Prestwich Pride returns for a second year

Prestwich is officially on the countdown to its second grassroots PRIDE event, taking place over the weekend of 12th-15th August.

The group of friends behind the celebration have joined forces with Manchester-based businesses and venues to celebrate love and inclusivity - and have grown the scale and sophistication of the project following on from its unexpected massive success last year. 

Having registered as a community interest charity and secured funding from the Parklife Community Fund, Manchester Pride, and from Bury Pride - as well as launching an incredibly popular queer club night, ‘Love Hangover’, to help cover the cost of the event - Prestwich Pride has raised the bar for 2023. 

Spilling out across a number of sites (including bars Wine & Wallop, Cuckoo, and The Goods In), this year’s lineup includes a dynamic family event run by Freight Island regulars ‘Born To Be Wild Child’, performances from Drag queens such as Miss Blair and Val the Brown Queen, and DJ performances from Manchester’s revered LGBTQ+ scene, including Jase Jeffrey (Bent Hedonism), Mix Stress, and Antoin (Kiss Me Again). What’s more, restaurant Panama Hatty’s is hosting their much-loved drag brunch on Sunday 13th, and this year also sees the return of Cuckoo’s Pride-themed movie night to round off the celebrations on Monday 14th. 

The infamous Prestwich Pride raffle is back again, stacked with prizes from Manchester’s nightlife and hospitality scene, including Homobloc and Homoelectric tickets donated by Luke Unabomber and a highly coveted pair of season passes to this year’s Warehouse Project donated by Sacha Lord. Other highlights include RuPaul tickets donated by the AO arena, and even a gift from the Cobbles: a collector’s edition of “Weatherfield Spirit” gin has been kindly donated by ITV. Artist and philanthropist Myrodoodles is also throwing her support behind the fundraiser once again by injecting colour throughout the village, painting the windows of local businesses with one of her bespoke designs in exchange for a charitable donation. 

Shahram Kasiri, one of the organisation’s directors, said of the group’s efforts: “The response to the inaugural Prestwich Pride last summer was totally overwhelming. To be nominated six months on for Grassroots Pride of the Year at the Gaydio Pride Awards was completely unexpected, but testament to the response of the local community. We are looking forward to Pride 2023 and it is a privilege to support three charities this year - George House Trust, AKT, and Colours Youth Network. Thank you to local businesses for their support as well as our various funding streams. Most importantly, thank you to the Manchester LGBTQ+ community and allies.“

For more information and the full line up, follow the event’s instagram, @prestwichpride, or email info@prestwichpride.com with any enquiries. 

Photography: @wambamphotography

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Published: 16-Jul-2023: (7179)