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5 September 2025

LEVEN Manchester review: The best Manchester Gay Village hotel?

The super-central boutique property is the ideal city base, as Attitude discovered

By Dale Fox

Night view of outside the Leven hotel in Manchester with a giant Pride flag hanging down the front and people walking in front of it
LEVEN Manchester (Image Attitude/Dale Fox)

If you want to feel like you’re front and centre of Manchester’s Gay Village – and be able to stagger home in seconds – LEVEN Mancester could very well be the one. The independent boutique hotel is housed in a former cotton warehouse, all red brick and industrial chic, with interiors that mix slick design and home-from-home comfort. For Manchester Pride 2025, it felt less like a hotel stay and more like having our very own private perch above Canal Street – complete with VIP balcony.

Location

Dragging my suitcase down Canal Street while dodging drag queens, tequila shots and rainbow confetti was certainly not a look, making my Friday night arrival through the LEVEN’s sliding glass doors even more welcome. The hotel couldn’t be more central if it tried: its facade was draped in a giant Pride flag, its own outdoor bar was in full swing, and one of the village’s several performance stages was practically on the doorstep. Check-in happened at the lobby bar (naturally), where staff handed over keys with a smile and two free drink tokens – surely the most efficient welcome to Pride anyone could hope for.

Drone shot above Canal Street showing throngs of people in the streets and neon lights
The LEVEN is located in the epicentre of the Gay Village (Image: Gregg Wolstenholme)

The smugness of staying here was real. While others queued for taxis at the end of the night, I was Carrie Bradshaw with her blow-dry still intact, tottering home to my city retreat metres away. By Saturday I’d stopped even considering heading to Manchester Pride’s off-site main stage venue, a 15-minute walk from the street party. Why wander? Everything I wanted – music, dancing, bars, friends – was happening right outside.

Room

I was booked into the ‘Living Large’ penthouse, and the name didn’t lie. It’s a split-level suite with its own kitchen, dining space and a bathroom made for wallowing in a Porcelanosa deep bath. The crown jewel is the wraparound balcony overlooking the Gay Village: a private box seat on Canal Street where you can watch the throngs partying below while sipping champagne in your slippers.

Aerial view of a crowd partying on Canal Street in front of a performance stage
Room with a view (Image: Attitude/Dale Fox)

The soundproofing is miraculous. I opened the glass doors and was practically blown backwards by the warbling tones of a drag queen belting out Cher’s ‘Believe’ on the stage below. I stepped back in, shut the door, and it was like the whole thing was a (very camp) dream. It’s like magic. Earplugs are thoughtfully supplied in all rooms, but unless you have the hearing of a bat you won’t need them. Add in remote-control blinds and a bed so comfortable I considered becoming a squatter, and it felt like playing at being a City trader on a dirty weekend.

LEVEN also offers a range of rooms to suit different budgets and needs, from the more compact Life Size rooms to the one-bedroom Living Space suites with separate sitting areas.

Interior shot of the LEVEN hotel's breakfast area showing exposed brick walls and a long dining table
Breakfast area (Image: LEVEN/Heiko Prigge)
Internal shot of a hotel room with Brick walls and a blue sofa
A LEVEN room (Image: LEVEN)
LEVEN hotel's reception area showing a bar and seating
Reception (Image: LEVEN)

Dining

When I eventually tore myself away from the balcony, Maya – the hotel’s partner restaurant – was a sophisticated oasis of calm. Its curved bar, dim lighting and live DJ gave it a Soho-by-way-of-Manchester vibe. Bottomless brunch here meant my prosecco glass was never empty (served by an aptly handsome and glamourous staff), and the clientele was a glossy mix of Pride-goers (chic huns and various gays) taking a breather in this basement sanctuary before diving back into the chaos.

Interior shot of Maya Manchester, showing a circular bar with seating around it
Maya Manchester (Image: Maya Manchester)

The Pride menu was a simple selection of light bites (which, honestly, left me wanting), though Maya runs a bountiful offering throughout the rest of the year, with favourites such as fish and chips and flat iron steak available alongside unlimited plonk from a very reasonable not-at-all-London rate of £37.95.

Mornings at LEVEN itself have a touch of continental charm. The lobby area doubles as a charming breakfast nook, where you’ll find pastries, cereals, fresh fruit and yoghurt – plus house-blend coffee and smoothies. If you’re craving a juicy banger or two after a heavy night, Maya offers a breakfast menu for LEVEN guests at £14 (discounted from the walk-in price of £18; includes continental buffet, juices, hot drinks, one cooked-to-order hot dish), with full English, eggs benedict, avocado toast and more available.

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