A venue in Manchester’s Gay Village will be allowed to sell alcohol on the street over Pride weekend - despite this year’s event being cancelled due to coronavirus.
Velvet wants to ‘give something back’ to patrons and the wider LGBTQ+ community by providing a mobile bar and a stage on Canal Street over August bank holiday weekend.
Greater Manchester Police described the plans as ‘dangerous’ as there would be no extra security given the postponement of the Pride festival to August 2021.
A ban on drinking alcohol in the street would also not be relaxed as it would if Pride were going ahead, meaning punters would be breaking the rules even if lockdown restrictions on bars were lifted.