Napoleons in Manchester, England is the oldest gay bar in Europe.

Napoleons, located in Manchester, England, holds the title of being the oldest gay bar in Europe.

The liquor license of Napoleons in Manchester, England, believed to be the oldest gay bar in Europe, has been revoked due to several violations such as employing illegal workers, improper garbage disposal, blocked fire exits, and other breaches.

The establishment was established in 1941 and was previously owned by the famous drag performer, Fran Foo Foo Lamar, of Manchester. In 1972, the property was acquired by new owners, coinciding with the rise of the well-known Gay Village in Manchester in the 1990s, featuring various venues and earning the nickname “Gaychester.”

History of Napoleons

The initial edition of Queer As Folk, originating in Britain, was based in Manchester and premiered in 1999. Ownership of Napoleons was once again transferred in 2016, introducing karaoke as part of its entertainment options and including a Chinese takeout restaurant open late into the night.

According to the BBC, the owner of the bar is currently Napoleon HL Ltd. and the designated premises supervisor is Guixiang Liu, the company’s director.

Liquor License Revocation

Following statements from officials in Manchester and the bar’s spokesperson during a town hall meeting to review the bar’s license, members of the council decided to cancel the bar’s permission to serve alcohol. On February 29, a raid by immigration officials took place at Napoleons, resulting in the detention of five employees and a penalty of £90,000 ($114,642) for the owners of the establishment.

The council stated that there is a pattern of not following rules and this has been made worse by the immigration offenses.

There are problems currently happening and being refused.

The Gay Village’s Sackville House complained about excessive trash and blocked emergency exits. A licensing officer from the council also noted problems with employees being unable to effectively use CCTV cameras at the location.

The spokesperson for Napoleons has reported that they have resolved all problems, including those regarding immigration. They asserted that taking away the bar’s alcohol license would not be fair.

Napoleons is refuting the claim that any of the individuals detained during the attack were employed at the establishment during the incident.

Legal Adviser’s Statement

According to legal advisor Laura Raine, the committee discussed various choices before making the decision to revoke the license. The main factors contributing to this decision include ongoing violations of conditions, employment of unauthorized personnel, lack of effective management and accountability, and inadequate training.