Gay Bars & Clubs LGBTQ+ Friendly

Thompsons Arms

GayOut (32) 2.9
Google (113) 2.8
Tripadvisor (84) 2.6
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.

56
/ 100
GayOut Score
2.9 G2.8 🦉2.6
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Address
36 Canal Street, Manchester M1 3WD
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Price Range
$
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About this place Thompsons Arms

Thompsons Arms sits directly on Canal Street with a terrace that extends over the Rochdale Canal — one of the best outdoor drinking spaces in Manchester when the weather cooperates, which in Manchester means approximately 60 days per year (but those days are excellent). The pub is traditional in format — real ale, a comfortable interior, a crowd that ranges from students on a first Canal Street visit to regulars who have been coming since before anyone called it a "gay village." Regular pub quiz nights, weekly drag entertainments, and the Canal Street atmosphere at its most unpretentious. The terrace is the place to understand why Canal Street became what it is: sitting above the water, the other bars on both banks visible, you can see the geography of the scene in a way that makes sense of it.

Opening Hours

Open Now · closes 23:00
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

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Community Reviews

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Google Reviews

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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

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Last updated on 2 August 2026

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