Afflecks has a whole roster of fabulous activities and discounts to celebrate Manchester Pride this year! There are two brand new mini galleries, a Queer Quiz and disco taking over the third floor, a Pride swap shop and up to 25% discount from select traders between Friday 25th and Monday 28th August.

We've also kitted out our emporium of curiosities from head to toe in some seriously fierce decorations. There’s a gorgeous rainbow flower arch located at the Church Street entrance and the famous Pride umbrella installation that cascades down the main stairwell is back! The arcade, located on the ground floor, is also currently lit up with the Pride flag colours. 

Our first micro-gallery installation comes in collaboration with visual-arts information hub HappeningInMCR which will launch on Friday 25th August. The exhibition will centre around this year’s MCR Pride theme ‘Queerly Beloved - love, acceptance and the celebration of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity’, with local Mancunian artists asked to submit any work they have that reflects their own personal journeys.

SWALK Creative, located on the second floor, is starting the celebrations early with its launch of a new Pride themed window art display from artist SHARPTXNGUE on Monday 21st August. A portion of all sales in the weekend running up to Manchester Pride will be donated to The Manchester Pride Community Fund who support LGBTQ+ causes across Greater Manchester.

New trader, Desert Island Dumplings, is celebrating Manchester Pride in style, offering a whole host of discounts and treats with its vegan fusion dumplings. Kicking things off on the Friday afternoon with a greatest hits hour of their favourite lady loving anthems, as well as marking the beginning of a 15% off discount to anyone who shows the rainbow Pride flag. On Saturday they will be hosting a Queer Quiz, alongside fellow Afflecks trader City & Bloom, from 1pm with fabulous prizes, with Sunday rounding off the weekend with a food fest of delicious dumplings, noodles and chips.

Further fantastic discounts come from treasure trove Vintage Wardrobe, offering 25% off ALL items (excluding jewellery) across the entire Manchester Pride weekend. There will be 10% off art both instore and online from Egoiste using code PRIDELOVE10. In addition there will be an exclusive pop up gallery featuring iconic LGBTQ+ personalities created by the brilliantly talented Baiba Auria.

And in true Beg, Steal & Borrow style, the sustainable trader will be running its renowned Swap Shop on Sunday 27th August where pre-loved items can be swapped for a new fabulous find.

Afflecks is also a stop on the Manchester LGBTQ+ Walking Trail, a brand new 2023 initiative which sets out to provide a better understanding of the city’s fascinating queer history.  Tickets are £10 and all proceeds go to Manchester Pride Charity.