :)

Cheap drinks and good music are all that gets this venue 3 stars. Sunday to Thursday any drink £1.50, Friday £2, Saturday £££expensive. It's starting to look quite scruffy around the edges and could do with a bit of a refurb. The toilets can be quite disgusting and are completely inadequate. The outside seating area is filthy, full of dog-ends, it's like sitting in an ashtray. The whole area needs a good jet washing. If the drinks weren't so cheap and the music do good, the place would only be 1 star.

This venue is definitely one of the best on Canal street. Cheap drinks and spacious place, although it's generally a jukebox playing so you can get some quiet moments, it's very good music though. Popular place and after a good frisk before being allowed in, there's plenty of choice from the bar!

Bad reception when you enter this bar. The door staff are unwelcoming and refuse entry based on their mood. I went here last night to have a drink because it is cheap, came back later on and they said it was regulars only. I have been going to the village for 13 years so how much more regular can you get? I could understand if I was staggering around the place but I am a very composed drinker and had only had 4 drinks up to this point. Place to avoid if you would like a warm welcome.

Downright dreadful. Was visiting Canal Street on a Tuesday evening with a few friends, just looking for a nice bar to have a drink in. Most places were empty so we thought we'd give GAY a whirl, only to be refused entry on account of the 'bouncer' not recognising us. Of course they wouldn't recognise us as we live in Holland. As if gay people haven't got enough to deal with on top of being refused entry into an establishment in which they are supposed to feel welcomed and included. Abysmal.

Absolutely appalling. Like the Lady in the other review mentioned, Regulars only! is a line they are using more and more and if they dont like the look of you your not getting in full stop! The bouncers are shocking and RUDE! I have been going in there for years and if your age on a Saturday night is over 30 don't even bother trying. You will attempt to queue and then theres the famous one liner. The fact that on several other occasions i have had laughs and banter with the door staff but then the following week... its "your not coming in" means quite clearly they wouldn't remember you from one week to the next so how they can determine whether or not your a regular is ridiclous. its funny how when you do get in the bar know who i am and what me and my friends drink. Maybe you should ditch the doorstaff and put your bar staff on the door at least then the idiots they do let in will be stopped as the staff behind the bar clearly have better people skills. If it weren't so reasonably priced i probably wouldn't be bothered but when you spend as much time with friedns as i do a venue like GAY is what the village needed. I recommend Crunch instead at least the doorstaff are nicer and the bar staff are just as friendly. Like GAY its not the nicest of venue but who cares when its cheap. Avoid GAY at all costs.

Met up for a drink here with one male and two female friends. We are all in our mid 40s. It was 5pm ish on Sunday and it was very quiet. While my friends went to bar to get a drink I stood in lobby area texting a friend. Some guy came up to me and asked me to move as I was obstructing the area. It was unreasonable as the lobby is a large area and there was nobody around. I refused so he put me in a headlock and dragged me outside. It was entirely unnecessary and unprovoked. Quite a nasty experience.

well the last 2 times I have been to Manchester and tried to get into G.A.Y Manchester we have been told by the bar staff that its for locals so we wasn't aloud in which I think is way out of order and I have been in all the over G.A.Y clubs in the uk, can a manager please reply to me and tell me why? as I am coming to Manchester on the 04/05/2017 and would like to come.

Spirit certainly needed sprucing up, but G.A.Y. Manchester has an awful atmosphere - it's very different to the London branch. Some other review sites have plenty of examples why - half empty much of the time; pretty cold catty atmosphere; stinking attitude of doorstaff; gay guys being turned away for not being camp enough; and quite a few people who believe there's a discriminatory policy, with women having a particularly tough time. Having been to the Manchester one about half a dozen times, there were two times when all of my group was let in, until they got to the final person, at which point they pulled us all back. To put it delicately, on both occasions we were entirely unconvinced that there was an acceptable reason for taking against those two individuals...

I have been here many times , the music is just fine , it depends of your taste , that's why i am putting 3 stars ( a lot of pop music ) , mostly of the guys that you can find here are young so if you are around your 20s is a great place to meet people. The only negative thing about this place is that the security can be so rude.