Before it was turned into a night club, Cruz 101 was a shipping warehouse,[1] which contributed to Manchester's huge textiles industry and making the area the world's largest marketplace for cotton goods.
[4] In 1999 the exterior lighting and signage of the club was changed from "Cruz 101" to Babylon as a backdrop for scenes of the UK series of Queer As Folk.
Cruz used to compete with Essential, a nightclub also located in the gay village owned by former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith,[5] which has now shut down.
On 28 May 2011, Cruz celebrated its 19th birthday with a capacity crowd and a personal appearance by musical theatre star Kerry Ellis.
Cruz 101 has had many famous singers, performers and PAs over the years, including Sonia, The Weather Girls, Phil Oakey, Heaven 17, Hazell Dean, Margarita Pracatan, Take That and The Nolans, among others.
the club has opened its doors to Kelly Llorenna, Angie Brown, Scooch, Steps, Graham Norton and Lily Savage.
This is where Cruz concentrates its efforts, with PAs taking place on this floor as well as themed events, for example, at Christmas, New Year, Halloween etc.
John Cooper is the bar manager, who also plays the resident drag queen known as 'Miss Cara' where at weekends, announces the DJ and welcomes any special guest PAs that may be taking place.
During Gay Pride 2008, one phase of the power failed in the club leaving limited disco lighting in operation and no music playing for about 20 minutes.