Social Refuge
Social Refuge on Great Ancoats Street is an LGBTQIA+ community space combining Queer Lit, Manchester's longest-running queer bookshop, with a café, bar, co-working area and events room. It's open daily from morning, with later evenings Thursday to Sunday, and suits browsing, working or a relaxed drink.
Photos
William Kan
Books first
Queer Lit started online, moved into a shop on the edge of the Northern Quarter and found its current home here. Shelves hold more than 2,000 titles, from fiction and poetry to non-fiction on queer politics and children's books about families, and displays follow LGBTQIA+ calendar moments. The range is broad enough to suit casual browsers as well as committed readers.
Café, bar and workspace
The space works as a café by day, with coffee and space to read or work; later in the week it turns into a bar. The co-working area makes it a welcoming option for visitors who need a laptop stop between sights. Thursday to Sunday it stays open until late, so it works for an evening drink in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Events
Downstairs hosts regular writing groups, book clubs, quiz nights and queer poetry, with details posted on Social Refuge's Instagram. It's well placed for the Ancoats food scene, with Mackie Mayor's food hall and restaurants such as Ezra & Gil a few minutes' walk away. It's a good place to meet people if you're visiting Manchester alone. Check listings before you go, as the calendar changes each week.
Highlights
- Home of Queer Lit bookshop
- Over 2,000 LGBTQIA+ titles
- Café, bar and co-working space
- Book clubs, quizzes and poetry nights
Good to know
- Open until late Thursday to Sunday; earlier closing Monday to Wednesday.
- Event listings are posted on Instagram.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: creativetourist.com