Today Manchester Pride, the UK’s leading Pride event, has launched the official 2012 festival app. For a second year this has been developed and sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland who have again also been announced as the Official Big Weekend app and wristband sponsor.

Building on the success of last year, the app is being made available as a free download to festival visitors across iPhone, iPad and Android platforms. Available from the iTunes app store and Google Play, the app is full of features to enhance the visitor experience during the Big Weekend, which takes place between 24 – 27 August, attracting over 45,000 visitors.

Features include information about the site, location of facilities such as box office and wristband exchange, as well as the extensive bars and clubs within Manchester’s famous Gay Village. It also highlights information on the weekend’s entertainment schedule, with an exciting bill including Björn Again, Louise Dearman, Scarlett’s Roses, Cleo Sol and this year’s headline act: STEPS.

The app has been produced in conjunction with Rainbow, the RBS LGBT network, who recognising this year’s “Queer’d Science” parade theme, are again running a unique competition to be part of their “Periodic Table” themed float entry in the Manchester Pride Parade on Saturday 25 August, a prize that also comes with free Big Weekend tickets. Also built within the app is a great “Dress Up” photographic feature, which really gives people the opportunity to join in and see how they would look as one of the elements within the Periodic Table.

John Stewart, Chief Executive of Manchester Pride, commented: “It’s great that RBS are again working in partnership with us on this year’s Pride. We’re proud of our relationship with RBS and especially our lengthy friendship with their Rainbow Network. To receive such on-going backing is a testament to the strength and reach of the Manchester Pride Festival, and helps in our yearly bid to raise funds to support our local community.

“Last year’s app proved to be a real success. With the additional content this year and the extension to Android, we feel it’s a great way to enhance the experience of our Pride visitors”.

In response, Nathan Bostock, The RBS Executive Sponsor of The Rainbow Network Commented: "At RBS, it’s important that everyone in the Group feels valued and supported and that the Group appreciates the perspective and skills that everyone can bring to our business. It is also important for any large organisation like RBS, that we understand the wider society that we are operating in and do what we can to be a good citizen. Partnering events such as Manchester Pride enable us to put this belief into practice and I am therefore proud of RBS’s continued support of Manchester Pride and to be the Executive sponsor of Rainbow our own LGBT network."

The Manchester Pride 2012 App is available to download for free via the iTunes app store and is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and for Android from Google Play. Just search “Manchester Pride 2012”.

For more information on Manchester Pride visit www.manchesterpride.com

You can also follow the festival on twitter @manchesterpride