Nottingham’s Rainbow Quarter is set to be unveiled in just weeks – with street parties and a possible special visit from Sir Ian McKellen in the pipeline. In July 2025, plans were revealed to transform streets around Hockley into the city’s LGBTQ+ district, in a style similar to the popular Gay Villages in Manchester and Birmingham. Since then, the charity leading the new Rainbow Quarter has been working hard behind the scenes and gearing up for the area’s official opening, which has now been confirmed as May 6. The city centre district has been known as an important area for LGBTQ+ people for decades, having a high density of gay-friendly bars and venues and a proud history of gay activism dating back to the 1990s . But campaigners, business experts and politicians have argued that making it official would bring new visitors and investment into Nottingham. Sam Harvey, director of The Pastel Project charity, explained the area’s proud history will be recognised as part of the new development in the form of plaques and murals. The charity is spearheading the project, with the backing of It’s In Nottingham, the city council and other local businesses and organisations. Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live ahead of the development’s unveiling, Sam revealed exciting plans for the project’s future – which could include a special visit from Sir Ian McKellen. The prolific actor visited Broadway Cinema in the early 1990s to launch The GAI Project, a gay and bisexual men’s HIV prevention initiative in Nottingham. “We’re preparing for the launch event and looking at how we can involve local businesses,” Sam said. “We told Sir Ian McKellen about our launch party and he would love to come, but sadly he can’t make it. But he is aware of a plaque in his name and how the project he launched is still relevant today and we’ve been in discussions about another visit.” Another change to the bustling city area, which could come as a result of the new development, would see roads closed off to vehicles during the city’s annual Pride. “One of the things that came up when talking to businesses was issues of trying to get the road closed outside The Lord Roberts, on Broad Street,” Sam continued. “During Pride, people stand outside of the pub and it becomes almost a street party. We’ve been speaking to the council about potentially closing that off and it would mean we could have an actual street party. “In Manchester, for example, at their Pride, they have a stage area like the area in Sneinton Market and then a separate street party like the one here.” Hockley’s LGBTQ+ history dates back to the early 1990s, when The Health Shop, a centre which offered sexual health advice to gay men, opened. Broad Street was also home to the Mushroom Bookshop, which at the time was only one of a handful in Nottingham that openly sold gay and lesbian literature and newspapers, including the Gay Times. The area will cover Broad Street, Carlton Street and Heathcote Street around Hockley and could also see new road signs, maps updated to reflect the district’s new title, and a collective image for businesses. The Rainbow Quarter was originally set to be fully unveiled in time for the weekend of Nottinghamshire Pride, on July 25, 2026. However, Sam says the date has now been brought forward to avoid “clashing” with the annual festival. Sam has stressed that, whilst the Rainbow Quarter is set to be officially unveiled on May 6, it will be an “ongoing” development and grow over time, similar to Gay Villages across the country. Carl Austin-Behan, Manchester’s first openly gay mayor and a key architect of the city’s popular gay village, previously explained how the Rainbow Quarter will make Nottingham even more of a “destination”. “It will make it a safer space for the city’s LGBTQ+ community, but it also means people will want to spend more time there,” the former politician said. “If you look at Manchester’s Gay Village, it’s taken years and years to grow, but it’s a destination. That means people want to do business in the area and also use it for leisure.” Nadia Whittome, the MP for Nottingham East , which covers the Hockley area, added the Rainbow Quarter marks “a very proud moment” in the city. She said: “It is a powerful statement of who we are and what we stand for. Spearheaded by the Nottingham Pastel Project, this vital initiative creates a dedicated safe space for our LGBTQ+ community, supports businesses and honours the queer history that has shaped our city.