City property boom forces Manchester Pride organisers to look for new home

Gay pride

The city’s property boom has forced the organisers of the Manchester Pride festival to look for a new home.

The festival, which is taking place over four days this weekend, attracts thousands of visitors to the world-famous Gay Village.

But this is the last year the event will hold its main concert in the area centred on Sackville Street and Canal Street.

Developments taking place in the area include a new boutique hotel which is being built by the firm behind Hotel Gotham.

The wide-scale redevelopment means that their will be not enough space for the festival next year and the organisers are looking for alternative venues.

Gay Pride stage

The four-day event is made up of The Big Weekend, The Manchester Pride Parade on Saturday afternoon, the alcohol free space that is The Superbia Weekend and the culmination of the festival The Candlelit Vigil.

The festival has been around for more than 25 years and over time it has been known by various names including Pride, Mardi Gras and The Big Weekend.

Plans to development the Sackville Street car park, which currently houses the Thomas Cook Airlines Main Stage, has triggered the potential move.

Chief Executive Mark Fletcher and his team have reviewed a number options for the future of the event.

He said: “It’s true that our Pride festival will never look the same again – it can’t as there simply won’t be the space.

“But this doesn’t mean we will be turning our back on the neighbourhood which LGBT+ people have fought so hard to create as a safe space.

“There will always be a role for Manchester’s unique gay village in the celebration and we’ll continue to host activity in and around the area for the foreseeable future.”

“We’re very excited to begin a new chapter and continue to deliver a world class celebration of LGBT+ life, one that’s worthy of international acclaim and retains Manchester’s position as a leading city in the advancement of LGBT+ equality.

“The shape of the festival is changing and we can’t wait to share our big news in the Autumn.”

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