Start preparing to visit Red Light, Manchester’s newest LGBTQ+ hotspot! This colourful cocktail bar, set to open on Wednesday 3rd May, is nestled in the heart of the city’s Kampus garden district, just off one of Manchester’s most Instagram-worthy streets.
Red Light, the idea of Deana Ferguson, a previous Manchester Bar Awards nominee, offers inventive, house-made cocktails in a gorgeous Victorian warehouse off Little David Street. You’ll be met with an enormous bar against a red-brick backdrop, with warm corners and queer art that will make you feel perfectly at home, the moment you step in from the cobblestone street.
Red Light highlights the beautiful historic elements of the Minshull Warehouse, which has been renovated as part of Capital&Centric and HBD’s Kampus neighbourhood. It’ll be a laid-back lounge with disco sounds playing while you taste a selection of exquisite libations offered by award-winning bartenders.
Deana Ferguson, who is originally from Belfast, has been a staple in Manchester’s hospitality industry for over 8 years, most notably at Hawksmoor and Ducie St Warehouse. She is thrilled to provide a high-end cocktail experience to Manchester’s famed Gay Village.
“We’ve built a stylish and edgy gay bar that combines fantastic cocktails with top-notch service, which we know will complement what’s currently available in this neighbourhood,” Deana explains.
The name of the pub alludes to Kampus’ LGBT+ past, with the canals and warehouses previously at the core of the cotton industry, but subsequently becoming a clandestine red-light district once the enterprises closed.
“Red Light is an LGBTQ+ space, but everyone is welcome. Our walls will be adorned with queer local artists, showcasing Manchester’s finest talent and celebrating icons from history,” adds Deana.
Deana’s own twist on the modern classic, London Calling, with handmade lychee soda and coconut fat-washed gin, as well as “Artists Special #2,” a tribute to her birthplace combining Jameson’s whisky and olorosso sherry, are among Red Light’s hallmark drinks.
Red Light will feature ales from the city’s independent breweries, such as Bury’s Brightside Brewery, in addition to a selection of natural wines, making it the ideal venue for a night out with friends.
HBD’s Adam Brady is overjoyed that Red Light has joined the Kampus family. “We’ve had a jam-packed summer season at Kampus this year, and we’re thrilled Red Light has joined the lineup, bringing a new hangout to an area of town with such a rich LGBTQ+ legacy.”
Don’t pass up this fantastic new addition to Manchester’s thriving LGBTQ+ community. Reserve your table today and prepare to enjoy the greatest drinks in town in a dimly lit and private atmosphere, ideal for a date or a night out with friends.