Mayfield regeneration site to be new home for Manchester Pride Festival
A 24-acre regeneration site close to Piccadilly Station in Manchester will, this year, become home to an exciting new element of one of the world’s leading LGBT+ festivals – the Manchester Pride Festival.
The festival’s ticketed live music element, previously known as The Big Weekend, is to be re-invented as Manchester Pride Live and will take place over two days – Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August – at Mayfield, organisers announced today (January 10).
About 30 global artists will perform across two stages in and around the Mayfield Depot, part of the former Mayfield Station site which is earmarked for a £1bn transformation, including residential, commercial and leisure assets, as well as a new city park.
Manchester Pride Live will be staged both within the depot and other disused spaces within the former Mayfield rail station for two days of live performances.
The announcement follows the staging of a number of ground-breaking events at Mayfield and is in line with developer U+I’s ‘Worthwhile’ policy – driving creative, community and enterprise uses for its sites before and during development to aid place-making and deliver social and economic benefits.
The Mayfield performances are just part of this year’s Manchester Pride Festival – a spectacular four-day programme of culture, performance and participation, including The Manchester Pride Parade, the Gay Village Gathering, Superbia and Youth Pride MCR.
Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said: “Manchester Pride Live will be one of the most innovative projects we have delivered to date and our intention is to make it a world-leading celebration of LGBT+ life.
“The venue, much like us, is part of the foundations of our city and will provide a spectacular backdrop to what will be a uniquely inclusive experience where the LGBT+ people of Manchester can truly celebrate their culture in a safe and welcoming environment.
“The Mayfield Partnership is the perfect partner for Manchester Pride.
“Its commitment to creating an accessible and inclusive new neighbourhood in the city and the values it espouses are in perfect synergy with everything we hold close as an LGBT+ campaigning charity.
“We are excited to deliver great things together.”
In 2016, regeneration specialist U+I was appointed as development partner to deliver the Mayfield regeneration project as part of The Mayfield Partnership, which also comprises LCR, Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.
James Heather, development director for U+I, said: “It is a privilege to be able to provide a new home this year for such an iconic, ground-breaking and purposeful festival and we are delighted to be working with Manchester Pride to help create what will be a stunning weekend in a stunning location.
“Manchester Pride Live will introduce a whole new audience to Mayfield and is another important step for us as we re-introduce a long hidden and under-used asset to the people of Manchester and beyond and as we progress our long-term vision for the site.”
