Napoleons - said to be the oldest gay nightclub in Manchester - might be about to close its doors for good after the owners put the venue up for sale.

The popular city centre hotspot, on Bloom Street, is on the market for £800,000.

Current owners Anne and Melvin Taylor have run the club for almost 30 years, after buying it from Frank Foo Foo Lammar in December 1972, while working there.

The pair also own Cruz 101 on Princess Street.

But the couple have decided that it’s time for someone else to take the reins of the historic venue.

(Image: Rightmove) (Image: Rightmove)

During their time in charge of Napoleons, Anne and Melvin have seen a lot of changes to the city and the culture, which is due in no small part, to venues such as theirs.

Mrs Taylor said: “It’s far better for everybody, you don’t have to hide anymore. It’s great that people can go anywhere and hardly anyone bats an eyelid.

“We have a lot of transgender people who come in and say to us ‘I was born here’. For lots and lots of people it was where they could come and knew it was going to be safe.

“If you come here, you come to respect the place and the people in it, it’s as simple as that. That’s our motto."

(Image: Rightmove) (Image: Rightmove)

“It’s my baby, it is definitely going to be a real wrench for me.”

The news of the sale has also hit many of the regulars hard, with some begging the couple not to leave, but despite the memories and the affection they have for the club, both Anne and Melvin feel that the time is right.

So, what next?

Melvin said: “My wife has been talking about taking a gap year, just taking a break; we’ve been working non-stop for over 30 years! But I know I’ll get bored, so I’m sure we’ll find something.

“We’ve recently moved back home to where we used to live, in Disley , we love it there but have lived in the city centre for years, so it’s nice to be back.”