The Archway was opened as Manchester's first "gay leather club" at 66 Whitworth Street West by Wayne Allmand and Harry Maney in 1983, seen below in suitably butch pose for City Life. Even back then it had the modern decor and a mezzanine level which may be better known to most as the Brickhouse.
Archway, Whitworth Street West, 1983. (c) dubwis-er at Manchester Music District Archive.
Despite being one of Manchester's better indie clubs of the '90s and '00s, sadly, the Brickhouse closed unexpectedly in the summer of 2011. This was odd considering that was rammed every time we ever ended up here for a late drink of a weekend. This venue is now Club HD which hosts occasional 'Brickhouse 2.0' nights.
Brickhouse, Whitworth Street West. (c) Brickhouse Facebook.
Looking at some old issues of Mancunian gay magazine, Archway isn't listed in the November 1983 or New Year December 1983 issues. I don't have a full copy of January or February but it is listed in the March 1984 issue as follows:
ReplyDelete"CLUBS: Archway Whitworth St West, Mon-Sat 10-3am (bar to 2am) Tues, leather and denim. Hi-tech, mainly men. Manchester's newest club."
Archway certainly was something new for Manchester's gay community at that time, with its urban, hi-tech and really quite harsh decor.
Is it stll a gay club and will it open after covic ?
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