Video
The Gay Village
2024

In this video, I sit down with my friend Bill to dive deep into the history of Manchester’s Gay Village and its transformation through hedonism, rave culture, and the rise of house music. Bill recounts his first experiences in the Village, starting in 1974, when the area was less developed and more underground. He describes how the area was a red-light district and how gay culture was mostly hidden at the time. He recalls his first visit to Sims Bar, a secretive place where you had to knock to gain entry. The drug of choice then was poppers (amyl nitrate), but heavier drugs like LSD and cocaine also started to enter the scene.

Bill shares hilarious stories, including a wild LSD experience in a cinema where he and his friends caused mayhem during a screening of The Thing. Moving through the years, he talks about the derelict state of the Village, the rent boys, and the mixed crowds that began to populate Manchester’s nightlife.

By the 1980s, the scene started to shift back to the Village, and Bill recalls pivotal moments, like visiting Paradise Garage in New York and the impact of Chicago House music. Back in Manchester, he took up a job at Applejacks and began to make a name for himself, eventually entering the fashion industry. His connection to both the gay scene and straight scene gave him a unique perspective on the rise of Mantos, a pioneering bar in the Gay Village. With its bold glass façade, Mantos became a symbol of openness and pride, contrasting the hidden nature of earlier gay spaces.

Bill describes his first Ecstasy (MDMA) experience at The Hacienda, a life-changing moment that gave him a profound sense of universal love. He reminisces about The Number 1 Club and how the atmosphere of Euphoria shaped the gay scene, particularly with DJs like Tim Lennox creating unforgettable nights. The opening of The Paradise Factory was another major milestone, where sexuality and identity were fluid, and drugs fueled a liberated culture. Bill highlights how the “pink pound” started to draw businesses to cater to the gay community, creating a thriving, safe space for everyone.

Towards the end of the interview, we reflect on how Flesh nights at The Hacienda broke down barriers between the gay and straight communities, creating a special, inclusive vibe that changed people’s perceptions of the gay scene forever. The era was marked by a sense of freedom, openness, and, of course, great music. Bill and I each share our favorite tracks from that period, with mine being “Saturday Night/Sunday Morning” by Tempo and Bill’s pick being “Kissing” by Siedah Garrett.

This conversation is a deep dive into the cultural shifts that took place in Manchester’s Gay Village, highlighting its role in shaping both the local and global music and club scene.