Queens Arms

The Queens Arms is a historic public house located on Green Lane in Patricroft, Eccles, Greater Manchester. Constructed in 1828, the building was purpose-built in anticipation of the Liverpool-Manchester Railway, which opened in 1830 as the world’s first intercity railway. The pub lays claim to being factually known as the Oldest Passenger Railway Pub in the World, serving excursion traffic from Manchester and becoming a key social hub for railway passengers.

In 1851 Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children were on a visit to the area, and sailed to Liverpool before travelling by train to Patricroft where they got off at what was then the Patricroft Tavern. Rumour has it the Queen asked to use the facilities at the tavern, after which the royal family went by barge down the canal to stay with the Earl of Ellesmere at Worsley New Hall. After they left, the tavern was renamed the Queens Arms, in honour of the royal visit.

The Queens Arms was Grade-II listed in 1989 due to its range of architectural features, including Edwardian etched glass windows and doors, and fireplaces with Art Noveau surrounds inside.

Patricroft is a short train journey from Manchester and The Queen’s Arms is your local pub with a delicious twist. What truly sets them apart is their Izakaya-style menu – inspired by the casual bars of Japan. We enjoyed teppanyaki fried rice chicken, fried squid, vegetable tempura platter, pan fried gyoza, pork cutlet katsu and more.

We were given a warm welcome. The team prides itself on great service, quality food and making everyone feel at home. We will definitely return.

More photos can be seen here.

Out and proud – the legacy of the Gay Liberation Front

The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) originated in America, with the famous Stonewall Riots on 27 June 1969. By 1970, the idea had been brought over to the London School of Economics and the first meeting was held in a basement with 19 people on 13 October 1970. Within a month, after leafleting and more meetings, the crowds of attendees grew.

The movement had grown to 200 attendees by November 1970, adding publications such as Gay News and Come Together and starting to hold ‘gay days’. Other branches of the GLF started popping up across the country, especially in Manchester and Brighton.

The GLF Manifesto was published in 1971. It had radical demands. The lengthy manifesto outlined 10 ways that gay people were oppressed, including in school, employment, the family, law, and self-oppression. Their aims were radical, wanting to abolish the family unit and cultural distinctions between men and women, aiming to end the sexist supremacy of the straight man. They shared a lot of solidarity with feminist movements and believed an end to straight male supremacy would benefit both women and the gay community. They wanted communal living and argued against reform, saying it would not go far enough.

The GLF never gained its demands, and the movement had splintered by 1973. Splits first appeared in 1971, with ideological disputes over socialist revolutionaries who put sexism and sexuality first, then radical lesbian feminists against male chauvinists and single issue gay civil rights men.

Just because the GLF split, did not mean everyone called it a day. New initiatives and new groups formed such as ‘Icebreakers’, a gay befriending network that allowed gay men to come out and learn about activism, and ‘Switchboard’, which still provides support to LGBT+ community over the phone today. In the early years of the AIDS crisis, Switchboard provided support before many joined a separate National AIDS helpline when the gravity of the crisis sunk in. 

‘Gay News’ was formed in 1972, many publications followed and a gay publishing house was created; the Gay Men’s Press in 1979.  Without the GLF, there would not have been such strong community support for people who were HIV positive at this time. By the 1980s, the organisations, support and activism of the GLF had created a foundation for the LGBT+ community to fight the AIDS crisis and in the 1990s many organisations such as Stonewall and Outrage had GLF activists involved and leading these newer groups.

Another legacy of the GLF is that some people have moved into non-gay organisations. Being out and proud, they felt they could do so again. The Sexual Offences Act was only passed in 1967, which legalised some (not all) homosexual acts – it had to be between two men, in private, consensual and over 21. At the time the GLF emerged, coming out was still very much a big deal. The GLF had made people feel more confident about coming out and being openly gay.

The GLF had been a radical organisation, calling for communal living and the abolition of family and stood up for the rights and opposed capitalism. In 1995 Pride, on the 25th anniversary of the founding of GLF, members spoke of how the gay liberation movement had been subverted into gay capitalism. Gay people had found their voices but had left the socialist ideas behind.

Making Gay History Podcast

Making Gay History: Bringing LGBT+ history to life through the voices of the people who lived. You can explore the LGBT+ trailblazers and stories featured in the 100+ episodes here.

Since 2016 the Making Gay History podcast has been mining Eric Marcus’s decades-old audio archive of rare interviews – conducted for his award-winning oral history of the LGBT+ civil rights movement – to create intimate portraits of both known and long-forgotten champions, heroes and witnesses to history. In addition, they’ve also produced documentary series that explore milestone events and developments in LGBT+ history sourcing content from other archives. Explore the stories and people they’ve featured.

Black History Month 2026 in the UK runs throughout October 2026 with the national theme “Honouring Our Communities”, marking the 39th anniversary of the celebration in Britain.

Key Details & Focus:

• Dates: 1 October to 31 October 2026
• Theme: “Honouring Our Communities” (also highlighted as Honouring Black Britain), celebrating everyday individuals, local networks, educators, nurses, volunteers and artists who shape Britain.
• Anniversary: Marks 39 years since Black History Month was first celebrated in the UK in October 1987.
• Official Hub: Find educational materials, event listings and school resources on the Black History Month UK website.

Badges

Piano Recital

The pianist Vesselin Stanev studied at the Music Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria, at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique in Paris.

He devotes particular attention to chamber music and we were treated to a concert of Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Franz Liszt.

Thanks for an excellent concert.

International Lesbian Day

This 8 October we celebrate International Lesbian Day (ILD), and in honour of our lesbian community members, we wish you a happy, proud and affirming ILD!

International Lesbian Day is a day for lesbians the world over to come together to celebrate lesbian history, diversity and culture. Recognised annually, the day gives an opportunity for women, families and friends to connect, celebrate and also raise awareness about the importance of community.

The exact beginnings are debated, but the concept traces back to Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s and 1990s. New Zealand roots are sometimes linked to a march on 8 March 1980 (International Women’s Day), which later shifted to 8 October to mirror that date, while Australia’s early prominent event took place in Melbourne in October 1990. 

National Coming Out Day

National Coming Out Day is celebrated in October, taking place on 11 October 2026. Each year the event grows in popularity, with more and more people celebrating on the 11 of October. Make sure you mark this important day in your diary!

What is National Coming Out Day?

National Coming Out Day is an annual celebration for the LGBT+ community, supporting them in the disclosure of their sexuality or identification. The day allows hundreds of people to celebrate being a member of the LGBT+ community or to openly reveal to their friends, family or colleagues that they are LGBT+.

The day champions the idea that homophobia thrives in silence, and so thousands of members of the LGBT+ community and allies group together to abolish the silence.

When did National Coming Out Day start?

The origins of National Coming Out Day began with a march back in 1987, with 500,000 people participating to advocate Lesbian and Gay rights in Washington on 11 October 1987.

The march generated so much publicity that the advocacy continued, with two individuals, Rob Eichberg and Jean O’Leary, proposing the idea that National Coming Out Day would be celebrated annually. The first official observation of the day took place on the 11 October 1988 and has taken place each year since.

Why is National Coming Out Day important?

National Coming Out Day is important for many reasons, with the most important being that it provides a day of awareness and visibility for members of the LGBT community.

For many, the act of ‘coming out’ to family, friends and colleagues can be daunting. This day provides people with a day on which they can feel safe and accepted for their sexuality or identification, with other LGBT+ people rallying around them in support of their choices.

Many people do not feel as though they can ‘come out’ to those around them. Whether it be because they fear homophobia or they feel that their religion or culture does not align with their feelings, National Coming Out Day can give people the confidence to stop hiding their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Out On The Radio

Out on the Radio Show 11 is now available on Mixcloud.

Alan, Norman and Tony are chatting and playing tunes.

Listen to the show here.

Playlist:
Petula Clark – Downtown (Theme song)
Hello Dolly by Louis Armstrong
The Word Becomes Flesh by Boards of Canada
Lom Vava by Jojo Abot
Three Wheels on My Wagon by The New Christy Minstrels
A Strange Presence by The Night Monitor
Reparations For The Dead by Caribbean Issues
I Was Born This Way by Valentino
Wouldn’t It Be Loverly? By Audrey Hepburn
Purged Holy by Tony Morris (ft Adam Morris)
The Robbery of the Century by Macka B
Manchester by Equiknoxx
How Do You Do It by Gerry & The Pacemakers
Everything is Beautiful by Ray Stevens.

Please also mark 13 December for the Xmas Carol service in Manchester.

Terminal 2

Twenty-one of us went to see this two-hander play at 53two.

George and Lynda Sumner debate the meaning of life, the common bluebottle, sex tapes and the pros and cons of a KFC. But both are carrying a heartbreaking secret …

Terminal Two is a warm, life-affirming comedy drama about love, friendship, grief, life, death and coming out later in life. Expect laughs, tears and probably a renewed appreciation for your next delayed flight.

Anyway, I don’t want to spoil the ending as this was a well-acted play with a great script. If it comes to a town near you – go and see it. It is highly recommended.

Out on the Oche
Out in the Oche, founded by professional darts referee and Stonewall ambassador, Huw Ware, are holding an exhibition night showcasing the top two transgender darts players in the world of darts.

Christmas Meal

We are celebrating the end of the year with a Christmas Meal at the 1853 Restaurant, 60 Great Ducie Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M3 1LT  on Thursday, 10 December at 12.30pm and Friday, 11 December at 12.30pm.

The meal is free of charge, but to secure your place we require a £10 deposit. Please contact me for details if you wish to pay by online banking or pay cash next time you see me. Don’t forget to indicate which date you prefer.

The Missing Picture Survey

The Missing Picture is a joint research programme by Older Queer Voices and LGBT Great, exploring the experiences of LGBTQ+ people as we age. 

LGBTQ+ people aged 50+ are at the heart of The Missing Picture, and we particularly want to hear from people in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond.

Younger LGBTQ+ people aged 18+ are also invited to take part, helping us understand what has changed across generations, what has not, and how experiences of ageing may differ.

The findings will help build a stronger evidence base on LGBTQ+ ageing, strengthen advocacy and help influence future policy, practice, services and communities.

Now we need your voice.

If you are LGBTQ+ and aged 18+, take 10 to 15 minutes to complete the survey.

Have your say. Help build the evidence. Help reveal The Missing Picture.

Survey: The Missing Picture

Breaking News!

Talking About My Generation and the Greater Manchester Older People’s Network: partnership announcement

From 1 October – International Day of Older People – Talking About My Generation and the Greater Manchester Older People’s Network are working together in an official partnership, thanks to National Lottery Community funding.

The network has hundreds of members across Greater Manchester with things to say, experiences worth sharing and issues they want taken seriously. My Generation has a trained team of reporters from the region aged 50+ and years of experience giving older voices a platform. 

Together, we can make sure that the views and experiences of older people in Greater Manchester actually get seen and heard on their new website, social media and the press. 

Watch the launch video here.

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

The Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is the local museum service for the borough of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. It is a museum with collections of Christian icons, Egyptian hieroglyphs and local history, as well as those of the former Lewis Textile Museum.

The building

The museum is in a Grade II listed building, on the corner of Museum Street and Richmond Terrace. It was originally opened as an art gallery and library in 1874, with the library occupying the ground floor and the art gallery on the first floor.

There were twenty three of us who visited the museum, but prior to the visit we enjoyed lunch at the Postal Order and after the visit we popped into the Cathedral.

Lots of photos can be seen here.

Queer Up North 1992 – 2002

Queer Up North was one of the most pioneering and influential LGBTQ+ art festivals in Europe. It quickly became a beacon for queer culture, drawing artists and audiences from across the globe, and played a pivotal role in shaping Manchester’s identity as an inclusive and vibrant LGBTQ+ city.

New digital archive website launching 2 October 2026 – queerupnorth.org

Are you transmasculine? Aged 25 and over? We want to hear from you!

Summary

OUTpatients is the UK’s LGBTIQ+ Cancer Charity. We are looking for 8 transmasculine people to take part in an online workshop to understand views and experiences of cervical cancer screening (also known as a smear test).

Currently, transmasculine people face barriers to accessing healthcare, especially cervical screening. This is a paid opportunity (shopping voucher), and your views will help to inform an NHS campaign to help our community get lifesaving care.

Who can take part?

We are looking for transmasculine people who:

• Are registered as male with their GP, or are planning to register as male with their GP.
• Have a cervix
• Aged 25+
• Live in England.

We use transmasculine as an umbrella term that includes transgender men, nonbinary people assigned female at birth, and some intersex people. 

You do not need to have had a cervical screening to take part. In fact, we are particularly interested in hearing from people who have not attended, or who have had negative experiences with healthcare!

What will the workshop look like?

• Online
• 4-8 transmasculine people
• Facilitated by a transmasculine person
• Discussion of your views and experiences of healthcare, including cervical screening.

We also know that transmasculine people of colour face intersectional barriers to healthcare. We are therefore keen to host an additional workshop specifically reserved for this community. This will be facilitated by another transmasculine person of colour to help people to feel safe and comfortable sharing their experiences.

Interested?

If you have any questions or would like to take part, then please fill out this form or email ezra@outpatients.org.uk.

International Day of Older People

The International Day of Older People (IDOP) takes place each year on 1 October. To celebrate the event Out In the City members went to “Saturday Afternoon Fever!” organised by Manchester Central Library and featuring singer Dee Dee Allen.

We were treated to afternoon tea, singalong and dancealong classics. There was a pop quiz – Name the Decade – and Out In The City members correctly answered all 20 questions and won the prize of two boxes of chocolates!

Collaborating with academics

Between April and June 2026 Len Grant was working with academics at the University of Manchester as they used creative methods to research older LGBT people’s experiences of home and care.

Older lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people experience health and social inequalities which continue into later life, and their needs are often poorly met by housing and social care services.

There were a group of eight older LGBT people participating and five workshops were held. Some participants were also met individually in their local neighbourhoods. This work explored methods that enable people to express their experiences over time and space, through movement, material things and feelings.

More about the project here.

Waiting On A Friend: Natalie Adler in conversation with Monica Pearl

Friday, 9 October – 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Blackwell’s Bookshop, 146 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9GP

Book here (£5 General Admission / £17 Book and ticket)

Join us for a conversation on Natalie’s debut novel, set during the AIDs crisis of 1980s New York.

We are thrilled to welcome Natalie Adler to Blackwell’s in partnership with the University of Manchester’s Centre for Sexuality Studies and Culture. Natalie will be discussing her debut novel, Waiting On A Friend, set amidst the AIDs crisis in 1980s New York. Natalie will be in conversation with Dr Monica Pearl, senior lecturer and veteran of ACT UP New York.

About Waiting On A Friend

East Village, summer of 1984. Renata is a young dyke-about-town who has the ability to see ghosts, which has been happening more and more frequently as her friends have started dying of what has recently been named AIDS.

So, when her best friend Mark dies, she assumes she’ll see him again. There’s no way Mark wouldn’t give her a chance to say goodbye, would he? But to her disappointment – and increasingly, her concern – Mark doesn’t appear.

Renata has other problems, too. A mysterious, police-like force has begun ridding their East Village neighbourhood of anything abnormal or inexplicable. At first, she’s sure they’re scam artists, but it becomes clear they’re actually trapping ghosts. With her band of lovably eccentric pals and lovers, Renata is determined to fight back against the erasure of her friends’ memories and the sanitising of her beloved New York.

About the author

Natalie Adler is an editor at Lux magazine. She was a 2022-23 Susan Kamil Emerging Writer Fellow at the Centre for Fiction. She has an MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College and a PhD in comparative literature from Brown University. She is from New Jersey and lives in New York City.

If you cannot make the event but would like a dedicated copy of the book, please email events.manchester@blackwell.co.uk or call them on 0161 274 3331.

The event format is usually a 45 minute discussion between the author and interviewer, followed by a chance for audience members to ask questions. There will be the opportunity to get your book signed/dedicated after the event. Events are a brilliant opportunity to discover new books, meet authors and likeminded readers and learn something new.