G-A-Y owner gives Manchester nightclub away, citing poor mental health
"Losing G-A-Y in Manchester would have broken my heart, so I came up with the inspiration of being Willy Wonka and G-A-Y Manchester being the Chocolate Factory."
The owner of G-A-Y nightclub in Manchester has given away the venue to its current manager, it has been revealed.
Nightclub boss Jeremy Joseph has given away the Manchester nightclub, which has been an iconic fixture on Canal Street for over ten years, comparing himself to Willy Wonka in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
Taking to social media over the weekend to explain his decision, Mr Joseph said he had been struggling with his mental health since the start of the pandemic and attributed this with his decision to give away the club.
He also confirmed that he had gifted the Manchester nightclub to his friend and site manager, Lee Kellow, who will now take over the venue as his own franchise.
Elaborating on why he has given G-A-Y to the manager as opposed to selling up, Mr Joseph said, “losing G-A-Y in Manchester would have broken my heart, so I came up with the inspiration of being Willy Wonka and G-A-Y Manchester being the Chocolate Factory.”
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“I’ve known Lee for too many years, he’s been the manager at G-A-Y Manchester for too many years and to give a friend an opportunity to take on a venue I built, means that the brand continues if Lee makes it work.
“It gives him security and Manchester continues to have a G-A-Y venue.”
He continued to outline his logic behind the move, and in doing so showed just how much he cares not just for the brand he has grown himself but for Manchester’s independent LGBT bar scene too.
He said: “It keeps G-A-Y in Manchester and more importantly it allows Canal Street not to lose an independent LGBT venue.”
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, I now have to think what I want for me and the London venues, but the first move was to protect the future of G-A-Y Manchester and also protect the future of a friend.”
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Mr Joseph continued, saying he hopedthat Manchester continues to support the site following the change of hands.
“I hope Manchester will support Lee as he takes on the risk of owning and running an LGBT venue, I know he’s going to make a huge success of it and I’m so happy even though I’ve struggled with my mental health running venues, something good has come out of it by creating an opportunity for Lee to take on G-A-Y Manchester for hopefully many years to come, unless, of course, he fucks it up.
“One of the greatest honours has been for G-A-Y to put on the headline acts of Manchester Pride. Walking on stage and getting to introduce some amazing talent has been an honour that I’m so proud of. I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported G-A-Y over the years in Manchester and I hope you will continue to do so.
“Look after Lee and the staff at G-A-Y Manchester, look after independent LGBT venues, and be nice on social media.”
Numerous comments have since flooded in online over the weekend, with celebs including Rupaul’s Drag Race stars Shangela and Brooklyn Hytes, TV personality Denise Van Outen and singer Alexandra Burke all rushing to show support for the move.
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G-A-Y will continue to operate its normal hours, which are 12 pm – 4 am Monday to Sunday.
Global sensation Eggslut is FINALLY coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
After waiting what feels like a lifetime, worldwide viral sensation Eggslut is at long last coming to Manchester city centre.
Cracking news (sorry not sorry).
Honestly, there aren’t many big-name food chains that we’ve been waiting to arrive in Manchester longer than Eggslut, which started as little more than a food truck in LA and has gone on to become a truly global giant in the culinary scene.
Set to pop up at Centurion House over on Deansgate, which backs onto Lincoln Square, Eggslut is scheduled to make its Manchester debut very soon.
Literally drooling at the mere thought more than those drips. (Credit: Publicity pictures)
I mean, LOOK at it. Class, just class…
Aiming to launch in the new year, Manc foodies who have been clamouring for the brand’s arrival for more than a decade now will soon be able to get their chops around fan favourites and internet-famous items like the ‘Fairfax’ and ‘Gaucho’ sandwiches, as well as the standard but signature ‘Slut’.
Oh, and yes: having tried various parts of the menu down in London, we can assure you they are just as naughty as they sound – especially those truffle hash browns and those new dippy French toast sticks, which we cannot wait to sample for ourselves.
The video of founder Alvin Cailan talking us through the story behind Eggslut and the secret ‘off-menu’ special order that was so good that people just couldn’t stop forcing it into the mainstream is still one of our most-watched videos of all time.
Not only is this the eighth UK location, but Manchester will also be the first venue in the country outside of the capital.
With the first CGIs of the space having now been shared with the ravenous masses, we confirm it is set to take the place of the existing Starbucks site at the base of the Bruntwood SciTech building.
You can see more down below:
Credit: Supplied
Head of Operations at Eggslut, Pedro Ribeiro, says of the impending opening: “Manchester has been crying out for an Eggslut for too long, and we were only too happy to make that dream a reality.
“The city is the perfect place to bring our kind of breakfast to a brand new area of the UK, and we cannot wait to join such a fast-paced and buzzing food scene.”
Matt Pazos, as for Bruntwood SciTech‘s Retail Commercial Manager, Matt Pazoz, he commented on them taking up residence here: “We’re delighted to be welcoming the first Eggslut outside of London to Manchester and can’t wait for the team to crack open their doors on Deansgate.
“The brand has built a cult following thanks to their delicious chef-driven comfort food, and we know that it will fast become a go-to spot for businesses based in Centurion House as well as locals and visitors to the city.”
Coming to a mouth near you by the end of January 2026.
They’re aiming to tackle the pressures currently being put on temporary accommodation by turning long-term empty homes throughout the region into safe and secure housing for families who need it.
Temporary accommodation is described as being a ‘vital safety net’ for people who are facing or are at risk of homelessness, as it ensures they have somewhere safe to stay – but rising demand, a shortage of affordable homes, and escalating costs have left Councils, such as Greater Manchester‘s, increasingly reliant on expensive alternatives that are often deemed unsuitable and place a significant strain on local budgets.
At the same time, thousands of long-term empty homes across Greater Manchester remain unused.
This is why, with new devolved powers, GMCA is now taking what it’s calling a ‘coordinated, region-wide approach’ to bring these empty homes back into use and pioneer long-term solutions to the temporary accommodation crisis.
Greater Manchester reveals its £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
New research has revealed that temporary accommodation usage across the region has nearly doubled since 2019, with 5,915 households now making use of it as of March 2025.
At the same time, it’s estimated that the region has around 12,700 homes which have been empty for six months or more.
So, the new £11.7 million package – which is funded by GMCA – will be used to refurbish or lease up to 400 properties and help Councils cut bills for ‘costly and unsuitable’ temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts, hostels, or hotels.
“More than 8,000 children are among the families living in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester and that is simply unacceptable,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham.
“Homelessness tears young families from their communities and support networks, leaving them in environments that are often wholly unsuitable. This experience leaves lasting scars and that’s why we’re taking bold action.
“By investing an initial £11.7m to bring long-term empty homes back into use, we can offer better housing options, reduce the reliance on costly temporary accommodation, and ease the financial strain on local authorities.”
Alongside this package, another £10.6 million fund will enable councils to provide financial incentives, repair support, and offer temporary leasing options for at least 400 empty homes, ensuring they can be quickly brought into use as temporary or settled accommodation for families.
The programme is part of the work of Greater Manchester’s dedicated Housing First Unit, established to deliver the vision for ‘a healthy home for all’ by 2038.
Georgina Pellant -
1st November 2021 
