Best Gay Cruising Areas in Manchester

Manchester has one of the best gay scenes in the UK, and increasingly the whole of Europe. As prohibitive rents have forced many gay venues to close in London, Manchester’s scene has grown.

The gay population of Manchester is also growing, as the cost of living in London and the South East has priced many people out and incentivized them to move up North.

In short, Manchester is full of virile gay men looking for mischief. Here are the cruising areas in Manchester where you’ll find the mischief you’re looking for.

The Eagle Manchester

Located just off Bloom Street in the Gay Village, The Eagle is Manchester’s most famous dedicated cruise bar. Even if you haven’t been you may have seen Manchester gay posting their Eagle experiences on Instagram. Invariably, you’ll see hot, shirtless men in harnesses. As the night progresses, it becomes more cruise-y and the dark room fills up.

Of all Manchester’s gay venues (there are many), this is the place to be if you’re looking to hook up with hotties.

Expect regular underwear and fetish nights, with themes ranging from sports kit to leather, so check what’s on before you go.

Basement Complex

Just a few minutes’ walk from the Gay Village, Basement Complex is Manchester’s main gay sauna. It gets busiest after midnight at weekends when the bars are closing. As guys leave the clubs, they often gravitate to the sauna.

Basement Complex closes around 11 pm on weekdays but it stays open until 7am on weekends. It has private cabins, steam room, sauna, video lounge, and a large cruising maze. Due to its prime location near the gay scene, Basement Complex often gets busy.

Outdoor Cruising Areas

Manchester doesn’t have a well-established cruising area like London’s Hampstead Heath or the bushes behind Brighton’s nudist beach. That being said, there have been areas in the city where certain activities have taken place.

There’s gay cruising spot near Strangeways prison in Manchester - specifically near Hidden nightclub, by the River Irwell, in the industrial area behind Strangeways. It’s around the wasteland / path / bushes by Mary Street / Bury New Road area, just north of the city centre. Often described as "the bushes behind Hidden", this area is quite far out of town so it's mostly accessed by locals or drivers. It can be hit and miss in terms of how active it is. 

Near Strangeways, the canal area in Ancoats, just northeast of Manchester city centre, is a place where activities have been known to occur. It’s been a cruising site for over 100 years, though much quieter since its 1990s peak. Intrepid cruisers can still explore these areas, but most gay cruising in Manchester happens at The Eagle or Basement Complex.