Daddies and Chasers and Bears, oh my!

Plug holes in hotels across Manchester City Centre were clogged with fur over the Bank Holiday weekend, as thousands of bears, daddies, cubs and chasers descended upon the city for the 11th Great British Bear Bash.

Organised by Manchester-based Bears group Manbears, and led by Gerard Gudgion, the Great British Bear Bash is renowned for its unique approach.

Gerard told LGF Online: 'We think that we have the core components just about right and feedback from the guys who attend tell us that they are very happy with the event.'

Previous videos have attracted millions of visitors on YouTube, and have made an impact worldwide.

'Winning the audience award at the Vermont LGBT film festival last year with Bearly Haunted was a real highlight,' says Gerard. 'Montreal and Rome film festivals will be showing our work this year, too. It would be nice to get that sort of recognition here in Manchester at Queerupnorth for instance.'

With over a dozen individual events at this year's Bear Bash, from club nights and foam parties, to a Heritage Walk around gay Manchester with a free Subway dinner - there was plenty to keep the burly ones entertained. The highlight this year was most definitely the Bears at the Birdcage where the men were treated to over 3 hours of fun presented by Jonathan Mayor.

During the Birdcage part of the 'Bash a raffle and auction helped to raise more than £2000 for bear health causes and the free condom and lube scheme.

The event has quickly become one of the most popular Bear events in the world. Frank Demarchi, winner of the Mr. Bear 2008 competition, is from Orlando and flew in to Manchester especially for the Bear Bash.

He says, 'Anyone who has experienced the Great British Bear Bash and has also attended any of the well-attended American events considers Great British Bear Bash on a par, and in some ways even better.'

For more information, visit manbears.co.uk and for the bear videos have a look at funfur.tv