Manchester Lesbian Bars & Club Nights

Vanilla is the premier lesbian bar in Manchester. It's been running since 1998 and it's known as the "lesbian mecca of the north."

There are regular events and club nights. It's been named as the "Best Bar in the UK" by Diva magazine.

Butch Revival is a monthly lesbian disco in Manchester created as a dedicated space for the city’s dyke and sapphic community.

The night mixes alternative music, classics and dance hits from the 1970s through to the 2000s, alongside DJs, go-go dancers, dyke performers, drag kings and themed activities. Events are usually built around a different concept, with past editions including nautical dress-up, arm wrestling, merch stalls and interactive performance.

It has a distinctly grassroots feel and is organised by members of Manchester’s lesbian community, with an emphasis on creating a sex-positive, trans-inclusive and community-led night. The event also operates a welfare policy and promotes consent and safer-space behaviour.

Butch Revival takes place at different venues in Manchester, including Withington Public Hall Institute, so check the latest event details before traveling.

Diesel Dyke Club is a monthly lesbian and dyke pub takeover in Manchester, usually taking place at The Grafton Arms on the last Friday of the month.

The grassroots night is built around the idea of taking over a regular pub and filling it with Manchester’s dyke community. Expect pints, socializing, dancing and a relaxed pub atmosphere, with a crowd that includes butches, femmes, nonbinary people and transfemmes. The organizers also run occasional ticketed club nights with DJs, drag kings, cabaret and dancing.

Diesel started in 2023 and has grown into one of Manchester’s key lesbian nightlife events. Its regular pub takeovers are free, while larger club nights take place at different venues around the city.

Venue: The Grafton Arms, Manchester
When: Usually the last Friday of the month