Travel

Pride 2021: When to catch the rescheduled Pride events in your town


Get your rainbow flags at the ready (Picture: Alamy/ Shutterstock/ The Vain Photografia/ Getty)

Not even Pride was safe from Covid-cancellation, but luckily many events are set to be re-arranged.

And with some towns kicking off the celebrations as early as July (fingers crossed), it’s time to get planning.

From full-blown carnivals to small-scale celebrations, here’s how you can celebrate LGBT+ rights this year.

Birmingham

When: September 25-26

After being rescheduled from May, Birmingham’s Pride celebrations return to
Smithfield with a 12-acre, 20,000-person ticketed bash.

It features a dance arena, a funfair, a cabaret marquee and a main stage headlined by Cheryl, Eve, Katy B and other luminaries including Drag Race’s Baga Chipz (tickets from £45 per day, free for under 12s and over 65s).

Elsewhere, the carnival parade’s route has yet to be announced but last year’s was due to start in Victoria Square and wind through the centre to the Hippodrome.

Watch this space.

Birmingham goes big for Pride (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)

Find out more here.

While you’re there: Stroll around the historic Jewellery Quarter, the place to go
for bars, clubs and art galleries.

Check in: The perfectly placed Malmaison in the city centre has rooms from £77pn.

Bristol

Bristol have planned a summer bonanza (Picture: Simon Chapman/LNP/Shutterstock)

When: July 3-16

Another safe(r) bet, is Bristol, which celebrates this year with a Pride fortnight packed with different events rather than one big (cancellable) shebang.

Head down for theatre and comedy nights, a dog show, a film festival and a drag cabaret night resplendent with queens from Drag Race UK (tickets £64).

The main event, in so much as there is one, is Pride Day in Castle Park on Saturday, July 10, where you’ll find a food market, and family and youth areas, as well as roaming live performances.

It’s free but you’re encouraged to buy a supporter’s wristband.

More details will be released shortly on the website.

While you’re there: Take a street art tour in the hometown of Banksy and learn about the history of Bristol’s graffiti (from £7.50).

Check in: Bed down in the chic Berkeley Square Hotel; doubles from £93pn.

London

Sadiq’s on the mic in London (Picture: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London)

When: September 11

The capital’s Pride is still thin on detail but we do know the parade route will be slightly different this year.

Regardless, the fun tends to follow the same format each year: a rather raucous Tube journey followed by a quick gander at the march (cue annual discussion about whether it’s all too corporate).

Then it’s down to Trafalgar Square for speeches by Sadiq Khan et al, before heading to Soho to stand around necking canned G&Ts.

Do some research and book tickets for after-parties in advance.

Visit the website here.

While you’re there: Sink hair of the dog at the drag brunch at Gigi’s Hoxton, £40pp.

Check in: Westminster Curio has rooms from £132pn.

Manchester

This year’s theme is the Garden of Freedom (Picture: Carl Sukonik | The Vain Photogra)

When: August 27-30

Manchester’s Pride, like its scene, is inclusive and huge: a four-day bank holiday Garden of Freedom-themed party, no less.

Highlights include MCR Pride Live festival on Saturday and Sunday, where you can catch the likes of Eve, Gabrielle and poet Mykki Blanco. Then there’s a singalong cinema, a silent disco and a street party in the Gay Village (from £15 per day), as well as, of course, Saturday’s parade.

Pre-game at Freight Island, an outdoor food market and bar – perfect for sinking cocktails and making eyes at randoms.

Head here for more information

While you’re there: Explore the creative Northern Quarter, stuffed with cool independent bars, boutiques and cafés.

Check in: Stay in style at Hotel Gotham, located in a beautiful Art Deco building, a former bank designed by Edwin Lutyens. Rooms from £149pn.

Southampton

Southampton’s Pride brings in 18,000 people a year (Picture: Visit Hampshire)

When: August 28

Southampton’s Pride started out as a vigil for victims of the Pulse shooting in 2016 and has grown into one of the south coast’s best-attended (and free) Pride events, bringing in almost 18,000 people each year.

The day kicks off with a parade winding its way round the city centre and its parks before ending up back where it all began, at the Pride Village in Guildhall Square.

If you’re keen to get involved, volunteer applications for placard holders and flag bearers are still open. If not, mooch around the 30 or so stalls and see acts on the main stage.

Find out more here.

While you’re there: Pretend you’re in Dubrovnik with a walk around the medieval city walls or take the Titanic Trail (the doomed ship set sail from here in April 1912).

Check in: The hip Moxy hotel has rooms from £81pn.

Margate

Sun, sea and rainbow flags in Margate (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)

When: August 14

Looking for a seaside fix to replace Brighton’s cancelled bash? Try trendy Margate.

There’s no parade this year but there are plenty of free alfresco queer offerings, including an art trail, a sports day and a host of performances and talks at Cliftonville’s Oval Band Stand.

Older members of the community should make a beeline for the teatime social,
while there’s also the chance to enter Margate Pride’s very first beauty pageant,
Mx Margate.

See the website for details.

While you’re there: Get a modern art fix at Turner Contemporary (free) or embrace the kitsch of vintage theme park Dreamland.

Check in: Wake up with a view of the sea at the Sands Hotel – rooms from £150pn.

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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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