Manchester Queer Spaces
- Art & Creatives
- Books & Culture
- Events
- Food | Drinks | Cafes
- Beauty | Hair | Tattoos
- Outdoors & Socials
- Retail
- Wellness
Studio Dawn
Self Care | Beginner Friendly | Creative Workshops
🖌️STUDIO DAWN
Queer & Female-Owned Creative Studio
📍 MediaCityUK, Salford
Studio Dawn is your local self-care sanctuary in the heart is MediaCityUK, Salford. A queer & female owned creative space hosting a wide range of beginner-friendly creative workshops to provide a slice of self-care when you need it. Studio Dawn is also your one-stop-shop for self-care staples, with the shop offering a wide variety of craft kits, hand-crafted homewares, plants, eco-refills and self-care treats!
🏳️🌈 A space to slow down, get creative, and feel held.
🎨 Vibe: nurturing, crafty, and joyfully queer.
📅 Don’t miss their cosy workshops, seasonal markets & self-care socials.
Manchester Queer Art Market
Queer Art Market highlighting LGBTQ+ creatives!
Manchester Queer Art Market
Queer Art Market highlighting LGBTQ+ creatives!
what is manchester’s Queer art market?
- A not‑for‑profit marketplace founded in 2022 by queer artists Ben Saunders and Ben Hodges to create an inclusive, judgment-free space for Northern queer makers
- Hosted quarterly (and sometimes monthly) at venues like Feel Good Club, The Proud Place, and Queer Lit.
- Welcomes 20–30+ stallholders each event—offering art, crafts, zines, hand-poke tattoos, workshops, interactive experiences, and more
💬 Community & Atmosphere
- Creators describe the atmosphere as relaxed, welcoming, and positive—a stark contrast to typically “intimidating” mainstream markets.
- Stallholders often share that attendees find it a safe space to be themselves, and many leave significantly impacted by the community vibe
📅 Upcoming Markets
- Next market listed: Sunday 29th June, across two floors with 20+ queer artists, plus free tea & coffee
- Events are shared via their Instagram @mcrqueerartmarket — including stallholder applications and creative workshops (e.g. pendant‑making)
Why It Matters for McQ
Manchester Queer Art Market is a perfect example of what McQ stands for: community‑driven, trans‑inclusive, and expanding queer visibility beyond nightlife. It directly supports queer makers, highlights grassroots creativity, and builds chosen family in physical space.
🔗 Want to get involved or check it out?
- Follow @mcrqueerartmarket on Instagram for event announcements, stallholder calls, and behind‑the‑scenes updates.
- Support by attending, shopping queer art, or applying to be a stallholder.
- Collaborate—if you run a queer venue, creative collective, or want to host a market, reach out (founders are actively working with venues like Feel Good Club & The Proud Place)
Manchester LGBT+ Heritage Trail
A Walk Through Queer History
Manchester LGBT+ Heritage Trail
A Walk Through Queer History
what is the LGBT+ Heritage Trail?
The Manchester LGBT+ Heritage Trail is a powerful reminder that queer people have always been here — shaping the city’s streets, culture, and radical spirit.
Launched in 2005, the trail features over 20 rainbow-tiled markers across central Manchester, each celebrating a moment, place, or figure important to the city’s LGBTQIA+ past. From groundbreaking protests to underground clubs, the trail brings visibility to histories that were too often hidden.
Highlights include:
- Canal Street — once the heart of secret queer nightlife, now a symbol of survival and celebration.
- The New Union Hotel — a historic pub and one of the longest-running gay venues in the UK.
- The Alan Turing Memorial in Sackville Gardens — honouring the gay codebreaker whose life and legacy changed the world.
- The Lesbian & Gay Centre (now The Proud Place) — the first publicly funded LGBTQ+ centre in Europe.
The trail helps us honour the activists, artists, and everyday queers who made space for us today. It’s not just about remembering — it’s about reclaiming.
🗺️ Want to explore it yourself?
You can find maps online, or simply look down for the rainbow mosaics next time you’re in the Village or city centre.
✨ McQ recommends: Pair the trail with a visit to The Proud Place, Queer Lit, or Feel Good Club for a full day of queer history and community.
The Rainbow Arts Trail
Free public art trail across Manchester connecting queer art
THE RAINBOW ARTS TRAIL
free public art trail across Manchester connecting queer artworks, murals, poems, and installations.
what is the rainbow arts trail?
A free, city-wide public art trail launched in May 2025 to mark the 50th anniversary of the LGBT Foundation. Curated in collaboration with Barefoot Wine and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this trail brings together works from 30+ LGBTQ+ artists—inscriptions of hope, joy, protest, and pride gracing murals, poems, photographs, sound pieces, and installations
Where to Find It:
Dotted across Piccadilly Station and Bridge, Piccadilly Place, Kampus Garden, The Gay Village, St Peter’s Square (adjacent to Manchester Art Gallery), and other central Manchester spots
Featured Mediums & Artworks:
- Photography & Illustration: Uplifting visuals at Piccadilly Place (e.g. Scot Cunningham’s film‑quote posters)
- Poetry & Prose: Intimate poetic works by Kay Fulbrook, Lynne Jones, and Chloe Roberts displayed at Velvet Hotel and throughout the Village
- Sound Installations: Site‑specific audio pieces that add immersive depth to the trail experience
- Public Murals & Sculptural Works: Including Jenny Leonard’s timeline artworks in Kampus Garden and Devon Short’s “Living Scars” on the Richmond Tea Rooms railings
Why It Matters:
- Visibility & Celebration: A bold, tactile reclaiming of public space with queer art that breaks through everyday routines and celebrates queer narratives.
- Community-Led: Each artwork reflects lived experience—from trans joy to protest, intimacy, resistance, and everyday love.
- Accessible & Engaging: Free to explore from May–September, supported by downloadable trail maps, QR-linked contextual content, and a virtual Google Arts & Culture version
Visitor Info:
- Dates: 17 May – 1 September 2025 (citywide)
- Trail Map: Available via LGBT Foundation’s website and Google Arts & Culture/StoryMap interactive versions
- Social Tags: Share your journey with #RainbowArtsTrail and #LGBTFoundation50
Queer Lit
Bookshop | Community Space | Queer-Owned
📚 Queer Lit
Bookshop | Community Space | Queer-Owned
📍 39 Tib Street, Northern Quarter
Manchester’s dedicated LGBTQ+ bookshop, stocking over 2,000 queer titles across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, and children’s books. Founded by a local queer owner with a mission to make queer stories visible.
🌈 Inclusive space with events, book clubs & safe vibes.
📦 Nationwide shipping & a thriving online store.
💬 Come browse, chat, and discover something affirming.
Home
Cinema | Theatre | Gallery | Queer-Inclusive Arts Hub
🎬 HOME Manchester
Cinema | Theatre | Gallery | Queer-Inclusive Arts Hub
📍 2 Tony Wilson Place, First Street, Manchester
HOME is Manchester’s centre for contemporary film, art, and performance — known for championing diverse voices and hosting queer-focused screenings, exhibitions, and festivals.
🌈 Queer-inclusive programming all year round
🎭 Independent films, queer theatre & live Q&As
🖼️ Café-bar, galleries, rooftop & creative community events
The Manchester Literature Festival
Annual Festival | Spoken Word | Queer Voices Featured
✍️ Manchester Literature Festival
Annual Festival | Spoken Word | Queer Voices Featured
📍 Various venues across Manchester
Celebrating storytelling in all forms, the Manchester Literature Festival brings together acclaimed writers, poets, and performers from around the world — with a strong platform for LGBTQ+ authors and voices.
📚 Inclusive events covering poetry, fiction, memoir & activism
🎤 Features queer writers, panels & spoken word nights
🌆 Held every October across theatres, libraries & galleries
Queer Book Swap Manchester
Queer Literature | Community | Storytelling & Connection
📚 Queer Book Swap Manchester
Queer Literature | Community | Storytelling & Connection
📍 Manchester, UK
Queer Book Swap Manchester is a welcoming, grassroots collective celebrating queer stories and voices through the love of books. Rooted in a passion for diverse LGBTQ+ narratives, the swap creates inclusive spaces where queer readers and writers—especially LGBTQ+ people of colour—can share, discover, and connect.
📖 Hosts regular book swaps, readings & community events
🌈 Elevating queer voices and narratives across identities
💫 More than books — it’s community, empowerment, and joy
🔥 All levels of readers and book lovers welcome
The Dyke Agenda
Saving Sapphic Spaces
✂️✨ The Dyke Agenda
Queer Collective | Event Series | Space Keepers
📍 Manchester-based Dyke-Led Movement
The Dyke Agenda is a grassroots group of dykes in Manchester committed to keeping queer spaces alive, loud, and unapologetically dyke-ish. Whether you’re looking for flirty fun, radical joy, or just a place to be your full queer self — this is your agenda.
🪩 Hosting funky, flirty, dyke-powered events across the city
🌟 Championing queer visibility, creativity & resistance
📣 Prioritising trans, disabled, BIPOC & working-class dykes
💌 Stay tuned via Instagram for launch parties, pop-ups & community calls
Queers in MCR
Queer Event Listing | Community Sharing | Safe Socials
🗓️ Queers in MCR
Queer Event Listing | Community Sharing | Safe Socials
📍 Manchester-based Instagram Collective
Queers in MCR is your go-to Insta-guide for everything queer happening across Manchester. Run by and for the local LGBTQ+ community, they spotlight inclusive events, grassroots meetups, and queer-owned businesses — helping you find your people and your place in the city.
🌈 Regular posts featuring club nights, art shows, open mics, sober spaces & more
🤝 Community-driven platform — anyone can submit events
📣 Prioritising trans, BIPOC & marginalised queer voices
💌 Your queer week, at a glance — delivered via Stories & Reels
Queer Manchester
Queer Friendship | Community Events | Joy & Connection
🌈 Queer Manchester
Queer Friendship | Community Events | Joy & Connection
📍 Manchester, UK
Queer Manchester creates warm, welcoming spaces for queer women, trans, and non-binary people to meet, connect, and build community. From park hangs to sober socials, every event is designed with care — low-pressure, inclusive, and full of queer joy.
🌈 Events for queer women, always trans & enby inclusive
💖 Focused on friendship, not dating
🧃 Mostly sober spaces — accessible, chill, and kind
✨ Come solo, come curious, come as you are
💫 It’s not just events — it’s chosen family, soft connections & real-life queer joy
Queer as Folk MCR
Folk Music | Queer Joy | Community & Song
🪕Queer as Folk MCR
Folk Music | Queer Joy | Community & Song
📍 The Molly House & Other Venues Across Manchester, UK
Queer as Folk is a grassroots folk night for queers & pals — bringing live music, storytelling, and acoustic vibes to cosy venues across Manchester. Expect fiddles, harmonies, queer ballads and warm, welcoming energy.
🎻 Showcasing queer folk artists & voices
🌈 Trans & enby inclusive, always
🍻 Accessible venues, chill vibes, low-pressure hangs
🪕 Come sing, listen, or just soak up the joy
💫 Not just a gig — it’s queer connection through music, community & shared traditions
Red Rodeo Club
Queer Line Dancing | Cuntry Couture | Boot-Scootin’ Joy
🤠Red Rodeo Club
Queer Line Dancing | Cuntry Couture | Boot-Scootin’ Joy
📍 Manchester, UK
Red Rodeo Club is Manchester’s only queer line dancing night — where rhinestones meet resistance and country goes cuntry. No experience? No problem. Just bring your sass, your boots (or trainers), and get ready to two-step with the queerest cowpokes in town.
🤠 Easy-to-follow line dance tutorial to start
👢 Dress cuntry — fringe, denim, glitter, yeehaw energy
🎶 Bangers from Dolly to Shania, Beyoncé to Orville Peck
🌈 All identities welcome | Trans & enby inclusive always
🔥 High-camp, high-fun, no judgment
Sparkle
Trans Joy | Visibility | Community Celebration
✨Sparkle
Trans Joy | Visibility | Community Celebration
📍 Sackville Gardens, Manchester | 27–29 June 2025
Sparkle is the UK’s largest and longest-running celebration of the trans, non-binary and gender-diverse community. A vibrant weekend of live music, performance, community stalls, sober spaces, and empowerment — right in the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village.
🌈 3 days of free events, workshops & wellness
🎤 Trans-led performances, DJs & cabaret
💖 Family-friendly, accessible & inclusive
🛍️ Community market, info stalls & resources
🕯️ Finishing with a powerful Candlelit Vigil
💫 All are welcome — come celebrate, connect & uplift trans joy
BiPhoria Meets
Bisexual Community | Support | Connection
💜 BiPhoria Meets
Bisexual Community | Support | Connection
📍 Manchester, UK
BiPhoria is the UK’s longest-running support and social group for bi+ people. Based in Manchester, BiPhoria Meets offer a safe, friendly space to chat, connect, and be yourself — whether you’re bi, pan, queer, questioning, or just figuring things out.
🌈 Monthly meetups for bi+ folks of all genders
🗣️ Peer-led conversations & social hangouts
🤝 Confidential, welcoming & zero pressure
📚 Resources, support, and a place to be heard
💬 New faces always welcome — just show up as you are
💫 Because bi+ people deserve community too.
Superbia Events
Queer Culture | Art | Community Celebration
🌟 Superbia Events
Queer Culture | Art | Community Celebration
📍 Manchester, UK
Superbia is Manchester Pride’s year-round programme of LGBTQ+ arts and culture — spotlighting queer creativity, connection and care beyond the party. From film screenings to poetry nights, exhibitions to community-led workshops, Superbia supports spaces where queer voices thrive.
🎭 Curated queer arts events across Greater Manchester
🎨 Platforming LGBTQ+ artists, makers & performers
💖 Accessible, sober-friendly & community-rooted
📅 Free or low-cost events, all year round
🌈 Centring joy, resistance, and cultural pride
💫 Because queer culture doesn’t stop after Pride weekend.
Sunspace Interiors
Queer Culture | Botanical Artistry | Community Greening
🪴Sunspace Interiors
🌿 Queer Culture | Botanical Artistry | Community Greening
📍 Manchester, UK
Sunspace Interiors is a queer-led, Manchester-based collective bringing nature, design, and community together—one plant at a time. We believe green spaces are healing spaces, and that everyone deserves a slice of serenity in the middle of the city.
From curated indoor jungles to creative planting workshops, we centre joy, connection, and care through everything we grow.
🌱 Designing soulful interiors rooted in nature
🪴 Platforming queer-led plant culture & creative ecology
💚 Accessible, joyful & low-pressure plant care for all
🎨 Collaborating with artists, growers & makers
🌈 Building green spaces where queer lives flourish
✨ Because wellbeing should be beautiful and radical
The Refuge
Bold, Beautiful & Proudly Queer-Friendly
✨ The Refuge
Restaurant | Bar | Queer-Friendly Space
📍 Oxford Street, Manchester (within Kimpton Clocktower Hotel)
A grand yet welcoming space blending music, art, cocktails, and culture. The Refuge is known for its eclectic atmosphere, inclusive events, and legendary DJ sets.
🌈 Hosts queer-friendly socials, exhibitions & live music in a stunning setting.
🍽️ Perfect for brunch, late-night drinks, or creative gatherings.
🪩 Home to many Pride afterparties & inclusive city-wide events.
Boxx2Boxx
Coffee, Community & Queer-Friendly Vibes.
⚽ Boxx2Boxx
Queer-Friendly Coffee Shop
📍 Palatine Road, Northenden
Co-founded by Lioness legend Jill Scott MBE and fiancée Shelly, Boxx2Boxx is all about coffee, community, and conversation.
☕ A relaxed café spot with great brews, big heart, and even bigger football energy.
🌈 Welcoming space for all — proudly queer-run and community-focused.
🏆 Named after Jill’s box-to-box midfield style and packed with personality.
The Firehouse
Queer-Positive Feasting, Dancing & Disco Inferno.
🔥 The Firehouse
Restaurant | Nightspot | Creative Space
📍 Swan Street, Manchester
An effortlessly cool, queer-friendly venue serving wood-fired food, cocktails, and after-dark magic. By day it’s a chilled eatery — by night, it transforms into a dance-fuelled creative space.
🍕 Known for open-fire cooking, dreamy garden vibes & pop-up performances.
💃 Hosts DJs, art, queer collectives & the cult-fave “Diecast” afterparties.
🌈 Inclusive space with edge, heart, and heat.
The Nip & Tipple
Laid-back, Queer-Loved Neighbourhood Gem
🍸 The Nip & Tipple
Bar | Queer-Friendly Hangout | Chorlton Gem
📍 373 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton
A beloved independent neighbourhood bar with a loyal queer following, great tunes, and strong cocktails. It’s cosy, chilled, and full of charm — a true local fave.
🌈 Queer-friendly vibes with no pretence.
🎶 Expect DJs, open mic nights & vintage interiors.
🍹 Sip a tipple, grab a booth, stay for the vibes.
Homoelectric
For Homos, Heteros, Lesbos & Don’t-Know-So’s
💥 Homoelectric
Club Night | Queer Rave | Underground Icon
📍 Various venues across Manchester (mainly Hidden)
A legendary queer rave for all genders, sexualities & races, Homoelectric is all about no pretence, just dance. It’s sweaty, electric, and full of soul — a safe space for outsiders and ravers alike.
🎧 Expect house, disco, techno & pure hedonism.
🌈 Fiercely inclusive. Non-judgemental. Totally liberating.
🪩 If you know, you know.
The Gay Village
Manchester’s Beating Queer Heart
🌈 The Gay Village
Neighbourhood | Nightlife Hub | LGBTQ+ Landmark
📍 Canal Street, Manchester City Centre
Manchester’s historic heart of queer nightlife and community. The Gay Village spans Canal Street and beyond — a vibrant strip of bars, clubs, cafés and spaces that have been home to LGBTQ+ joy, protest, and pride for decades.
🪩 From legendary nights out to daytime cafés and drag brunches.
📖 Steeped in queer history, activism & resilience.
💖 A must-visit for locals and visitors alike.
👉 Search: “Canal Street Manchester” on socials & maps
Riot Hearts Collective
An alternative, gender neutral, LGBTQIA+ inclusive collective; offering hair and nail services.
Riot Hearts Collective
A trailblazing, LGBTQIA+ inclusive hair and beauty studio in the heart of Manchester city centre, Riot Hearts Collective offers a fresh, affirming experience unlike any traditional salon
What Riot Hearts Offers
- Hair & Nail Services: A full suite of gender-neutral offerings including cuts, colours, styling, and nail art—all under one roof .
- Fixed Pricing, Service-Only Focus: Prices are based on the service itself—not the client’s gender. This ensures fairness and clarity
- A Safe & Sociable Studio: Private, one-on-one appointments in a relaxed, non-judgmental space—designed to feel like catching up with friends
🏳️ Inclusive & Community-Driven
Riot Hearts was born from the founders’ own experiences of feeling out of place in traditional salons—as queer individuals seeking creative and affirming spaces They created Riot Hearts to be a refuge for creative expression and queer identity—welcoming trans and non-binary clients with open arms
🎵 The Vibe & Culture
Styled as a duo of “aging emos,” the creative team brings alternative energy to Portland Street. During appointments, expect playlists featuring My Chemical Romance, Paramore, and Panic! at the Disco—set against a backdrop of mismatched vintage décor, velvet couches, and a welcoming studio dog named Mo
📍 Location & Accessibility
- Address: 74 Portland St, 1st & 2nd Floor, Manchester, M1 4GU
- Hours: Tuesday–Saturday (times vary); check online before visiting .
- Access Note: Situated on upper floors with stair-only entry—unfortunately not wheelchair accessible .
📣 Community Praise
Celebrated widely in the press, Riot Hearts is credited with redefining Manchester’s hair scene—bringing queer-affirming services to the mainstream. It’s also recommended within queer forums as a reasonably priced, friendly alternative for trans clients
Shallows Studio
Tattoo & Alt‑Beauty Speakeasy.
Creative Collection with over 20 independent freelance artists
Shallows Studio – Tattoo & Alt‑Beauty Speakeasy
Where: 74 Princess Street, beneath Whitworth Locke aparthotel, Manchester M1 6BD
What is Shallows Studio?
Shallows is a boundary-pushing alternative beauty & tattoo studio tucked into a renovated underground swimming pool turned speakeasy-style space . It’s not just a salon — it’s a creative collective with over 20 independent freelance artists specializing in:
- Tattoo (walk-in, flash, custom, and even transient “ephemeral” ink designs meant to fade in 3–4 years)
- Piercing, hair/barber, nails, lashes, brows, facials, aesthetics, massage — all in one inclusive venue
🕰️ Style & Atmosphere
- Think upside-down swimming pool meets classy speakeasy — complete with waiter service for coffee, cocktails, and snacks served via QR code while you’re getting beautified
- The founders describe Shallows as “build-a-bear for humans”: a joyful, open-ended place of transformation
- Expect a friendly crew, alternative decor, and creative playlists — all curated to make you feel seen and inspired .
💡 Why McQ Loves It
- It’s visibly queer-friendly and inclusive, providing a space that defies normative beauty standards.
- Featuring ephemeral tattoos (“fading ink”) and non-gendered pricing reflects innovation, accessibility, and choice — values central to McQ’s mission.
- As a creative hub with freelance artists, Shallows amplifies queer artistry and community over corporate glam.
📅 Need-to-Know Info
- Walk-in tattoos: Mon–Sat, 12–7 pm; also offers “bottomless tattoo” sessions for extended ink projects
- Opening hours: Typically open daily from early morning until late evening (8 am–11 pm)
- Booking: Visit their website to see artists, flash menus, and make bookings for tattoos, piercing, nails, hair, etc.
📣 Join the Scene
A go-to space for those craving creativity, autonomy, and a queer-affirming space in the citypriced, friendly alternative for trans clients
Follow @shallows.studio for artist spotlights, flash days, and community events
Book a bold tattoo, get a haircut that’s truly you, or enjoy a mid-session latte — all in one unforgettable environment
RCNQ
Vibrant, queer- and neurodivergent-owned hair salon and Barbers located in the Northern Quarter.
RCNQ
Queer & Neurodivergent-Friendly Salon
What is RCNQ?
RCNQ is a vibrant, queer- and neurodivergent-owned hair salon nestled in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Operating as both a hair studio and a barbershop (Barber Below), it offers a welcoming space for all gender expressions and hair types.
🎈 Inclusive by Design
- Trans-affirming environment: Gender-neutral pricing and a booking system that actively includes pronoun sharing to affirm clients across their journeys.
- Welcoming to all neurotypes: The salon is autistic- and ADHD-owned, providing sensory awareness and adaptable interactions for a comfortable experience.
- All textures celebrated: Experts in Afro, curly, straight, and mixed textures—with stylists skilled in braids, wigs, silk presses, and protective styles
💬 Community Voice
According to local users on Reddit, “RCNQ are super queer friendly and lovely! … they were super duper great with pronouns and making you feel calm and relaxed”. One shared they were even confident enough to get a bi-flag hairstyle for Pride—emphasising creativity and trust.
💡 Style, Vibe & Owner
The salon’s aesthetic is playful and bold—anime- and K‑pop–inspired décor, rainbow mirrors, fluffy cloud accents, nostalgic 90s & 00s playlists, and even a friendly reception dog
Rob Czlapka, salon owner and stylist, brings a creative, sensory-informed approach—focusing on lived-in fringes, blended colours, razor cuts, and natural textures.
Holier Than Thou
Manchester’s premier destination for body piercing, tattooing, and beauty modifications.
Holier Than Thou
Piercing & Tattoo Specialists
what is holier than thou?
Located in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter, Holier Than Thou is the city’s premier destination for body piercing, tattooing, and beauty modifications, serving clients from across the North West and beyond
🛠️ Services & Expertise
- Piercing: From ear cartilage to intimate piercings (ages 8+ for lobes, 16+ for others), using mirror-polished, internally threaded, implant-grade titanium and a wide range of high-end jewellery (e.g. Maria Tash, BVLA) — pricing starts at around £25 plus jewellery costs.
- Tattooing: Custom and walk-in tattoos with transparent, service-based pricing — larger pieces quoted per day .
- Modifications: Things like laser tattoo reduction and other procedures, backed by stringent hygiene standards including operating-theatre-level sterilisation, autoclaves, and HEPA filters.
👥 Inclusive & Professional
- Manchester’s only UKAPP-certified studio, with five certified piercers and one apprentice — adhering to the highest pro-piercing standards
- Gender-neutral pricing, pronoun sharing encouraged, and a space that celebrates queer clients — especially trans and neurodivergent peoples.
- Accessibility improvements include a new ground-floor space for clients with mobility needs.
- The friendly, knowledgeable team is praised across platforms like Reddit for professionalism, fix-it care (e.g. realigning botched piercings), and being welcoming to nervous clients
🏠 Location & Practical Info
Booking: Online for piercings and tattoos, walk-ins accepted for piercings if slots remain — appointments required for beauty services like “Lashes of Lilith”
Address: 97 Oldham Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1LW
Opening Hours: Mon–Sun (typically 10 am–6:30 pm, later on weekends)
TINY’s Barbershop
A welcoming, community-focused barbershop in Sale (Greater Manchester)
TINY’S Barbers
Sale’s Queer-Friendly & Trans-Affirming Salon
what is tiny’s?
A welcoming, community-focused barbershop in Sale (Greater Manchester), TINY’s Barbershop is explicitly LGBTQ+ inclusive, with mental-health-trained staff committed to creating a safe and affirming environment.
🌈 Why TINY’s Stands Out
- Trans- and non-binary-affirming by design: Introduces gender-neutral pricing, pronoun inclusion during bookings, and offers half-price haircuts for trans and non-binary teens as part of grants (e.g., funded by Manchester Pride’s Superbia Queer Arts Fund).
- Community & mental-health focus: Staff are trained in mental health first aid and often provide information packs or support resources, particularly aimed at trans youth and their families.
- Positive and inclusive atmosphere: Frequently praised online for their friendly, understanding service—particularly for queer and trans clients. One Reddit user noted: “Cut, Wash and Finish … First time trying this barber’s being LGBT+ I instantly felt comfortable …”
✂️ Services & Booking Info
- Barber services include cuts, wash & finish (£26 for 45 mins), clipper cuts, beard trims, and ‘Tiny & Talls’ sessions (£44 for 75 mins). They also cater for under-16s and seniors.
- Book online via Booksy or their website; walk-ins may be accepted depending on availability.
- Location: 124 Northenden Rd, Sale M33 3HD (Parking, Wi‑Fi, pet‑friendly, child‑friendly, disability-access).
📣 Highlight: Manchester Pride Funding
TINY’s received a £400 grant from Manchester Pride’s Superbia Queer Arts Fund (March 2023) to offer half-price haircuts and goodie bags for trans and non-binary teens, alongside information and mental-health resources.
Charlotte ‘Chip’ Matthews, founder, describes the shop as a safe, confidence-building space — especially for families supporting trans youth.
Purple Rinse
Central Manchester Queer
and Trans‑friendly Hair & Colour Haven
Purple Rinse
Central Manchester Queer and Trans‑friendly Hair & Colour Haven
What is purple rinse?
Purple Rinse is a queer- and trans‑friendly one-on-one hair salon located in Suite 128 of Phenix Salon Suites on Deansgate, steps from Manchester Victoria Station. Run by Luke, a Goldwell master colourist, the studio offers a safe, personalised salon experience for everyone, regardless of identity or background
✂️ Services & Vibe
- Haircuts & styling from £45 for a Cut & Finish (1 hr), with Clipper Cuts (£20) and add-ons like tone refreshes from £30
- Colour treatments, balancing technical excellence with personal flair—from highlights to toning services .
- Mirrorless appointments for those who prefer a quiet, de‑sensitised environment—just £0. A conscious choice to ease sensory or gender dysphoria
- Comfort-focused extras: refreshments (coffee, alcohol), wheelchair access, pet-friendly vibes, free Wi‑Fi, and a welcoming, non-judgmental space .
🧠 Inclusive & Community-Driven
- Luke, as an LGBTQ+ stylist, created Purple Rinse to be “a safe space… where, however you identify… you can have your hair done without any judgment”
- The salon is consistently rated 5 stars with over 400 glowing reviews on Treatwell, praising Luke’s attentiveness, warmth, and transformative cuts “Luke is so good at understanding what you want……I’ve had SOOO many compliments since… 10/10 recommend”
📍 Location & Booking
Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible, and suitable for folks seeking quieter, judgment-free appointments
Where: Suite 128, Phenix Salon Suites, 1 Deansgate, M3 1AZ — a short stroll from Victoria Station
How to Book: Online via Treatwell with 24/7 availability; select “mirrorless appointment” if desired.
Hex Hairdressing
Inclusive, Bold & Queer-Friendly Salon.
No Bullshit.
Hex Hairdressing
Inclusive, Bold & Queer-Friendly Salon
What hex hairdressing is
Located at 14 Tib Lane, Manchester city centre, Hex Hairdressing describes itself as welcoming “Good Eggs” to a “bullshit-free” experience with a stylised twist: “science, magic and sass”
🌈 Services & Style
- Gender-Neutral & Neruo-Spicy Focus: All clients charged fairly by time or service—no gendered pricing—great for trans, non-binary, and queer folks.
- Expert Stylists Covering Every Hair Niche: From edgy mullets and bold colours to barbering, keratin, curls, and texture—creative cuts without limits. “Rainbow-hued, spiky mullet dreams”—they’ve got it handled.
- Playful Culture: Led by “Head Witch” Kayleigh Johnson with a rotating crew of stylists—all branded as “Good Eggs” for every human: stylists such as Mark, Bex Heart, Brent, Kate, Becky, Lily, and Keri.
💬 Community Reviews
Reddit feedback reflects real appreciation:
“Hex Hair Dressing on Tib Lane are fantastic folks. All very capable and lovely humans.”
✅ Why McQ Features Hex
- Queer-identifying environment: Bold, creative, and inclusive.
- Service not gender-based: Charging for expertise, not body.
- High-skill artistry: Bold cuts and colours executed with care.
- Warm & witty staff: A vibe that puts you at ease—and inspires creativity.
📍 Practical Info
- Location: 14 Tib Lane, Manchester, M2 4JB
- Booking: Online and by email (hexhairdressing@gmail.com)
- Hours: Open weekdays—check their site for current times.
Dyketopia
Queer Residentials | By the Community, for the Community
🌈 Dyketopia
Queer Residentials
📍 Manchester & Beyond
Think utopian QUEER residential escapes in nature, built by the community for the community. Dyketopia will organise non-profit residential events for queer women, non-binary and trans folk to build connection, community, joy and care. We will also run regular continuity events throughout the year.
♿Accessibilityy built in – Quiet Sensory Friendly Zones | Financial Access | Physical Adaptations | Neurodiversity centred planning.
🥾 Outdoor Connection: Hiking | Firesides | Music | BBQs | Smores | Time in Nature
🤝 Community-led Workshops: Art | Dance | Sports | Music | Poetry and more
Dykes Who Hike
Outdoor Group | Social Hikes | Queer Connection
🥾 Dykes Who Hike MCR
Outdoor Group | Social Hikes | Queer Connection
📍 Manchester & Beyond
A hiking group for queer women, non-binary, and trans folks who love the outdoors, movement, and meeting community. Based in Manchester, this group organises monthly walks across the North West — from gentle woodland strolls to scenic countryside treks.
🌈 Safe & inclusive space — zero pressure, all welcome
🗓️ Walks announced on Instagram with meetup details
🤝 Build friendships while reconnecting with nature
Lesbian Run Club
Running Group | Social Fitness | Queer Women & Non-Binary Focused
👟 Lesbian Run Club MCR
Running Group | Social Fitness | Queer Women & Non-Binary Focused
📍 Manchester-based
A community run club for lesbians, queer women, and non-binary folks in Manchester. Whether you’re brand new to running or smashing 10Ks, this group offers a welcoming space to move your body, make friends, and feel good — without pressure or judgment.
🏃♀️ Weekly runs at a social pace — all abilities welcome
💬 Post-run chats, socials & affirming community vibes
🌈 Created for queer connection, confidence & movement joy
Northern Cocks Badminton
LGBTQ+ Sports Club | Social & Competitive Badminton
🏸 Northern Cocks Badminton Club
LGBTQ+ Sports Club | Social & Competitive Badminton
📍 Sugden Sports Centre, Manchester
Northern Cocks is Manchester’s inclusive badminton club for LGBTQ+ players and allies. Whether you’re picking up a racquet for the first time or a seasoned shuttle slayer, you’re welcome here.
🌈 Open to all genders and abilities — beginners encouraged
🏸 Weekly social sessions + opportunities for league play
💬 Friendly, fun, and low-pressure way to stay active & meet queers
🎉 Hosts tournaments, pride events & post-match socials
Queer Out Here
Hiking Collective | LGBTQ+ Adventures | Nature Connection
🌲 Queer Out Here
Hiking Collective | LGBTQ+ Adventures | Nature Connection
📍 UK-wide with Manchester-based events
Queer Out Here is a grassroots hiking and outdoors collective for LGBTQ+ folks and allies who crave connection through nature. From countryside walks to wild swims, this group invites you to reclaim the outdoors as a queer space.
🥾 Monthly hikes, seasonal campouts, and accessible nature rambles
🏕️ Open to all identities under the LGBTQ+ umbrella
🌿 Community-led, body-positive, and beginner-friendly
Little Queer Campout
DIY Camping Festival | Queer Joy | Weekend Escapes
⛺ Little Queer Campout
DIY Camping Festival | Queer Joy | Weekend Escapes
📍 Secret Countryside Locations (North West)
Little Queer Campout is an off-grid camping micro-festival designed by queers, for queers. Think tents, tunes, fire pits, and freedom — a space to disconnect from the world and reconnect with community.
🎶 Intimate line-ups with DJs, acoustic sets & workshops
🔥 Fireside chats, communal meals, and late-night magic
🌈 Built to be inclusive, anti-corporate, and all about queer joy
The Gay Pride Shop
Queer Retail | Pride Merch | Community Giving
🏳️🌈The Gay Pride Shop
Queer Retail | Pride Merch | Community Giving
📍 Manchester & Online
The UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ store, proudly based in Manchester’s iconic Afflecks. We stock everything from pride flags to queer books, inclusive fashion to thoughtful gifts — all created with and for our community.
🛍️ Over 1,000+ LGBTQ+ products in-store & online
🌈 Owned & run by a gay couple, supporting queer makers
💖 15% of profits donated to LGBTQ+ charities each year
🎁 Flags, pins, books, apparel, gifts & more
🧡 A vibrant space for visibility, pride & solidarity
📦 Worldwide shipping — because pride is global
Because queer joy deserves to be seen, celebrated, and shoppable.
Queer Lit
Bookshop | Community Space | Queer-Owned
📚 Queer Lit
Bookshop | Community Space | Queer-Owned
📍 39 Tib Street, Northern Quarter
Manchester’s dedicated LGBTQ+ bookshop, stocking over 2,000 queer titles across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, and children’s books. Founded by a local queer owner with a mission to make queer stories visible.
🌈 Inclusive space with events, book clubs & safe vibes.
📦 Nationwide shipping & a thriving online store.
💬 Come browse, chat, and discover something affirming.
Rainbow & Co
LGBTQ+ Sports Club | Social & Competitive Badminton
🏳️⚧️ Rainbow & Co
Queer Apparel | Inclusive Design | Community First
📍 Online & Manchester-Based
A queer and autistic-owned shop making bold, identity-affirming apparel and accessories that celebrate the full spectrum of the LGBTQIA+ community. Designed with love, worn with pride — and always rooted in inclusion, visibility, and joy.
🌈 Clothing for over 40+ LGBTQIA+ identities
🖤 Queer-owned & operated, no corporate rainbow-washing
💸 10% of profits donated to LGBTQ+ causes every quarter
🪧 Loud, proud, and politically conscious designs
💖 Sizing up to 5XL — because pride has no limits
📦 Ethical, UK-printed & shipped with care
Because being yourself should never feel like a compromise.
Clone Zone
Queer Lifestyle | Fetish Fashion | Sex-Positive Space
🖤 Clone Zone Manchester
Queer Lifestyle | Fetish Fashion | Sex-Positive Space
📍 Manchester Gay Village
One of the UK’s longest-standing queer adult retailers, Clone Zone is a hub for LGBTQ+ intimacy, identity, and expression. From cutting-edge fetishwear to inclusive toys, lube, and sexual health essentials — we celebrate queer pleasure, safely and shamelessly.
🧷 Curated fetish & clubwear for every body & identity
🍑 Inclusive range of toys, gear, and sexual wellness
🏳️🌈 Proudly queer-owned & rooted in LGBTQ+ liberation
🩸 Stocking PrEP, HIV test kits & harm-reduction tools
🖤 Judgment-free zone — shop, ask, explore
📍 Located in the heart of Canal Street
Because queer pleasure is radical, valid, and worth celebrating.
Into LateX Ltd
Custom Latex | Fetish Fashion | Queer Expression
🧵 Into LateX Ltd
Custom Latex | Fetish Fashion | Queer Expression
📍 8 Leech Brook Cl, Audenshaw, Manchester M34 5PL
A specialist latex studio crafting hand-made fetishwear for queer bodies of all shapes, sizes, and genders. Whether you’re dressing for the club, the bedroom, or pure self-expression — we create pieces that fit, affirm, and empower.
🖤 Bespoke latex crafted with care & precision
🌈 Queer-owned & kink-positive from day one
🧷 Gender-affirming styles for all identities
🎨 Custom orders, unique colourways & personal fittings
⚡ Durable, body-conscious, and designed to move with you
📍 Based in Manchester — shipping worldwide
Because latex isn’t just fashion — it’s freedom.
Lucy & Yak
Sustainable Fashion | Bold Style | Radical Comfort
👖 Lucy & Yak
Sustainable Fashion | Bold Style | Radical Comfort
📍74-76 High St, Manchester M4 1ES
Lucy & Yak is a queer-celebrated, ethically driven clothing brand known for its iconic dungarees, vibrant colours, and inclusive values. From size-inclusivity to slow fashion, we’re all about clothes that feel good — on your body, and in your conscience.
🌈 Gender-inclusive fits for every body
🌱 Ethically made with organic & recycled materials
🧵 Sizes 4–32 — because style has no size limit
💖 Queer-celebrated & actively community-supportive
🎨 Loud prints, soft fabrics & joyful self-expression
🌍 Living wage guarantee for all workers
Because fashion should be fun, fair, and unapologetically you.
Wild Heather Wellness
Queer Nature | Yoga | Forest Therapy
🌿 Wild Heather Wellness
Queer Nature | Yoga | Forest Therapy
📍 Manchester & Beyond
Wild Heather Wellness offers earthy, inclusive spaces for mindful movement, rest, and reconnection. Led by a queer, neurodiverse teacher, these sessions are all about slowing down, honouring the seasons, and finding calm in wild places — without pressure or pretence.
🧘♀️ Gentle yoga classes — indoors, outdoors & in woodland teepees
🍂 Earthy Sunday Series — yoga, hiking, sauna & cold plunge
🌲 Forest therapy walks & seasonal nature-based events
🌈 All bodies, minds & identities welcome — zero judgement, all grounding vibes
💌 Move with the land. Rest with intention. Reconnect with yourself.
📩 DM on Instagram using code MCQ10 for 10% off bookings
The Alternative
Queer-run health and wellbeing studio in Manchester, on a mission to help people feel at home in their bodies.
The Alternative
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO HEALTH AND WELLBEING, YOU’VE FOUND IT.
We’re a queer-run health and wellbeing studio in Manchester, on a mission to help people feel at home in their bodies.
With the world being an increasingly busy and divided place, the last thing we need is more burnout culture or the clanging and banging of traditional gym environments.
We wanted an inclusive, positive, progressive, community space.
So we built one.
We offer personal training – one to one and small groups.
We also offer sports massage and injury rehab treatments.
All of these services are delivered by a trans / non-binary massage therapist and coach.
We also offer gender-affirmative menstrual coaching services, in-person and online with a queer coach.
And hold events that enhance mental health and wellbeing.
We also work with Not A Phase, The LGBT Foundation and the Proud Place to offer free services to the LGBTQ+ community.
Evan Garrett Queer Wellness
Movement | Body Positivity | LGBTQIA+ Wellness
💪 Evan Garrett Queer Wellness
Movement | Body Positivity | LGBTQIA+ Wellness
📍 Manchester-based Inclusive Fitness Studio
Evan Garrett Queer Fitness is all about joyful movement, holistic care, and safe, affirming spaces for every body. Rooted in queer values and body liberation, this Manchester-based wellness brand offers personalised support that meets you where you’re at — in a private, queer-run studio or online.
🧘♂️ 1:1 Personal Training tailored to your goals & pace
🌀 Mobility & Pilates sessions to build strength & ease
💆♂️ Massage Therapy for relaxation, recovery & care
💃 Dance Coaching & Choreography for self-expression + fun
🌈 Fitness for all identities, sizes & abilities — always affirming, never judgmental
💌 Come as you are. Leave feeling stronger, softer, and more at home in your body.
Got a Queer Business or Event in Manchester?
Help us grow the community!
Submit your LGBTQ+ friendly business, event, or space to be featured on our site — and connect with queer folks across the city.
Share your info with us today!
Let’s build a stronger, brighter queer Manchester — together.