Manchester Pride #1

It's that time of year again. The annual Pride in Manchester that shuts off the gay village and for the meagre sum of £17.50 you too can wallow in the ghetto that is the only Pride event in the country that you have to pay to get into. Once you're in there, you might even have to pay again to get into your bar of choice. This happened to me last year at a certain ladies-only venue and it made me very, very angry. This was just the last in a long series of experiences that has left me disillusioned with the gay scene in general, and Pride in particular.

The first event was held over the August bank holiday weekend in 1990 with the sole intention of raising money for HIV and AIDS charities. It has been known as the Carnival of Fun, Gayfest, Mardis Gras and now as Manchester Pride. This bank holiday event has been a pay-for event every year since 2003. 1999 was the year that the wristband was introduced - the year that absolutely zilch was raised for charity (2000 - 2002 were free).

There will always be criticism of Pride events, and for good reason. I feel it also applies to the gay scene as a whole - commercialised, overpriced and lacking any politics. It's even debatable what the financial contribution to charities is worth.


It is essential to question who Pride is for. Too many people are excluded or under-represented. Last year Queer Youth Network wanted to put the protest back into Pride and were told to tone down their politcal message. Outrageous. I went to the last two Pride events in Manchester and the dominant feeling was, as Reclaim the Scene put it, all about body-idealism and drinking. I don't blame people for going - it can be very liberating and there's no reason why you shouldn't have a grand old time, but the emphasis should be on community and fighting for equal rights. And when it comes to the parade I wonder why some organisations take part - this year Eazysleep Hotel and Premier Inn are joining in. This is not about community; it's not their LGBT staff showing what it means to be out and proud - it's about them trying to cash in on the 'pink pound'. It's a joke. If you want something different this year, and for free, Reclaim the Scene are offering an alternative. Get Bent did a great job offering something else in 2007 - see here for what they got up to. There is a fascinating history to the gay village and scene in Manchester - I shall be posting about this soon - watch this space.

Rant over. Normal service (whatever that is) will resume shortly!

Graffiti I love #2

Seen in a doorway on Minshull Street, central Manchester. Some insightful people around this Rainy City of ours.

Palace Hotel / Refuge Assurance Company

There's a reason why this ultra-cool guy is heading up this post. I like the Refuge Assurance Building, but what I love about it is it's appearance in the 1959 Hammer production Hell is a City. And that city was Manchester.

It stands on the corner of Whitworth Street and Oxford Road and was built in three phases. The first part, by Alfred Waterhouse, is on the corner of Whitworth Street (1891 - 5). The second part (1919 - 12), by Paul Waterhouse, is linked to the first by a 217 foot clock tower, and the third by Stanley Birkett added to the Whitworth Street facade (1932). The building is clad with pressed brick and dark red terracotta. It is beautiful and I can see the clock tower from my 7th floor flat (partly why I have such affection for it is because it's so familiar). It became the Palace Hotel in 1996.

As I said, this post is really about of one my most favourite films ever - Hell is a City - starring the late, great Stanley Baker. He plays Detective Inspector Martineau on the trail of Don Starling, an escaped jewel thief he helped put inside. He becomes obsessed with catching him and not least because he has such a miserable home life. What tough cop hasn't? Directed by Val Guest and also starring Billie Whitelaw and Donald Pleasance this film is an absolute gem. It was made in location in Manchester and it's finale is on top of the Refuge Building.

Oxford Road Station was opened in 1849 by the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway. In the background of the above still you can see the construction of the Oxford Road Station Approach (1958 - 60) that we know and love today. Below, you can see the Palace Theatre on Whitworth Street from the top of the Refuge.


Anyone else think that Morrissey is morphing into Stanley Baker?

Hacienda history, Rochdale Canal #1

If ever you are walking along the Rochdale Canal, round the back of where the Hacienda once rocked, you might spot this bit of etched craftsmanship on the back of the car park of the Hacienda Apartments, or some such equivalent new build atrocity on Whitworth Street. Blink and you'll miss it - it's a potted history of the Hacienda nightclub. Reader, I photographed it...

...to be continued.....

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