At the beginning of Pride Month 2025 we celebrated Russell T Davies’ groundbreaking series Queer as Folk. This week we celebrated another of his hit dramas, 2021’s It’s a Sin.
Filmed in Manchester and Bolton, as well as other locations across the North West the series starred Olly Alexander, Neil Patrick Harris, Keeley Hawes, Callum Scott Howells and Lydia West.
Viewers were immediately hooked when Its A Sin landed on Channel 4 and were captivated by the portrayal of a group of friends during the 1980s and 1990s navigating life during the AIDS epidemic. The show was praised for its emotional and honest depiction of this health crisis.
Despite being set in London, It’s a Sin was delivered with Screen Manchester’s help and we enjoyed making the most of historic buildings, pubs and city streets across Greater Manchester.
Fans of the heart wrenching drama can visit Paton Street, close to The Northern Quarter which provided the backdrop for the London street where the friends lived together. You can also go for a drink at The Embassy Club on Rochdale Road, the Thirsty Scholar on New Wakefield Street and the Star and Garter on Fairfield Street to follow in the star-studded cast’s footsteps.
Other filming locations included Victoria Baths, Manchester Hall, Bridge Street, Eccles Shopping Centre, Heaton Hall, the former Crossley House Youth Centre in Openshaw and Le Mans Crescent in Bolton. If you visit Greater Manchester it won’t be hard for you to recall how beautifully Russell T captured such a devastating and poignant moment in LGBTQ+ history.
