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The Churchill, Manchester

The Churchill
White-rendered brick pub
The pub in 2018
The Churchill, Manchester is located in Greater Manchester
The Churchill, Manchester
Location within Greater Manchester
Former namesMechanics Arms,
Churchills
Alternative names
The Church
General information
TypePublic house
LocationChorlton Street, Manchester, England
Coordinates53°28′40″N 2°14′10″W / 53.4778°N 2.2361°W / 53.4778; -2.2361
Year builtEarly 19th century
Design and construction
Designations
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name
The Churchill public house
Designated6 June 1994
Reference no.1197758
Other information
Public transit
Manchester Piccadilly
Website
thechurchmcr.co.uk

The Churchill (formerly known as the Mechanics Arms and Churchills, and now trading as The Church), is a Grade II listed public house on Chorlton Street, adjacent to Canal Street, in Manchester, England, within the city's gay village. It is one of the area's oldest venues, having operated as a pub since the 1850s and later functioning as a hotel, drag and karaoke venue.

History

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The building originated in the early 19th century, according to its official listing.[1] It was recorded as the Mechanics Arms public house by the mid‑19th century, appearing under that name on maps from 1851.[2] By the 1870s it was operated by William Darnward, and the pub subsequently passed through several licensees, including Frederick L. Burgess in the 1890s and Annie Sheerin in the early 20th century.[3]

Archive photographs show that the pub retained the name Mechanics Arms until at least 1973.[4] The venue adopted the name Churchills at some point in the later 20th century and became a long‑established fixture of Manchester's gay village. The Manchester Evening News describes it as one of the area's oldest venues, noting its operation as a pub since the 1850s and its later use as a hotel, drag and karaoke venue.[4][5]

On 6 June 1994, the pub was designated a Grade II listed building.[1] It continues to function as a venue within the gay village.[4]

Architecture

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The building is constructed from brick with stucco dressings and has a slate roof. It originally had three storeys but is now two.[1] It occupies a corner plot at Chorlton Street, Canal Street and Richmond Street.

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 Historic England. "The Churchill public house (Grade II) (1197758)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  2. "Churchills - Chorlton Street & Richmond Street". Manchester History. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  3. "Churchills History". Canal St Online. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Maidment, Adam (7 October 2020). "One of Canal Street's oldest pubs to be given 'new lease of life' after takeover". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  5. "Leaving Churchill's Darkest Hour Behind". Manchester Bars. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
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The Churchill, Manchester
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