Hello Hello, and welcome to another Amie Article! This time we’re going to be discussing the best LGBTQ+ spots to go if you’re on a day out in Manchester!

Manchester is known for its vibrant LGBT culture and spots, all the way from Canal Street to Afflecks, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you enjoy bookstores or walks, cafes or afternoon tea, Manchester has it all and more!

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s dive right into our first spot!

1 – Queer Lit @ Tib Street, Northern Quarter

If you love books, then Queer Lit in the Northern Quarter is the place for you!

Queer Lit is Manchester’s longest running LGBT bookstore and specialises in all things LGBT books, from mental health to coming of age stories, there’s a book for every occasion here. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable plus it has a cosy environment, perfect for those who might get overwhelmed easily!

They’ve just expanded into LGBT accessories and clothing too, so if you want to show your pride, there’s nowhere better to go than Queer Lit!

They also host a Feel Good Book Club in conjunction with Feel Good Club (more on them later!) on the last Wednesday of every month, so if you want to read socially, this is the place for you! In addition, they also donate around 100 books a month to local schools at to help educate on Lgbtq+ community.

Head down to see them and if you're lucky you may meet the shop dog Jasper.

2 – Afflecks @ Church Street, Northern Quarter

An Institution of Manchester, Afflecks is home to all things weird and wonderful!

From Joy’s Creative Space to KStars, the costume shop to the Gay Pride Shop, Afflecks boasts something for all walks of life. They even have a rainbow staircase showcasing messages of love and fighting back against hate. One shop in particular though, is a great place to shop for all things LGBTQ and Pride...

Based on the second floor of Aflecks, Gay Pride Shop has everything from flags, face paint and glitter to clothing, books and even tableware. It set up shop in 2014 selling festival items, glitter, face paints, makeup and accessories and transformed into what is now Gay Pride Shop UK when they saw other businesses selling LGBTQ+ products but not giving back to the community.

Since launching the business, the Gay Pride Shop has grown into the UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ shop with almost 4000 items. The Gay Pride Shop do amazing work and give 15% of their proceeds to LGBT charities!

3 – Feel Good Club @ Hilton Street, Northern Quarter

I told you we’d get back to Feel Good Club and here we are!

Feel Good Club is a Wellbeing-themed coffee house and bar located in Manchester’s Northern Quarter run by married couple Aimie and Kiera Lawlor-Skillen.

With their Queer Club Quiz, Queer as F*ck open mic night and the Feel Good Book Club, they have a wide range of day & night activities to get involved in.

They also have a newly released book “The Feel-Good Club Guide to Feeling Good and Being Okay with it When You’re Not” expanding their brand across the globe with their wellbeing message “to make one person feel better about themselves each day”

4 – HOME @ Tony Wilson Place, Deansgate

HOME is an arts space showcasing Film, Theatre and Art of all disciplines in their five cinemas and two theatres. The venue often shows LGBTQ+ artists and have loads of queer themed shows. And they also do some student discounts on tickets too!

A perfect space to spend an afternoon exploring and seeing all that is on offer. With their gallery space as well, they regular have LGBTQ+ exhibits open to the public and being a 5-minute walk from both Oxford Road and Deansgate stations

5 – Gay Village @ Canal Street

And who would we be if we didn’t include the Gay Village? At the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village lies Canal Street, with over 40 venues there’s something there for everyone.

From clubbing at G-A-Y to a sit-down tapa at Molly House. With plenty of Takeaways for the end of the night it's sure to be an amazing time. In contrast there is Sackville Garden with a public garden space for a chill sit down and LGBT History Trail, where you can follow the rainbow murals dotted around the city to learn more about Manchester’s Queer History, including a visit to the Alan Turing Statue.

And how could I not mention Richmond Tea Rooms? They off over 18’s Drag Afternoon Teas themed around Alice in Wonderland, as well as Cabaret and Burlesque Drags Days too!

These are just a few of the top spots to go in Manchester but there’s so many more places to explore, so next time you are out and about in town, why not go and discover them for yourself!