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'''Manto''' ("Manchester Tomorrow") is a gay bar in [[Canal Street]], [[Manchester]].
'''Manto''' ("Manchester Tomorrow") is a gay bar in [[Canal Street]], [[Manchester]].


It opened in 1991, having been built by Benedict Smith Architects.<ref>Claire Hartwell, ''Manchester''. (Pevsner Architectural Guides) New Haven: Yale U P 2001; pages 149-50</ref> Unlike the other gay bars at that time, Manto had large glass windows, allowing the casual passer-by to view what was going on inside. Previously many establishments catering for the gay community were keen to conceal activities from the general public, but the architectural design of Manto was seen as a queer visual statement "we're here, we're queer – get used to it". A brick-and-mortar refusal to hide any more, to remain underground and invisible.<ref>John Binnnie, ''Cosmopolitan Urbanism'', Routledge, 2006 page 230 isbn 0-415-34491-3</ref> The opening of Manto was regarded as a catalyst for the development of many of the current style of bars and clubs in the Village.<ref name="Independent2">http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/paint-the-town-pink-1526090.html David Smith & Colin Richardson "Paint the town pink" ''The Independent'' 17 December 1995 </ref> Manto was created when Carol Ainscow, a gay property developer, alongside her business partner Peter Dalton, bought a run-down building on Canal Street. The building was the first in the area to be clad with large plate glass windows;<ref name="Independent">http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-gay-village-canal-street-manchester-1336138.html Jenny Turner "The gay village, Canal Street, Manchester"  ''The Independent'' 9 June 1996</ref> Ainscow stated, "I felt sick of having to knock on doors and hide".<ref name="Campbell">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/aug/07/gayrights.communities Beatrix Campbell "Village people" ''The Guardian'' 7 August 2004</ref>Despite this, Ainscow stated that the for the first six months of business, Manto was continually losing money due to people's fear of being seen in there.<ref name="Campbell"/>  
Manto was created when [[Carol Ainscow]], a gay property developer, alongside her business partner Peter Dalton, bought a run-down building on Canal Street. It opened in 1991. The building, designed by Benedict Smith Architects<ref>Claire Hartwell, ''Manchester''. (Pevsner Architectural Guides) New Haven: Yale U P 2001; pages 149-50</ref> was the first in the area to be clad with large plate glass windows,<ref name="Independent">http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-gay-village-canal-street-manchester-1336138.html Jenny Turner "The gay village, Canal Street, Manchester"  ''The Independent'' 9 June 1996</ref> allowing the casual passer-by to view what was going on inside. Previously many establishments catering for the gay community were keen to conceal activities from the general public, but the architectural design of Manto was seen as a queer visual statement "we're here, we're queer – get used to it". A brick-and-mortar refusal to hide any more, to remain underground and invisible.<ref>John Binnnie, ''Cosmopolitan Urbanism'', Routledge, 2006 page 230 isbn 0-415-34491-3</ref> Ainscow stated, "I felt sick of having to knock on doors and hide".<ref name="Campbell">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/aug/07/gayrights.communities Beatrix Campbell "Village people" ''The Guardian'' 7 August 2004</ref> Despite this, Ainscow stated that the for the first six months of business, Manto was continually losing money due to people's fear of being seen in there.<ref name="Campbell"/> The opening of Manto was regarded as a catalyst for the development of many of the current style of bars and clubs in the Village.<ref name="Independent2">http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/paint-the-town-pink-1526090.html David Smith & Colin Richardson "Paint the town pink" ''The Independent'' 17 December 1995 </ref>


:"Manto was one of the catalysts for Manchester's now-established bar scene, proudly showcasing the creativity and vibrancy of the gay scene behind a glass front for the first time. Now more institution than rebellious innovator, it's nevertheless still a big draw."<ref>http://www.timeout.com/manchester/clubs/venue/1%3A29397/manto Time Out</ref>
:"Manto was one of the catalysts for Manchester's now-established bar scene, proudly showcasing the creativity and vibrancy of the gay scene behind a glass front for the first time. Now more institution than rebellious innovator, it's nevertheless still a big draw."<ref>http://www.timeout.com/manchester/clubs/venue/1%3A29397/manto Time Out</ref>

Revision as of 06:38, 3 October 2013

Manto ("Manchester Tomorrow") is a gay bar in Canal Street, Manchester.

Manto was created when Carol Ainscow, a gay property developer, alongside her business partner Peter Dalton, bought a run-down building on Canal Street. It opened in 1991. The building, designed by Benedict Smith Architects[1] was the first in the area to be clad with large plate glass windows,[2] allowing the casual passer-by to view what was going on inside. Previously many establishments catering for the gay community were keen to conceal activities from the general public, but the architectural design of Manto was seen as a queer visual statement "we're here, we're queer – get used to it". A brick-and-mortar refusal to hide any more, to remain underground and invisible.[3] Ainscow stated, "I felt sick of having to knock on doors and hide".[4] Despite this, Ainscow stated that the for the first six months of business, Manto was continually losing money due to people's fear of being seen in there.[4] The opening of Manto was regarded as a catalyst for the development of many of the current style of bars and clubs in the Village.[5]

"Manto was one of the catalysts for Manchester's now-established bar scene, proudly showcasing the creativity and vibrancy of the gay scene behind a glass front for the first time. Now more institution than rebellious innovator, it's nevertheless still a big draw."[6]

References

Partly based on the Wikipedia article "Canal Street (Manchester).

<references>

  1. Claire Hartwell, Manchester. (Pevsner Architectural Guides) New Haven: Yale U P 2001; pages 149-50
  2. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-gay-village-canal-street-manchester-1336138.html Jenny Turner "The gay village, Canal Street, Manchester" The Independent 9 June 1996
  3. John Binnnie, Cosmopolitan Urbanism, Routledge, 2006 page 230 isbn 0-415-34491-3
  4. 4.0 4.1 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/aug/07/gayrights.communities Beatrix Campbell "Village people" The Guardian 7 August 2004
  5. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/paint-the-town-pink-1526090.html David Smith & Colin Richardson "Paint the town pink" The Independent 17 December 1995
  6. http://www.timeout.com/manchester/clubs/venue/1%3A29397/manto Time Out