When MANTO opened on Canal Street in 1990, it wasn’t just another gay bar — it was a statement.
At a time when many queer venues still hid behind blacked-out windows and discreet doors, MANTO threw open its glass façade and invited the world to see inside. Big plate-glass windows facing the street made one thing unmistakable:
Founded by Carol Ainscow and Peter Dalton as a modern, vibrant space for a new generation of queer Manchester nightlife, MANTO became one of the most iconic bars in Europe’s most successful gay village. It changed the face of Canal Street — literally — and helped shift the vibe from hidden refuge to visible celebration.
For more than two decades (1990–2013), MANTO was the place to see and be seen:
Bright glass frontage open to the street
Weekend crowds packed shoulder-to-shoulder
DJs, dance floors, cocktails, drag, and queer nightlife energy
A meeting point as bold and unapologetic as Manchester itself
When it finally closed in 2013, it marked the end of an era — one that helped transform Canal Street from fringe nightlife into a globally recognized queer destination.
