Accessibility at Manchester Pride Festival: What we offer

At Manchester Pride Festival, we make temporary, reasonable adjustments to the area to provide access to the event site and staged event areas. We are aware of the limitations and restrictions of making the Gay Village Party event site fully accessible due to the nature of the location of the event.

Carer/Personal Assistant tickets - Applications now closed.

In our commitment to making Manchester Pride Festival accessible to everyone, we offer a free Carer/Personal Assistant Ticket for Access customers who may require one. Carer/Personal Assistant Tickets are limited to 1 per applicant.

Customers with disabilities are encouraged to purchase their own Gay Village Party ticket, and then apply for a complimentary Carer/Personal Assistant Ticket. Once applied for, our dedicated Accessibility Team will be in touch closer to the event to introduce themselves and confirm the status of your application.

How to apply for your Carer/Personal Assistant ticket:

1) Purchase a Gay Village Party ticket for yourself first  – If you are planning to apply for a PA ticket, do not purchase a ticket for them.
2) Once you have purchased a ticket, please submit an Access Application Form to let us know about your accessibility requirements.
3) Upload some supporting evidence with your application via the Access Application Form. This could be anything such as a PIP letter, DWP letter, Blue Badge, Access Card or a diagnosis letter. We appreciate that some people may require assistance but not receive DLA - please contact us to discuss your access requirements. Each request will be looked at individually.
4) We will reply to you within 5 working days with an outcome to your application.
5) Applications close Monday 21st August.


Please note: Applications for Carer/PA Tickets are now closed.

Accessible Toilets

We have Accessible portaloos in the following locations;

• Pledge Band Exchange (Aytoun Street Car Park)
• VIP area at the Village Stage 
• MancUnity stage toilet block
• Bloom Street toilet block
• Village Stage toilet block
• Viewing Platform at the Alan Turing Stage
• Viewing Platform at the Village Stage
• Behind the medical and welfare tent

Viewing platforms

We have two viewing platforms at the Gay Village Party. The first will be located at the Alan Turing stage in Sackville Gardens and the second will be at the Village stage.

Access Reception

Our Access Reception is located near our Pledge Band Exchange point on Aytoun Street Car Park. If you have requested use of the Access toilets or Viewing Platforms, you can collect your Access Card at our Access Reception. This is also an area where the Access Team will be based if you have any questions or queries over Manchester Pride Festival weekend. The Access Team will be wearing pink Hi-Vis vests with a wheelchair user symbol on the back.

Parade Viewing Area

We will have a viewing area again for the parade this year. This will be located at 1 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR. You do not need to register in advance for this.

Quiet space

If you would like time away from the crowds during Manchester Pride Festival, we have a Quiet Space available throughout the duration of the weekend. There will be a ‘Complete Silence Room’ and a ‘Low-Volume Activities Room’ available. There is also a multifaith prayer space available. These rooms will be signposted.

Location:
Watershed Suite, Townhouse Hotel
101 Portland St, Manchester M1 6DF

Opening Times:
Friday 25th August 2023: 12pm-10pm
Saturday 26th August 2023 : 12pm-10pm
Sunday 27th August 2023: 12:00pm- 7:00pm

BSL

We will have BSL interpreters for all performances that have words or lyrics. The interpreters will generally be located to the left of the stage. 

The Village Stage:

• Friday 25th August: 20:00 - 23:00
• Saturday 26th August: 15:00 - 23:00
• Sunday 27th August: 15:00 - 23:00
• Monday 28th August: 14:00 - 18:00

The Alan Turing Stage: 

• Friday 25th August: 18:00 - 23:30
• Saturday 26th August: 14:00 - 20:00
• Sunday 27th August: 12:00 - 22:30
• Monday 28th August: 14:00 - 16:00

Family Pride MCR: 

• Saturday 26th August: 12:00 - 18:00

Youth Pride MCR:

• Sunday 27th August: 12:00 - 19:00

Human Rights Forum:

• Friday 25th August: 18:00-19:00

The Candlelit Vigil: 

• Monday 28th August: 21:00-22:00

Please note that there will not be a BSL interpreter at the MancUnity Stage in the Gay Village Party as this stage consists mainly of dance music and contains no spoken word.

Assistance dogs

Registered assistance dogs are welcome on site. We ask you to please consider the welfare of these animals when in loud and crowded areas.

Menus

We aim to have large print plain text menus available at all bars and traders at the Gay Village Party.

Hearing loops

We will have hearing loops at the following locations;

• Access Reception
• Access window at Pledge Band Exchange (Aytoun Street Car Park)
• At the main bar at the Alan Turing stage.

Medical Fridge

We will have a medical fridge on site. This will be located at the Access Reception. Please note that access hours to this fridge are between 11am-10pm each day. Please bring any medication you require in a clear sealed bag with your name and phone number on the bag for identification.

Accessibility Info Pack

Before the festival we send out an access info pack to customers who have had their applications approved. This has some more details about our provisions and a little more info about Manchester Pride Festival for your convenience. If you require our Accessibility Info Pack in a different format, for example in audio format, please get in touch with our team at accessibility@manchesterpride.com.

Download our Accessibility Info Pack in audio format here.

Looking ahead

As we develop the provisions we offer at the festival, we are constantly looking ahead on things to improve. 
Below are some of the things we are hoping to have in place in the future. 

• Sensory space
• Mobiloo (Changing places facility)
• Braille menus for our bars
• Radar key locked toilets
• More hearing loops in key locations 

Getting to Manchester Pride Festival

Manchester enjoys first-class transport links, making it easy to get to the city, Manchester Pride Festival and for exploring Greater Manchester.

For travel information to get to Manchester please visit here.

For travel around Manchester once you arrive in our fabulous city, there are a number of transport networks to choose from:

Metrolink

Manchester's light tramway system runs a fast and frequent service and is ideal for getting to Manchester Pride. Metrolink is accessible with step-free platforms. Manchester Pride takes place at multiple venues across the city, and is accessible from most city centre stops. The nearest Metrolink stops to the Gay Village are Manchester Piccadilly (approximately 5 minutes away) and Manchester Piccadilly Gardens (approximately 5 minutes away). The Parade works its way across the city and so any number of Metrolink stops will get you close to the action.

Free Metroshuttle

Getting in and around the city centre is easy and free with Metroshuttle. The shuttle buses pick up outside Piccadilly Station, on the approach and travel to key areas including Oxford Road, Deansgate, Portland Street and Spinningfields. The Metroshuttle is fully accessible with step-free access to pavements. 

Bus Network

Greater Manchester has an extensive bus network. The nearest bus stop to The Gay Village is located on Portland Street just outside Caffé Nero, or on the opposite side of the street next door to Yates bar. Manchester Piccadilly bus station is a short walk (approximately 5 minutes away) from The Gay Village. 

Parking

Manchester City Council offers over 15,000 secure parking spaces as well as on-street parking. There are a number of accessible car parking facilities around the city close to our Event Sites. The nearest accessible NCP Car Parks to Manchester Pride Festival are Minshull Street, Sheffield Street and Piccadilly Plaza. Please check the NCP website here for fees and further info.

Gay Village Party accessibility site map visual description:

A vibrant line map portraying the layout of Manchester Pride’s programmed areas in the Gay Village alongside Gay Village streets, bars, venues and businesses. Canal Street is highlighted in pride progress flag colours.
The map depicts the locations of; 
The Village Stage: Major Street Car Park.
The MancUnity Stage sponsored by Gaydio: Bloom Street Car Park.
The Alan Turing Stage: Sackville Gardens.
Pledge Band Exchange: Aytoun Street Car Park.
Access Reception: Pledge Band Exchange, Aytoun Street Car Park.
Accessible toilets: The Village Stage, The MancUnity Stage, The Alan Turing Stage, intersection of Chorlton and Minshull St parallel and adjacent to Major St, intersection of Chorlton and Minshull St, Pledge Band Exchange at Aytoun Street Car Park.
Accessible Viewing Platform: The Village Stage and the Alan Turing Stage.
Medical & Welfare: intersection of Chorlton and Minshull St, parallel and adjacent to Major St.
Image text reads: There is particularly uneven tarmac on Major Street, between Minshull Street and Chorlton Street. There are cobbles on the pavement on Canal Street but tarmac is evenly paved.
Entry Gates: Sackville Street North Gate; Sackville Street South Gate; Bloom Street West Gate; Canal Street West Gate; Canal Street East Gate; Chorlton Street South Gate; Chorlton Street North Gate.
Catering: The Village Stage, intersection of Chorlton and Minshull St, parallel and adjacent to Major St.
Arena bars: The Alan Turing Stage, The MancUnity Stage, The Village Stage. 
Cash machine: Bloom Street adjacent to Major Street Car Park.
Vertically mapped streets from left to right: Princess St; Abingdon St; Sackville St; Chorlton St; Community Lane; Minshull St; Aytoun St.
Horizontally mapped streets from top to bottom; Major St; Bloom St; Richmond St; Whitworth St.

Gay Village Party Site map visual description:

A vibrant line map portraying the layout of Manchester Pride’s programmed areas in the Gay Village alongside Gay Village streets, bars, venues and businesses. Canal Street is highlighted in pride progress flag colours.
The map depicts the locations of; 
The Village Stage: Major Street Car Park.
The MancUnity Stage sponsored by Gaydio: Bloom Street Car Park.
The Alan Turing Stage: Sackville Gardens.
Pledge Band Exchange: Aytoun Street Car Park.
Entry Gates: Sackville Street North Gate; Sackville Street South Gate; Bloom Street West Gate; Canal Street West Gate; Canal Street East Gate; Chorlton Street South Gate; Chorlton Street North Gate.
Catering: The Village Stage, bottom left corner of Major St and Minshull St. Medical & Welfare: bottom left corner of Major St and Minshull St.
Toilets: The Village Stage, The MancUnity Stage, The Alan Turing Stage, corner of Chorlton St and Minshull St.
Arena bars: The Alan Turing Stage, The MancUnity Stage, The Village Stage. 
Cash machine: Bloom Street adjacent to Major Street Car Park.

Youth Pride MCR site map visual description:

Site map for Youth Pride MCR at Circle Square. Image shows Circle Square located in between four roads running parallel to each other in.a rectangle shape. Left: Oxford Rd. Top: Charles St. Right: Princess St. Bottom: Brancaster Rd. The entrance to the site is located half way down Oxford Road. The toilets are located near the entrance. Activities numbered 1-6 are depicted on the map. The top end of the map closest to Charles Street depicts: 6 - Pride embroidery and jewellery making. 5 - Protest sign making. 4 - Body marbling and rhinestone station. 3- screen print a pride tote bag. The bottom end of the map closest to Brancaster Rd depicts: 1 - Wardrobe of Wonders. 2 - Glitter Station. The Main Stage is located in the middle third of the map, closest to Princess St and within view of the Oxford Road entrance. 

Family Pride MCR site map. The Manchester Pride Festival logo is in the top right corner, and image text reads: Family Pride MCR supported by TUI, in partnership with Proud 2 b Parents. Great Northern, 253 Deansgate, M34EN. 
The site map depicts a line drawing of a horse shoe shaped outdoor amphitheatre with a stage. Deansgate runs vertically on the left of the map, and Peter St. runs diagonally from the left side to the top right corner of the map. 
Proud 2 b Parents, Pride Rock Painting, Make Your Own Flag and Make Your Own Wand are located on the left side of the ampitheatre. Toilets and Accessible toilets are located on the right side of the ampitheare. 
Club DA! Da Workshop, Ball Pit and Market Stalls are located on the ground floor of Great Northern. 
The following are all located on the first floor of Great Northern:
Behind the Book Nook - Baby change / Chest feeding, Baby Sensory, Quiet Space. Book Nook - Fabulous story time, The Queer Parent book reading and Under 4’s play space. 
The Parade Viewing Area is located in the Mews.

Website Accessibility

We want everyone to be able to use our website regardless of their computer knowledge or disabilities. We have designed our website to be as accessible as possible, in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

Help with seeing the page

You can easily make changes to your computer to help you see what's written on the page more clearly.

Most internet browsers, such as Internet Explorer or Safari, allow you to force the text on a web page to be the size and colour you want. Many operating systems also come with a built-in screen magnifier that allows you to enlarge a portion of the page to several times the original size.

Help with your keyboard and mouse

Many people think they can't use a computer because they can't use a mouse, but it's perfectly possible to do away with your mouse and use a keyboard instead.

If you can use a mouse, but find it difficult, there are ways to make your mouse easier to use in your settings on your computer.