Thompsons Arms Bars & Clubs in Manchester – GayOut Guide
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Thompsons Arms

Google (113) 2.8
Tripadvisor (84) 2.6
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What reviewers say

Many visitors praise the Thompsons Arms for its friendly and welcoming staff, good prices, and enjoyable atmosphere, often highlighting it as a safe space. However, some reviewers report negative experiences with rude staff and discriminatory practices, with one even being refused service.

54
/ 100
GayOut Score
G2.8 🦉2.6
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Address
23 Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3LZ
💰
Price Range
$

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About this place Thompsons Arms

Thompsons Arms is a traditional gay pub in Manchester's Gay Village, on the corner of Sackville Street just off Canal Street. It is a pub rather than a club: cheap drinks, a terrace upstairs and a mixed crowd of regulars and visitors, with drag and quiz nights in the mix. It opens from noon daily, until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Google reviews are poor (2.8), with service a common complaint, so it works better for a quick drink than a whole evening.

Opening Hours

Closed
Monday 12:00-23:00
Tuesday 12:00-23:00
Wednesday 12:00-23:00
Thursday 12:00-00:00
Friday 12:00-02:00
Saturday 12:00-02:00
Sunday 12:00-23:00

Features

Gay Drag shows Outdoor Patio Pub/Tavern LGBTQ+ owned Safe space Walk-ins welcome Mixed LGBTQ+ Pub Outdoor terrace

Insider Tips

Community Reviews

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Google Reviews

Verified by Google
2.8
★★★★★
113 reviews

Based on 113 Google reviews.

John Hornby
John Hornby Apr 2026
★★★★★
bella mac
bella mac Apr 2026
★★★★★

door staff are homophobic and discriminatory got taken the piss out of for 'looking like a boy' then when i said you cant say that they said i can i just have so i called them homophobic and got thrown down the stairs wich there was no need, im only small and im harmless im not violent one bit it was very uncalled for, the door men also took the piss out of some drunk lad who was just trying to find his boyfriend and they were being rude and horrible would not recommended

hollie1911
hollie1911 Feb 2026
★★★★★

Just rude and unfreindly staff. cheap drinks.

Nich Boden
Nich Boden Oct 2025
★★★★★
Allie Cat
Allie Cat Oct 2025
★★★★★

No seats on the toilets and I got kicked out for saying that was a problem. Hope I can find somewhere else before I crap myself. Grim. Edit: I did, at least, find somewhere else in time to not crap myself. Much friendlier in the Molly House

Stephen S
Stephen S Sep 2025
★★★★★

I’ve been a frequent visitor here over the years, and upon recently returning after my two year break away from Manchester it was nice to see some of the same familiar and friendly faces. When I went on a Wednesday they had a 2 vodka or 2 Gin doubles with mixer for £7 offer which was lovely👌🏼 Didn’t help me with my pool playing skills though 😂

Eleanor Smith
Eleanor Smith Sep 2025
★★★★★

TripAdvisor

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20 reviews so far — add yours

Last updated on 2 November 2026

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