The White Swan of Limehouse has been opening her wings for twenty-six years, welcoming gays from Canary Wharf to Colchester.
Michael Barrymore famously came out here, Graham Norton has visited and, if you’re lucky, you may even bump into a real life knight; it’s Sir Ian McKellen’s local boozer. You’ll find twinks, bears and pretty boys, beauties from Bow, dandies from Dalston and romeos from Romford all congregating at this East End boozer. Whether you prefer disco balls or meaty ones, the White Swan has got room for everyone. On a Sunday it turns into Strictly Sunday with dance lessons beginning at 6.30pm. It’s where your fantasies of being thrown into a passionate Pasodoble by a Latin hunk can come true. Those with simpler tastes who, say, would prefer a naked scally swinging his council nuts around the stage for a one-er, should head down mid-week.
The Wednesday night’s Amatuer Strip, hosted by a different drag queen each week, is one of London’s most famous. It’s free to get in and, if you dare to bare, you could leave £100 richer.
If Polka or Penis aren’t your thing then don’t worry, there’s still Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The White Swan is closed on Mondays (except Bank Holidays – did someone say House Detention?).
On Tuesday its Man Meets Men, where you can just chill out and make some new friends or meet the man (ahem, men) of your dreams.
Thursday their very own DJ from Hell, Demon, holds a karaoke night with thousands of songs to choose from. Will you have the voice of an angel, or a demon?
Then the week culminates with a different cabaret superstar taking to the stage on Saturday and Sunday nights. Some greats perform here, with Dave Lynn, Sandra and Titti La Camp returning regularly. After they’ve got you rolling on the sticky floor with laughter and you’ve regained your composure, DJ Tom gets his paws on the decks and gets the dancefloor rocking until 4am.
They say a Swan has only one partner for life and with all the goods BJ’s White Swan offers we can see why – how could you go anywhere else?
• BJ’s White Swan, 556 Commercial Road, Limehouse, E14 7JD
By Darren Palfrey
