The Proud Place

Based just off Oxford Road on Sidney Street, The Proud Place houses The Proud Trust and serves as a community hub for the wider LGBT+ population across Greater Manchester and beyond.

The Proud Place is a space for Manchester’s LGBT+ Community and its friends and allies. They host everything from creative art workshops and games nights to training courses, LGBT+ speakers and pride events. 

The organisation has a long history in Manchester. The first “Gay Centre” was a 700-square-foot basement at 178 Waterloo Place on Oxford Road which was occupied by a group known as Manchester Gay Alliance in the 1970s. The organisation eventually found itself on the current site on Sidney Street in 1988, opening the popular Sidney Street cafe in 2013 before ultimately being demolished to make way for its impressive new three-storey building which was opened and rebranded as The Proud Place in 2021.

The Proud Place has several exceptional spaces, at its heart is an LGBT+ Library, featuring LGBT+ books, heritage and a zine library. Other spaces here can be hired and are ideal for small businesses and groups including the community lounge, a welcoming space to pause, meet and connect. The multi-use space is a flexible area for connecting, sharing and learning. Finally, the training space here is a light and airy workspace, flexible enough to suit away days, training or film screenings.