Join us for an engaging panel discussion exploring the legendary queer night 'Flesh' at The Haçienda, a staple of Manchester’s nightlife in the 1990's. Moderated by Paul Flynn, five panellists - icons from the scene who lived the night from the DJ booth to the dance floor will share their first hand experiences and reflect on the club’s cultural impact.

This event forms part of the public programme for The Secret Public: LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985, the John Rylands Library’s current exhibition. The exhibition explores how queer performers shaped music, art and popular culture across three transformative decades, celebrating voices that challenged convention and redefined the mainstream.

About the panel

Paul Cons arrived in Manchester in 1981 to study Drama but quickly swapped theatre for the nightlife scene after the success of his fundraiser for Lesbians and Gays Support The Miners at The Haçienda in 1984. He went on the create some of the clubs most iconic nights, including The Temperance Club, Zumbar, Hot, and Flesh which he co-founded with Lucy Scher. Cons went on to launch SOUTH, a staple of Manchester's indie club scene from 1995 until its closure in 2021. Having to returned to London, he has since combined work in film, food, and cultural projects such as The Emma Cons Gardens Trust.

David Hoyle is a performance artist and cultural icon whose work often blends dry wit and political commentary. Rising to prominence in Manchester before gaining wider recognition through Channel 4's 'The Divine David Presents', he has challenged and entertained audiences for over three decades. In 2024, Aviva Studios staged a major retrospective of his career, 'Please Feel Free to Ignore My Work', cementing his reputation as one of the city's most fearless and distinctive performers.

Dave Kendrick began his DJ career in 1984, playing High-NRG records in the backroom of a Hell’s Angel’s pub in his native Lincolnshire, aged 17. Ten years later he was one of the beloved main floor resident DJs at Flesh, a dynamic musical technician with a special ear for what makes queer people move.

Paul Flynn is a pop-culture journalist, editor and author who began his writing career as the Gay and Lesbian editor of City Life, Manchester’s listings title, in 1995. He attended the first night of Flesh, a night he has since written about repeatedly, including a chapter of his 2018 book, ‘Good As You’, a pop cultural roadmap to British gay equality.

Kath McDermott is a DJ and radio producer who became a regular at The Haçienda in the early 1990s - she went on to play at Flesh and brought a distinctive sound to the famous dancefloor. Kath has shaped Manchester's queer nightlife scene for over 35 years as a DJ, becoming a resident at Homoelectric as well as combining club culture with broadcasting whilst working on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Access

This event is free and will be held in the John Rylands Library Event Space, which is accessible for all visitors.

Full information about access is on the Accessable website.

Contact

If you require further information about this event please email jrl.events@manchester.ac.uk or telephone 0161 306 0555.

Image: Miss Flesh 1990's, Courtesy Jon Shard.

Flesh at The Haçienda: Panel discussion at The John Rylands Library