Confidential finds its gay and lesbian gene

Hello Dears – my name is GAYDO and I will be letting you all know what’s ‘HOT and what’s NOT’ in and around the marvellous Gay Village in Manchester. GOSH! Where do I start? I know, let’s start at the very beginning, ‘a very good place to start’, as Julie Andrews and I always say.

At the top end of Canal Street those Gay Boys at Queer have extended their outside area. They now have more furniture than Linda Barker and DFS put together. So, as well as catching the rays while downing a cold cerveza during the daylight hours, 'Morning' Glory, Queer’s after hours party is now open ‘til mid-day.

Queer have extended their outside area. They now have more furniture than Linda Barker and DFS put together.

The gorgeous staff at Velvet and Taurus are run ragged all the time. Their mules get so worn out, especially on a Sunday that they have to mince to Schuh on a Monday to replace them. At Churchills, Leena Cross’s Karaoke Competition is so camp it is untrue. Further down the street, at View, Veronica Velkro, the Queen of Manchester Pride, is up to her antics again every weekend. AXM’s pre-Poptastic night every Tuesday and Saturday, have fab offers with drinks from a mere £1.80.

The award winning Tony Cooper at Via continues to run the busiest bar on the street, packing ‘em in all day, every day. “If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise”. Especially if you go to the Rembrandt. The things those Bears get up to would make your eyes pop. Over the Bear Bash Weekend, you could stuff a mattress with all the beard trimmings.

Bar Below, is now licensed until 4am over the weekend and is packed with Village staff enjoying a well earned after work sherry.

We’re loving the new canopy on the barge at Eden but not as much as we love their meal-deal – 4pm 'til 7pm daily. Over the road at Manto, the new owners are promising a fabulous refurbishment very soon. Meanwhile, the re-launch of ‘Hussle’ the Sunday morning club is a big hit. Bumped into Craig from Spirit the other day, looking as brown as ever, the sun bed Queen that she is. Tells me that Spirit has a new Thursday night bash called ‘Allsorts’ for all ages – camp and butch.

Now for the rest of the Village.

At New York, New York, Peggy, the witch with the acid tongue, climbs onto her broomstick every Sunday at 5pm. Next door at the Hollywood Showbar, the oil wrestling boys are a sight to ogle every other Tuesday.

The long established Paddy’s Goose, opens daily from noon. It serves great pub grub and it makes a change to be able to hear the gossip over a leisurely pint. There’s Camp goings on at the Thompsons Arms every night. Why not tickle your tonsils at the karaoke. Ann and Melvin continue to entertain the Girls at Nap’s especially on a Wednesday.

The pool table at Cayotes is still very popular. Your hosts Pat and Jane cater to your every whim. Steph Kay over at Vanilla has got the place looking fab. Check out the new banquettes upstairs. Sarah Furey is on the decks every weekend playing ‘Funky Chunky House’.

A gossipy little bird tells me that the boys at Company Bar are serving later and later. On the clubbing front, can you believe that John Hamilton got Timmy Mallet to do a P.A for their birthday?

Talking of birthdays; I can’t get my breath! Can you believe that Cruz is 15 years old this year. Those trendy boys at Essential, now host a ‘FitLads’ party every month. I didn’t know where to put my face.

Legends was rammed to the rafters with all those ‘Big Bears, Little Cubs’ and the odd ‘Otter’ dotted around.

Let’s not forget that there is more to the Village than bars and clubs. The Queer Up North festival that runs throughout May, has an amazing programme of events. Go to www.queerupnorth.com

Must dash now dears,
Love GAYDO

You can also catch up with Gaydo, although with another name, www.canal-st.co.uk