Iconic sale: Manchester’s The Molly House is on the market. Photo: Rightmove.co.uk
One of Manchester’s most famous gay bars, The Molly House, is up for sale with a price tag of £1,295,000.
The popular bar and late night venue is in the centre of Manchester’s famous Gay Village. It sits just one street behind the city’s vibrant gay strip, Canal Street.
Bordello chic: The Molly is popular with everyone from bears to twinks. Photo: The Molly House
The property, which is being sold by agent Christie & Co, reported turnover last year of £870,285 producing a gross profit of 66% and an adjusted net profit of £181,062.
It’s being sold after 22 years as Brian Flockhart, the current owner, prepares to retire, according to blog site aboutmanchester.co.uk.
‘After 20 odd years, it is time to let someone else drive the business forward and reap the benefits of owning an iconic bar in this fantastic city.’
The three storey, double fronted property features a public bar, tea room, lounge area and outside terrace.
It’s also famous for the huge painted mural on one side of the building. It features locally known drag queens Anna Phylactic (top) and Foo Foo Lammar (top right). LGBTI icons such as feminist Emmeline Pankhurst (top left), writer Quentin Crisp (bottom left) and computing pioneer Alan Turing (bottom right) are also featured.
Molly mural: LGBTI icons on the bar’s famous mural.
Bar’s name steeped in 18th century gay history
In 18th century Britain a Molly-house was a place where gay men could meet and socialise. It was also sometimes known as a place for steamy sexual encounters.
A Molly-house was a tavern, public house or coffee house and was the 18th century equivalent of a gay bar.
According to Time Out, The Molly House in Manchester ‘attract[s] a diverse crowd, as well as a refreshing mix of ‘types’, so don’t be surprised to see a group of burly bears sat next to a table of cute trendy girls and a boy who’s just come out with his mum.’
The venue also has an impressive selection of ales, wines, spirits, teas and coffees. It also offers a menu that includes Spanish and Argentinian tapas, which makes it popular destination for ‘Village people’.
Manchester is in the midst of a property development boom. It’s the second most popular city for international investors outside of London.
As London becomes more expensive, investors from Hong Kong, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE are taking a greater interest in Manchester as part of a trend known as ‘northshoring’.
