A venue dedicated to Manchester writer Anthony Burgess and a go-to destination for literature, concerts, conferences, and much more.
Queer Contact 2022
The Bitten Peach
Contact celebrates queer culture with an extraordinary line-up of LGBTQ+ talent heading our way for Queer Contact 2022
Over the last 3 years we’ve had a blast presenting Queer Contact across the city at some amazing partner venues, and more recently online. But we’re so excited to be welcoming festival audiences safely back home to Contact, with a really exciting and diverse line-up for all ages
Matt Fenton
Queer Contact returns to the Oxford Road Corridor’s Contact theatre for the first time since the venues £6.75million transformation. Contact has expanded to create enhanced performance and event space to support queer communities from across the region.
Queer Contact began over a decade ago and has since become the beating heart of Manchester’s queer arts scene. The annual Vogue Ball, a riotous head-to-head display of skills from Vogue houses across the North West, is recognised as a trailblazing event. This year, the festival will platform a broad range of life experiences, forge alternative paths for celebrating queer identities and – for the first time – will create opportunities to engage in educational activities around queer life and health.
Queer Contact 2022 is built to meet the needs of the next generation of LGBTQ+ artists and audiences. Through in-depth consultation, Contact has aimed to ensure that the festival truly speaks to a young queer audience in the city. By hosting workshops with individuals aged 13 – 30 Contact embedded a commitment to reflecting the experiences and interests of young people in the LGBTQ+ community. The workshops involved consultation on the outline, strategy and programme of this year’s Queer Contact.
What’s On
More Culture On The Corridor
If you’re visiting the Oxford Road Corridor for Queer Contact, while you’re here, make sure you take the time to explore the rich culture of the area.
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An innovative contemporary art gallery committed to supporting artists’ careers and talent development across Greater Manchester, the North West and beyond.
Manchester School of Art’s Holden Gallery curates an exhibitions programme that focuses exclusively on recent developments in international contemporary visual art.
One of Manchester’s most prominent theatres since it was established in 1891, the Palace brings the best of national and international theatre, music and comedy to the North West.
The Royal Northern College of Music is a world-leading conservatoire and thriving music venue with a reputation for attracting talent from across the world.
Discover the story of the suffragettes and learn about women’s activism, past and present, at the former home of Emmeline Pankhurst and her family.
Food & Drink
Hatch is Manchester’s pop-up retail, food and drink destination on Oxford Road with something for just about everyone. It is a place to shop, eat and drink, 7 days a week at over 30 independent traders.
The Refuge, at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, is a luxurious, modern restaurant, housed in a magnificent, Alfred Waterhouse designed, Victorian brick and terracotta building offers 10,000 sq ft of drinking and dining for everyone and anyone with the instruction “Come As You Are”.
Bundobust Brewery in the St James Building on Oxford Street is the latest, and arguably the best addition to the ever-growing Bundobust chain.
Takk at University Green is an Icelandic inspired, independent coffee shop that offers tasty, artisan, single-source coffee and delicious brunch, snack and vegetarian options.
WOOD Manchester offers one of the city’s best fine dining experiences, from the locally-loved winner of 2015 MasterChef winner Simon Wood.
Adam Reid brings sublime fine dining renowned across Manchester and beyond for its exquisite flavours and excellent British cuisine.
Sandbar, just off Oxford Road in Manchester, is a well-loved watering hole, with a great selection of ales and some eccentric seating.
An iconic pub with an impressive whiskey list running into the hundreds. A welcoming atmosphere and a sprawling beer garden.
The Font Manchester is a cracking bar found just off Oxford Road on New Wakefield St where it’s been for over 20 years.
Zouk Tea Bar and Grill is a modern, exciting restaurant, serving up some of the very best Indian-Pakistani cuisine in Manchester.
Charming and homely, the Indian Tiffin Room brings this classic Indian dish to First Street.
Bunny Jackson’s is a late-night music venue, dive bar and American diner on First Street. Expect cocktails, cold beer and chicken wings.
Nightlife
Big Hands at the South end of Oxford Road may be small, but it comes with added rock n’ roll swagger, a great atmosphere and a lovely roof garden.
Four floors of YES with something for everyone – including a rooftop bar, two live music spaces, a club space, DJs and extensive coffee, street food and bar selection.
Since opening in 2012, Gorilla has proved itself as Manchester’s definitive mid-sized modern gig venue and one of the city’s best bar and kitchens.
Joshua Brooks reaches its quarter-century stronger than ever, with cutting-edge DJs, dancing, and excitement until the small hours.
Manchester’s original 1920s dancehall – an art deco gem that spans a century of Manchester music history in the heart of the city centre
An ever-popular nightclub, bar and affordable street food stop housed in a landmark, Grade II listed building. Come for the unique space, stay for the live music and DJs.
Green Spaces
All Saints Park is a beautiful green space in the heart of the Oxford Road Corridor. Perfect for a quick moment of calm on a busy day.
This 18-acre park opposite the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is an eye-catching green space and home to the Whitworth Art Gallery.
Enjoy views of some of the best architecture in Manchester in this green space which was opened in 2018 by The University of Manchester.
Circle Square is home to Symphony Park, a beautifully landscaped green space designed for socialising, entertaining, relaxing and exploring.
The outdoor area directly in front of the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons, the University of Manchester’s 24/7 study and learning space, provides green spaces for students to enjoy during breaks from teaching and learning.
University Green is a modern home for retailers and food and drink outlets as well as a tree-lined green space for the public to enjoy.