The Masquerade on Cumberland Street is one of the city's most popular gay bars. It's not the biggest of venues but It attracts gay men and women of all ages during the day and is full to bursting with the young and the beautiful later on. It's where you'll find Liverpool's most famous drag queen - the irrepressible Aunty Marlene providing outrageous entertainment at the weekends. It's also a great place to go for some free scran on a Saturday and Sunday afternoons. There's karaoke on Tuesday nights and DJs playing classics and cheesy pop throughout the week. The Masquerade bills itself as Liverpool's friendliest gay bar - they're not wrong. www.masqueradebar.com

The Lisbon is one of the oldest of the gay bars in the city and now boasts a late licence to boot. It's situated on the corner of Stanley Street and Victoria Street in the heart of the Queer Quarter. It looks and feels like a traditional pub and even does pub grub. There's a small dancefloor with a DJ most nights but one of its most popular attractions is the legendary pool table. The Lisbon is a great meeting place before going on somewhere else. It's a particular favourite with the women. www.thelisbon.co.uk

The Curzon: Another stalwart of the gay scene is a more, ahem, traditional gay bar. It's dark and cruisy with a predominantly male crowd. Upstairs is open at the weekends and attracts a younger less cruisy (but not much!) bunch. They often feature a stripper on Monday nights and are open late throughout the week.

Destination is the newest superclub on the Liverpool Gay Scene, and is fast becoming one of the most popular gay clubs in the area. With regular exclusive P.I's, two floors of mega tunes, and best of all regular end of month foam parties that are turning into the most popular event of the month. Check it out at www.club-destination.co.uk

Bar du Fay is one of the gay scene's newest venues and is housed in what used to be Paco's but it couldn't be more different from the building's previous occupants. Restaurant upstairs, winebar downstairs with flat screen TVs showing major sporting events. Bar du Fay is on Stanley Street.

Foundation is one of the newer kids on the block and quite different from the other bars on the scene. It's not down a back alley, you don't have to go down stairs to get to it and its got lots of windows! They also do decent food and are open from 10am for coffee etc. Foundation is a bit of a chameleon as it moves from bistro to bar to club as the day progresses. The closing of Pacos seems to have benefited Patrick's but they need to be careful that they don't become The Rent Office with natural light. Victoria Street next door but one to NatWest.

Jupiters is a gay-friendly bar on Hackins Hey off Dale Street. Fab happy hours and big screen football; all-in-all a very nice atmosphere and, of course, they have a pool table.

Club Details:

Garlands, is Liverpool's internationally renowned superclub. Now back in its original location on Eberle Street following the devastating fire a couple of years ago.Not as gay as it used to be but still very popular with the young gay crowd who mix happily enough with the straight majority. Expect to queue and pay a relatively hefty entrance fee.www.garlandsonline.co.uk

Society is one of Liverpool's coolest clubs. It's not out and out gay but, put simply: sexuality isn't an issue and it can be found at 64 Duke Street in a converted Georgian mansion and is well worth a visit.www.societyuk.com

Superstar Boudoir can be found on Stanley Street opposite The Lisbon. It's a smart bar that's open in the evenings and play host to Poptastic on Fridays. They have big prize karaoke on Monday nights and various promotions throughout the week. Good atmosphere at weekends.www.superstarboudoir.co.uk

G-Bar on Eberle Street is a very popular pre and post club hang-out with their Breakfast Club at the weekends staying open until early Sunday morning. Free upstairs but an entrance fee for the clubbier downstairs. www.g-bar.com

 Pink! as you can probably guess, requires no explanation as to why it is so called. Inside you'll find an atmosphere consisting of great pop/dance music and a warm welcome from the resident drag queens. Situated on Victoria Street.