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common press (glasshouse)

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I've spoken to 2 types of queer events and spaces but am trying to get in contact with a space thats managed to stay open for the last 20 years.

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I've spoken to 2 types of queer events and spaces but am trying to get in contact with a space thats managed to stay open for the last 20 years.

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i would like to talk to them about what its been like to experienced the changes I've documented

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Workshop focusing on methods of display 

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Workshop focusing on methods of display 

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Paper plan for an outcome made in a workshop. create an interactive street walk out of paper and have the street follow this figure through a variety of public, private coming in contact with a variety of spaces.

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Paper plan for an outcome made in a workshop. create an interactive street walk out of paper and have the street follow this figure through a variety of public, private coming in contact with a variety of spaces.

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Throughout this process of visiting queer social, I’ve tried to record the people, taking note of interactions, trying to capture more of the vibe in the space than the people. Using drawing as a method of recording research In a way my sketchbook was slowly becoming a catalogue of these places.

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Throughout this process of visiting queer social, I’ve tried to record the people, taking note of interactions, trying to capture more of the vibe in the space than the people. Using drawing as a method of recording research In a way my sketchbook was slowly becoming a catalogue of these places.

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My initial premise for this project followed on from the previous unit which was about perception, and being looked at in space, initially I wanted to explore this through the lense of the queer space  

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My initial premise for this project followed on from the previous unit which was about perception, and being looked at in space, initially I wanted to explore this through the lense of the queer space  

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part if web of collected sources brough by group members.

first attempt at categorizing

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London Lesbian Bars
Found an article in from October 2015 that lists London LGBT bars that have disappeared since 2000. I am listing the bars that are specifically identified as lesbian below. Some have been posted on here before, some have not.
a lesbian bar in Stoke Newington. 1997 - 2015. The Blush Bar:

London's number one Lesbian bar - had a brief reopening, but closed again in 2014. 1996 - 2014. Candy Bar:

Interesting that four of the bars listed above (Southopia, Blush Bar, Stokey Stop, Rush Bar) were not included in the original article--which is wholly dominated by male venues--but had to be suggested for addition by apparently female (lesbian?) contributors in the comment section. So even though lesbian bars are rare and getting rarer by the moment, the queers and gay boys still couldn't manage to identify and include the few that existed without being prodded. Very typical as these things go.

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London Lesbian Bars Found an article in from October 2015 that lists London LGBT bars that have disappeared since 2000. I am listing the bars that are specifically identified as lesbian below. Some have been posted on here before, some have not. a lesbian bar in Stoke Newington. 1997 - 2015.

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It may be hard to imagine, but there was a time when Soho and Vauxhall weren't the centre of gay nightlife in London.

Way back in the 1970s and 1980s Earl's Court was THE place to be, with a bustling gay scene offering a number of different cafes and bars to meet a stranger or dance the night away.

Here's a round up and celebration of the bars that may be gone, but will never be forgotten!
Before we get started, do you have any memories from the lost gay bars of Earl's Court that you want to share? Are there any bars or clubs that are missing from this list? Get in touch and let me know (and there are always bonus points if you share embarrassing photos)!
Lost Gay Bars of Earl's Court

1960s

Lord Ranelagh

Where: 294 Old Brompton Road, Earl's Court

When opened: 1964

When closed: 1980s

The story behind this one is wonderful.

The pub wasn't a gay bar until, in 1964, a band called The Downtowners, who played there regularly, came up with a little gimmick for their gigs.

They convinced a number of local drag queens to come into the pub and perform alongside them.

And, before they knew it, they had set the wheels in motion for the Queen of the Month contest.

From then on, every Saturday night between September 1964 until May 1965, the bar was full of revellers cheering on a gaggle of competitors for the crown.

Things went supersonic after the newspaper News of the World heaped scorn on the night, running a critical article entitled "This Show Must Not Go On."

Rather than deterring audiences, of course, this drew them in, and the crowd was so huge that it spilled out on to the street. And, before the night was over the police had to come along and shut the whole thing down.

In the 80s the bar changed its name to 'Bromptons', which it is perhaps best known as (see full entry further in this article).

1970s

The Copacabana

Where: 180-182 Earl's Court Road

When opened: late 70s

When closed: transitioned to a non-gay bar in the late 90s.

The Copacabana (or just Copa's if you're in the know) opened on Earls Court Road in the late 1970s, and is remembered as the first public nightclub aimed at a gay clientele.

It was at The Copacabana where you could see all the fashions and posturing from the Clone scene - a fashion movement that started in the Castro district of San Francisco, but quickly made its way over to the UK.

Clones adopted the dress and style of an idealised working-class man (with plenty of pencil-thin moustaches and tight jeans for good measure).

Harpoon Louis

Where: 180-182 Earl's Court Road

When opened: 1983

When closed: 1997

Also known as Harpies and Louies, Harpo's and Banana Max.

This bar was upstairs from The Copacabana and provided a more laid-back atmosphere and live performances.

The site is currently a chain of the Filipino fast food restaurant Jollibee.

The Masquerade Club

Where: 310 Earl's Court Road

When opened: 1972

When closed: ?

A dingy cellar nightclub beneath a laundrette with two separate rooms.

Because of the quirk in licensing laws at the time the bar was unable to serve alcohol unless it also served food. This meant you could always find someone munching on salad or stale bread left out to appease the authorities.

The club was known for playing the coolest new disco and soul records for the sweaty crowd.

"If you got there early enough, you'd have this sort of like spam supper served to you... two slices of white bread, a leaf of salad, and some presumably spam, which, actually, we were all starving, so we ate it..."
Princess Julia on Lost Spaces
The Coleherne

Where: 261 Old Brompton Road, Earl's Court

When opened: 1970s

When closed: 2008

Talk to any self-respecting gay-of-a-certain-age about Earl's Court back in the day, and The Coleherne is bound to be the first bar they mention.

Though it long had a reputation as a bohemian haven, and attracted a mixed clientele that included many queer people, it wasn't until the 1970s that the bar officially became a gay bar.

And not just any gay bar - a leather bar!

With the change came all of the things you'd expect - blacked-out windows, notoriety, and a shift in clientele.

The bar unfortunately had tragedy surrounding it - three separate serial killers have used it as a stalking ground for their victims. The most well-known of these, Colin Ireland, also referred to as 'The Gay Slayer', murdered five men he met at The Coleherne.

In the mid-1990s the bar shifted its focus once more, becoming a regular gay bar in order to attract more customers. The shift did little to maintain the business, and the bar unfortunately closed in 2008.

It is now a gastropub called The Pembroke.

Interestingly, in 2021 it was reported that a former DJ at the pub plans to resurrect the venue in Taunton, a small town about 165 miles south west from London.

The Boltons

Where: 326 Earl's Court Road, Earl's Court

When opened: 1970s

When closed: early 1990s

The Boltons, which originally opened in 1892, became a gay bar in the 1970s.

Throughout the 1980s it gained a reputation as a sleazy bar you would only go to for rent boys and drugs.

In an effort to clean the space up the brewery that owned the pub changed its focus in the 1990s, and it has not been gay since.

The bar still exists to this day - a little less seedy and a lot more chi-chi (£14 for a burger - seriously?).

The Catacombs

Where: Finborough Road, Earls Court

When opened: 1970s

When closed: early 1980s

Want to hear a depressing story about gentrification?

The Catacombs, which was a basement club playing the latest disco tunes on its packed dancefloor is now an overpriced townhouse.

Converted in 2009 by Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi, who happens to be married to Princess Beatrice, the two-bedroom property sold in 2021 for £3million.

Imagine how many bottles of poppers that could buy you...

1980s

Philbeach Hotel

Where: Philbeach Gardens, Earl's Court

When opened: 1981

When closed: 2008

It wasn't just gay bars and clubs in Earl's Court. Being the centre of gay life in London an entire industry sprung up in the area, including hotels for gay tourists.

The Philbeach Hotel was a gay-owned Bed and Breakfast, offering a place to crash once all the bars and clubs had closed.

With 35 rooms across 3 floors it was one of the largest gay hotels in all of Europe.

Spare a thought for the cleaners of the hotel. Philbeach gained a reputation for being quite cruisy, and it was common for men to get up to all sorts of shenanigans in the rooms or the communal bathroom.

Brompton's

Where: 294 Earl's Court Road, Earl's Court

When opened: 1984

When closed: 2008

In the 1980s Lord Ranelagh changed its name to Brompton's, and an iconic gay bar was born.

Considered to be friendlier than The Coleherne, the bar attracted less of a leather crowd and had more of a Clone vibe.

It was here that Clone Zone, the chain of gay superstores, had its fledgling start, setting up a stall inside the bar where they sold imported merchandise to customers.

1990s

Earl's

Where: 180 Earl's Court Road, Earl's Court

When opened: 1997

When closed: ?

Opened on the site of Harpoon Louis following its closure.

There is not much information about this venue online, but it reportedly catered for a younger clientele than other bars in the area.

Stiffy's

Where: 294 Earl's Court Road, Earl's Court

When opened: late 1990s

When closed: ?

In the late 1990s, Stiffy's opened in the upstairs section of Brompton's.

2000s

Infinity

Where: 294 Earl's Court Road, Earl's Court

When opened: 2008

When closed: ?

After Brompton's closed Infinity opened in its place.

It wasn't long, though, before this bar had its day, and the building that housed so much gay history was knocked down in 2014.

Other places of note

Freddie Mercury's Residence

Where: Logan Place, W8

If you needed any more proof that Earl's Court was the centre of gay London life in the 1980s then you need look no further than the celebrity residents of the area.

And no star shone as bright as Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, who lived here from 1980 until his death in 1991.

Though it's been cleaned up now, for many years fans visited and left messages of love on the wall surrounding the property.

Are there any bars or clubs that are missing from this list?

Any memories from the lost gay bars of Earl's Court that you want to share?

Get in touch and let me know (and there are always bonus points if you share embarrassing photos)!

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It may be hard to imagine, but there was a time when Soho and Vauxhall weren't the centre of gay nightlife in London. Way back in the 1970s and 1980s Earl's Court was THE place to be, with a bustling gay scene offering a number of different cafes and bars to meet a stranger or dance the night away.

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My current map of closed queer venues in London

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My current map of closed queer venues in London

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Resource: list of London's closed LQBTQIA spaces

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Resource: list of London's closed LQBTQIA spaces

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There's big talk about the number of gay bars and clubs that have closed in recent years, using an old copy of Fluid magazine, (which no longer exist either) from 2001 we discover the bars, clubs or gay nights that have closed in London since 2000.

Can you help us create a more full listing complete with pictures? Send your pics to Newsdesk@thegayuk.com. If you've got comments or memories about any of the places listed below use the comment section at the bottom of the page.

3 Monkey: Greenwich

The Angel: a cabaret bar in Stratford.

Artful Dodger: in Highbury and Islington.

The Bar: a large style cafe bar in Shoreditch.

Bar Aquda: on Maiden Lane near Covent Garden.

Barcode Vauxhall: cruisy bar in Albert Embankment. 1996 - 2015

Barcode: a dancey bar in Soho which late 00s.

Bar Fusion: in Islington.

The Birdcage: A traditional friendly pub in Chiswick which closed in 2006.

The Black Cap: legendary North London drag bar and club which closed in 2015. 1965 - 2015

The Black Horse: East end gay bar near Stepney Green.

The Blush Bar: a lesbian bar in Stoke Newington. 1997 - 2015.

The Box: relaxed cafe on Seven Dials near Covent Garden.

Brewery Tap: a friendly local gay bar in Stockwell
Brewers Tap, Walthamstow
The Britannia: a different themed night every night in Leytonstone
Brief Encounters
The British Prince: An intimate east-end boozer near Limehouse

Bromptons: Big and cruisy was once part of the now defunct Earl's Court gay scene. Is now being turned into flats. 1984 - 2008.

Buzz Bar: B ar in Clapham Junction

Cafe Au-Reole: gay bar set on two floors, was part of the Earl's Court gay scene.

Central Station, Walthamstow: gay bar with nightly entertainment in Walthamstow.

Candy Bar: London's number one Lesbian bar - had a brief reopening, but closed again in 2014. 1996 - 2014

Catch 22: short lived gay bar in Wood Green, the most northern gay bar in London.

Citrus Grove: Fridays only in Gipsy Hill.

The Champion: long running and unpretentious in Notting Hill.

Copacabana: Discobar in Earls Court closed in the late 90s

Cock: traditional pub in Kennington which closed in 2005.

Cock and Comfort: large gay boozer in Bethnal Green

The Coleherne: bar which tried to rebrand in 2008 becoming the Pembroke. It was London's oldest gay bar until its closure.

The Coronet: described as a stylish east end bar, near Stratford, now apartments

Crown and Anchor: gay and mixed pub in Bromley North. Closed in 2006 and reopened as non-gay bar and told customers who were looking for a gay bar to go to Stonewall bar in Lewisham - also now closed.

David Warriors A Bar: for men with attitude - men only in Southwark

Due South: in Stoke Newington

Dukes: a gay bar which was very popular with bears in Vauxhall It now operates as Eagle London, which is still a gay venue.

The Duke of Wellington: mixed and friendly bar in Islington.

Edge, The: 4 Storey gay bar perched on the edge of Soho Square.
Embassy, The
Escape: Popular dance bar with student night in Soho, closed in 2014. 1998 - 2014.

Fallen Angel: Walthamstow
Flag, The, Finsbury Park
The Fort: a cruisy gay bar in Elephant and Castle. Was reported closed in August 2011. 1997 - 2011.

First Out Cafe Bar: legendary gay venue lasted 25 years before closing in 2011. 1986 - 2011.

The George Music Bar: Cosy bar in Isleworth.

Goose and Carrot: gay friendly mixed pub in Croydon

Gladstone Arms: gay bar in Borough which had regular themed nights.

Gloucester, The: Gay bar featured in Beautiful Thing

The Green: Swanky, up market bar on Upper Street, Islington. 2007 - 2012.

The Green Carnation: Upper market wine bar on the edge of Soho. Closed in 2015.

The Green Man: Traditional and mixed in Harlsden.

George And Dragon: in Shoreditch was forced to close after dramatic price hike in lease.
Golden Lion, Kings Cross
The Halfway House: described as east London's friendly gay bar in Bethnal Green.

The Horns: cruise bar at London Bridge.
Jacomos
The Joiner's Arms: Long established LGBT space which closed in January 2015 1997 - 2015
Jonathan's The Jubilee Tavern
Two8Six: Was a pub formerly known as Stonewalls, it closed in 2012. 1960s - 2012

King Edward IV: in Islington closed in 2011. 1966 - 2011
Kudos
The Little Apple: traditional gay pub closed in 2014. 1993 - 2014

a gay bar started by dating site, Gaydar, closed in 2013.

London Apprentice: Old Street, North London

Lower Ground: a basement bar in West Hampstead.

iconic lesbian night which closed and then reopen and then closed again.

Macbeth, The: gay run pub near Old Street.

Manbar: the bar than went on to replace CRX79 on Tottenham Court Road.

Madame Jo Jos: famed Drag venue which closed in 2014. 1966 - 2014

The Market Tavern: Walthamstow

The Navy Arms: Friendly pub in Deptford.

Nelson's Head: traditional pub in Horatio Street. 2007 - 2015.

The Oak: lesbian bar in Manor House. 1994 - 2013

Old Ship: East end gay pub near Old Street.

The Orange: Described as a large boys space, with themes every night.

The Outback Bar: next to Buzz Bar, also closed in Clapham Junction.

Penny Farthing: A favourite Hammersmith hangout.

Play Pit: A sleazy bar room cruisy bar in Kings Cross

a cafe and bar opened by dating gurus Gaydar, closed in 2013 along with the sale of their radio station Gaydar Radio. 2007 - 2013.

Prohibition Cafe Bar: gay owned, gay friendly pub in Streatham.

Princess Of Wales: Friendly gay bar in Woolwich.

Queens Arms: closed in the early 2000s and turned into flats. It was a smart, upmarket pub.

Queens Arms: homely pub in Hownslow Central.

Ram, The: Islington with legendary party nights.

Rocket: Two bars in one, in Acton.

Roebuck: a bar situated in Rennall Street, later called Bar Phoenix which was eventually demolished.

Rose and Crown: Greenwich

Red Stilletto: in Vauxhall.

Racecourse: The a friendly mixed pub in Crouch End.

Route 73: traditional gay bar in Stoke Newington.

Rush Bar: a lesbian bar which closed in the mid 2000s.

Skinners Arms: Traditional gay pub in Oval.
Soho's Strippers
Southopia: a lesbian bar in Kennington.

SW9: a stylish cafe bar in Brixton.
The Stag
Star And Garter: a traditional pub in Bromley. 2006 - 2014.

Stokey Stop: a lesbian bar in Stoke Newington
West Central
White Horse: mixed pub on the Westferry DLR.

Woolwich Infant: Plumstead

Y Bar: On Essex Road in Islington.

79CXR: manly bar on Tottenham Court Road. 1994 -2015

Clubs (32)

Area: Dance club in Albert Embankment 2006 - 2014

Atelier at The End: Weekly lounge style event near Tottenham Court Road.

Benjys 2000: a Sunday night club night for gay men, near Mile End.

The Block: A Bromley by Bow dress code, cruisy club night.

Coco Latte: every Friday night at the Chocolate Bar.

Club V: a popular gay indie night every other Saturday in Islington.

Club Kali: at the Dome, a bi monthly bhangra bash in N19.

Club Tranvesties: A Stepney night for "TVs/ TSs" every Sunday near Aldgate East

Crash: late night club from 10.30 in Vauxhall. Closed in 2007. It now operates as Union, which is still a gay event.
DTPM
Extreme: Sunday afternoon clubbing from 1PM till 9PM.

Fist: described as a "sleaze pit" with strictly enforced dress code.

G-A-Y: at the Astoria. 1993 - 2008 Moved to Heaven.

Gay Tea Dance: at the Limelight on Shaftesbury Ave.

Ghetto: intimate Dance club near Astoria. 2001 - 2008

Long Yang Club: a gay night for South east Asians.

Off The Hook: at Velvet - mixed Monday night club.

The Phoenix: clubbing on Saturdays near Oxford Circus.

mixed club night which used to be held in Kings Cross closed in November 2014.

Reflections: intimate gay night in Stratford.

Reflex: attitude free clubbing in Kingston Upon Thames.

The Spiral: gay friendly club near Old Street.

Substation South: late night club, with different themes each night of the week in Brixton.

Substation Sound-Shaft: on Hungerford Lane - cruisy late night club/bar - Thursday nights were called Twisted and Fridays were called SPUNK.

Subway: Leicester Square

The Lounge: described as a "gentleman's" club with bar and restaurant.

Trade: Techno club night at Turnmills. 4AM till 1PM in Farringdon. Last night was held in October 2015.

Trash Palace: In Soho, set over three floors down the road from Ku Bar.

The Tube: Late night club and cruise bar on Saturdays was called Wigout.

Turnmills: Clerkenwell

Voltz: Was beneath the Roebuck in Lewisham.

Wayout: club night for gays, straights TVs and Trans folk in Tower Hill.

Can you help us flesh out descriptions? Use the comment section below to add details and we'll update.

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Gay Bars That Have Closed In London Since The Turn Of The Century

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There's big talk about the number of gay bars and clubs that have closed in recent years, using an old copy of Fluid magazine, (which no longer exist either) from 2001 we discover the bars, clubs or gay nights that have closed in London since 2000.

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Seen > Noticeable > Visible > Viewed > Perceived > Observed 

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Seen > Noticeable > Visible > Viewed > Perceived > Observed 

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First you are seen, because you’ve become visible, then you are noticed and viewed, and when you are viewed you become perceived and this means you are now being observed

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Married in 1950, Chris and Betty Birch have been involved in political, trade union, and LGBTQ+ activism for over 60 years. Sharing similar interests, they were both Communist Party Members and involved with organisations such as the Aid to Spanish Youth Committee. After the death of his friend, Mark Ashton, Chris became involved in forming the Mark Ashton Memorial Trust, which was created to raise money for individuals living with HIV. The archive includes the truncheon taken from the police by Mark Ashton, correspondence, personal scrapbooks, press cuttings, and various other papers relating to the couples activism.

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Our Archives Online | Bishopsgate Institute

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Married in 1950, Chris and Betty Birch have been involved in political, trade union, and LGBTQ+ activism for over 60 years. Sharing similar interests, they were both Communist Party Members and involved with organisations such as the Aid to Spanish Youth Committee.

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I want to continue my exploration of watched/ observed in space, negotiating what it is to be visible, how it differs from being observed and when that observation can be welcome or intrusive. The project will be grounded place, specifically compare largely queer social spaces such as Dalston Superstore or Glasshouse with a public place and record the experiences of people who experience visible queerness and how and when it is perceived differently.

My focus is to discern is which ways observation can become intrusive;  ‘ A survey by Eventbrite in 2019 found 70 percent of respondents find phone use at queer events irritating, while 69 percent agreed some action should be taken to minimise it.’ And in which places it becomes an issue.

My aim is to discover how visibility can be drastically differently received and can even be a transformative experience depending on how and where it is preformed.

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the final list of our sources and how they connect and flow from one to another.

first look at format we will be using for the website

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complete archive of sources and their bibliographies  

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complete archive of sources and their bibliographies  

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limitations of publication/ zine  v events and interactive ways of display

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"queer kids deserve an example to look up to"

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"queer kids deserve an example to look up to"

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"it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things unless it goes hand-in-hand with something greater"

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"it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things unless it goes hand-in-hand with something greater"

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"my very existence is an expression of queerness"

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"my very existence is an expression of queerness"

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"My expression/ presentation isn't queerness within itself as much as it is a big neon sign pointing to the things i cant hide"  

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"My expression/ presentation isn't queerness within itself as much as it is a big neon sign pointing to the things i cant hide"  

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Digital archive of queer experience, constantly alive with posts being added every day from around the world

The digital format bypasses the limitations of physical space. This and the anonymity of its posts, grants access to people who otherwise not be able to share stories of their own queer journeys.

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Queering the Map is a community generated counter-mapping platform for digitally archiving LGBTQ2IA+ experience in relation to physical space.

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This survey is to aid my Ma project which examines what it is to be visible, how it differs from being observed and when that observation can be welcome or intrusive, through the queer lens.

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task: to make a map of the unseen

how do you move around the unseen world?

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"‘queering’ in this report is not just about rethinking how public space can be made more inclusive for gender and sexual orientation non-conforming people, but for all those groups who currently feel excluded or threatened in such spaces. "

"(for instance Soho in London, or the Gay Village in Manchester). These created a sense of queer place where LGBTQ+ identities could be expressed. Yet beyond these gayborhoods many LGBTQ+ people ‘switch’ or hide their identities in order to feel safe in the majority of public spaces."

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Despite the emergence of queer enclaves in many cities across the world, there is an urgent need to rethink public spaces so we can create more inclusive, welcoming and hospitable environments for all members of our communities.

Queering Public Space, a collaboration between Arup and the University of Westminster, explores the relationship between queer communities and public spaces. We ask: what are the key characteristics that contribute to queering public space? How do we protect what remains of queer memory in our cities? And how do we move beyond the gayborhood towards creating public spaces for all?

Through our approach we explore how LGBTQ+ people can feel safer and included in urban public spaces, to establish a set of recommendations that help address this deficiency.

By addressing these recommendations and designing in diversity, public spaces will be more accessible to all marginalised and disempowered groups, creating inclusive and welcoming spaces for all.

In addition to the report, we have presented some of the the report's findings in a supporting video.

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Arup and The University of Westminster have published a new report exploring the relationship between queer communities and public spaces.

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Sasha Staicu: The Diving Bell Social Club / Club Social Le Scaphandre

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Sasha Staicu: The Diving Bell Social Club / Club Social Le Scaphandre

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Finding way to capture voices that haven’t been on the page before

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TRAIN JOURNEY: Between Premia de Mar and Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Ailo Ribas

‘The newfound thrills and anxieties of being visibly trans…and the personal and collective survival strategies I had to learn- where juxtaposed by the new found difficulties and discomforts of muting my transness in familiar spaces in which I was yet to come out”

“The train became a space of transition and transformation”… “I used the train as a changing room”

“Queer space is simply that which allows us to be in the right relationship with change”

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how chosen documents uplift, how they provide space for queer voices

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A method of making a place for and archiving queer experiences and histories.

This book contains photos and images from a multitude of people recounting their formative queer experiences.
Working in this format provides a place to let these people speak, and tell their own stories, uninterrupted.

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Virgil Finlay Amazing Stories Original Art (Ziff-Davis Publ., 1963)

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Virgil Finlay Amazing Stories Original Art (Ziff-Davis Publ., 1963)

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"gay nightlife targeted towards gay men"

2006-2006 60% closed down

'costs appear to be one of the main factors of closure" (which has been exacerbated by the pandemic)

one off gay events have started to pop up

Brighton, the gay capitol of the UK, has 0 lesbian bars.

"These spaces are so important as the queer community deserves a spaces where they are safe to be completely and unapologetically themselves without threat to their safety"
-Tina Ledger

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A queer woman walks into a bar...

If it's a gay venue - and particularly if she doesn't 'look' queer enough - she'll face side-eyes and jibes about f*g hags.

If it's not, she'll inevitably have to explain herself to pushy men who seem to believe they can 'cure' attraction to women with their seductive prowess.

It's a situation I've found myself in many a time. I'm bisexual, and often feel like I'm not accepted in LGBTQ+ spaces; many of which are targeted towards gay men.

Nightlife that caters to women is few and far between, with lesbian venues closing their doors on a regular basis.

While queer women and non-binary people are welcome in most gay-friendly pubs and clubs, a lack of dedicated spaces can leave us feeling alienated.

SHE Soho opened in 2014, and is London's only full-time lesbian venue - something that may seem surprising given the capital's diverse population.

PR Manager Tina Ledger calls it 'a home away from home', adding: 'It's a great place to meet like-minded new friends, and also the perfect hang-out spot for existing ones.'

SHE, located on Old Compton Street, hosts karaoke and DJ nights each week for their clientele of 'queer women, non-binary folk, and their guests'.

They're still standing, but many nearby venues have closed in recent decades. In fact, there was a 60% decrease in LGBT+ spaces between 2006 and 2016.

Tina tells Metro.co.uk: 'Over the years, I've seen a few lesbian bars close in the local area.

'This could be down to many factors, but the costs of running a venue in the centre of London are not something to underestimate!

'Those wanting to provide a safe space for queer women and non-binary folk must be dedicated to the cause, and passionate that a space like ours needs to exist, which we are.'

Cost appears to be the main factor, with existing struggles exacerbated by the events of the last two years.

London's Night Czar, Amy Lamé, tells Metro.co.uk: 'Lockdown closures, restrictions, supply chain and staffing issues have hit the industry hard, following years of struggling to survive due to the impact of rising rents and business rates.'

Her team have spearheaded a Culture at Risk Office and fund offering guidance and financial support to venues at risk of closure, as well as an Agent of Change principle that ensures new residential developments close to nightlife spots must foot the bill for soundproofing.

Amy says these measures have halted the rapid closure of venues seen before Sadiq Khan became Mayor, and that 'we are now seeing small green shoots of growth in LGBTQ+ spaces in London.'

These efforts may be noble, but it's a David and Goliath battle for those in the hospitality sector - and not just in London.

Vanilla in Manchester and The Fox in Birmingham are among the only two standalone lesbian venues in the country. Brighton, considered the gay capital, does not have a single dedicated bar or club for queer women and non-binary people.

Women-focused club nights - such as Lick Events and Pussy Palace - have sprung up around the UK, and serve a vital purpose.

For people who want a more impromptu place to hang out, though, or for older customers and those who are parents, there's a huge gap in the market for a permanent base.

'When you're a developer whose only goal is to maximise profit, it is more financially advantageous to cater to a wider demographic beyond the LGBT+ community,' explains Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor Joris Lechêne on TikTok.

When you break that down to more granular groups within the LGBT+ community, that potential for profit becomes even smaller. But it would be remiss to look at this issue purely in terms of business and money.

'These spaces are so important as the queer community deserve a space where they are safe to be completely and unapologetically themselves, without threat to their safety,' says Tina.

'Personally, I found that queer bars, above all else, have positively impacted my confidence, allowing me not only to truly accept myself for who I am, but to love myself and my sexuality.'

The Night Czar's team are now working on a map of venues around London, which will hopefully offer a clearer path for young LGBT+ people to find their peers.

'We are committed to doing all we can to support these venues,' says Amy, 'and to do that we must have an accurate understanding of the number in our city.'

Many bar owners would be wary of inviting competition, but not Tina, who says she hopes to see more inclusivity - and new venues - in the sector.

'Time will tell,' she adds. 'But there is certainly room for more lesbian and non-binary spaces - in London and the rest of the UK.'

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Nightlife targeted to queer women and non-binary people is in short supply. But why, and what's being done to protect lesbian bars?

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THE NIGHT CZAR team are working on map of venues in London 

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THE NIGHT CZAR team are working on map of venues in London 

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In the past decade 60% of London's LGBTQ+ spaces have closed down. 

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In the past decade 60% of London's LGBTQ+ spaces have closed down. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
riting and releasing a book during a pandemic has been weird. Writing and releasing a book that is essentially a guide book when no one can actually go anywhere has been even weirder. And yet these are the conditions in which I have written, edited and now promoted my book Queer London, a guide to the city's LGBTQ+ past and present. But I realised early on that a book that only detailed the venues for LGBTQ+ Londoners would be a very short one. In the past decade or so, nearly 60 per cent of LGBTQ+ spaces in the city have closed down, a trend that the pandemic is likely to accelerate. But queer London to me is about more than just where you can meet cute boys and dance to Ariana Grande on a Saturday night. It's also about the people who make up the city's LGBTQ+ population and the incredible things, from the charities, political groups, art collectives, Pride events and services, that are on offer.

London's queer history is also important, and something that I've spent the past few months researching. This week the new £50 note was unveiled, celebrating the life of Alan Turing, the mathematician and computer scientist who played a crucial role in cracking the Enigma code used by Germany in the Second World War. Turing was gay and in 1952 was charged with "gross indecency" for homosexual acts, which were illegal at the time. He was sentenced to chemical castration and died aged 41 after eating an apple laced with cyanide.

His story is a reminder that there are queer people at every point in history. The problem is that a lot of LGBTQ+ history has either been obscured, eradicated or ignored. But if you're hungry to find out about it, it's easier than you think.

On Tuesday, I was putting together a talk about my book for an NHS Trust's LGBTQ+ network in London. I was transported back to the halcyon days of pre-Covid 2020 when I spent time poring over gay guide books from the Eighties and copies of Gay News at the Bishopsgate Institute.

After my talk yesterday, I was asked who were some of my favourite people that I spoke to for the book and couldn't stop rattling off names. There was legendary DJ, writer and nightlife icon Princess Julia, LGBTQ activist and co-founder of Stonewall Lisa Power, the brilliant team at Switchboard, Kat Hudson, who runs the Lesley Magazine, Dan Beaumont and legendary drag artist Lavinia Coop.

There are also the people who have little profiles and portraits in my book, LGBTQ+ Londoners like Olly Alexander, Munroe Bergdorf, Lady Phyll, Andrew Lumsden and drag collective Sink the Pink. The privilege of hearing their stories was enriching and wonderful. Looking at Alan Turing's face on that shiny £50 note, I wondered about the stories he might have shared if he had lived to see the attitudinal and legal tide changes towards LGBTQ+ people.

It also made me desperate for the end of the pandemic so that we can get back to telling ours. There is no Queer London without them.
Queer London is out on 12th April 2021

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In the past decade, 60 per cent of London's LGBTQ+ spaces have closed down

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Writing and releasing a book during a pandemic has been weird. Writing and releasing a book that is essentially a guide book when no one can actually go anywhere has been even weirder. And yet these are the conditions in which I have written, edited and now promoted my book Queer London, a guide to the city's LGBTQ+ past and present.