Sometimes the gay scene can seem to be all about the winding streets of Soho, and the treasures that lie within, but lend us your ears Londoners for we at QX thought you should learn more about what lies beyond Zone 1 for! Yes, there is life out there and it is actually wickedly good fun. Oh, and the local boys are most definitely worth the trip!
With that in mind, we took one hardened central London queen and another more adventurous queer whose seen and done it all, stuck them on bikes and sent them cycling across London to check ‘em all out! As part of the training for next week’s London-Manchester Pride Ride for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, G-A-Y owner Jeremy Joseph and QX photographer Chris Jepson were well up for the experience.
So, whether you’re looking for a weekend with a difference, or even want to find a pub a little closer to home to make your local, take a look through these following wonderful gay boozers spanning gay London…
The Two Brewers
114 Clapham High Street, Clapham, SW4 7UJ
The Two Brewers hardly needs any introduction: one of London’s premier and biggest cabaret bars, those who walk through its hallowed doors and all those who have pranced upon its stage speak of the venue with an exuberant reverence. It consists of the front bar where you’ll find handbag and performing entertainment, from the likes of international air stewardess Pam Ann to regular scene legends like Lola Lasagne and Sandra via new talent like La Voix. The club bar at the back is where you’ll discover hot DJs at the weekends and big sporting events on the vast screen. This is a true king of clubs for Clapham’s queens!
Kazbar
50 Clapham High Street, Clapham, SW4 7UL
The Kazbar is a trendy watering hole for all those who feel like they’d appreciate a little more glamour in their lives. The beer pumps positively sparkle, the bar boys are pumped up and the entire space is befitted in lusciously seductive décor, the perfect atmosphere in which to enjoy a languid cocktail and a sophisticated chat. And should you be meeting friends, on a date or having a party the mezzanine level is available to hire and perfectly suited for a soiree or birthday bash with style.
The Bridge
8 Voltaire Road, Clapham North, Clapham, SW4 6DH
A hot new addition to Clapham’s thriving gay scene, The Bridge is located under the arches, just off Clapham’s busy high street. A stylish, modern venue, it operates multi-functionally as a comfortable place to have a drink and chill after work, share a romantic bevvy with your other half and then, when the sky darkens above, The Bridge dims its lights, turns up its beats and brings together some of the best of the scene’s DJs to provide you with the perfect, dancing entry into the weekend…
The Black Cap
171 Camden High Street, Camden, NW1 7JY
Licensing records show a ‘Mother Black Cap’ as far back as 1751, and this particular Black Cap has been an instrumental gay part of vibrant Camden Town since the 1970s. It now has three distinct sections to its layout: the spacious and comfortable upstairs Shufflewick Bar, the quiet and secluded Fong’s Terrace roof garden (dedicated to celebrated drag act Regina Fong who held a seventeen-year residency at the venue) and the large downstairs cabaret club which plays host to the very best, most spectacular and whip-lashingly funny of London-town’s drag performers, impersonators and artistes.
Central Station
37 Wharfdale Road, King’s Cross, N1 9SD
Where to start with the infamous Central Station, jewel of King’s Cross’ effervescent crown? Not only have huge improvements been made to the interior and exterior that see an inviting roof garden installed, and a day-time service including top-quality food, but in the evenings the spacious bar sees gay London’s best drag queens and entertainers tread the boards. Should you get a little playful with the slick liquor on offer, you can always head down to the late-night Underground Club for a little saucy, cruisy action, with regular fetish nights as varied as sportswear to guys in suits, and the bar even has a B&B attached to it for visiting out-of-towners (or those nights where you literally can’t remember where you live).
West 5
56 Pope’s Lane, Ealing, W5 4NT
Ealing’s best kept gay secret, West 5 has been servicing the crowds of West London for many a hallowed year now with a certain style and class in its piano bar, events such as Bingo and ‘Gossip’ in the main bar and big badass cabaret performers on its stage throughout the week. Then at the weekends the entire venue transforms into a raving all-night disco that sees some of the hottest DJs spin their beats across the boards and rooms packed with smiling, dancing masses, with guest singers or cabaret. Don’t miss also the huge beer garden, one of the biggest in gay London to enjoy a pint and a fag/night air in.
Windsor Castle
152 Bath Road, Hounslow, TW3 3ET
Described as West London’s friendliest and most welcoming gay pub, The Windsor Castle is situated just five minutes walk from Hounslow West tube station on the Piccadilly line and offers entertainment seven nights a week. This can range from karaoke and regular quiz nights to live cabaret, go-go boys, big money prizes, theme parties and top-name entertainment. It is also the closest LGBT pub to Heathrow Airport, so if you’re desperate for a bit of good old-fashioned gay blighty fun the moment you step off the plane you know where to head! Large private car park and a beer garden, also.
Ted’s Place
305 North End Road, Fulham, W14 9NS
Ted’s Place is the sexy West London bar with a cruising twist as you have to ring the doorbell to get in – some old school charm there! Inside it’s an intimate wonderland of semi-clad men, dim lighting, cheap drinks and pure pleasure seeking… Cruise nights on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays cater to the discerning sex-minded gentleman, whilst an underwear/cruise on Tuesdays and TV/TS nights on Thursdays and Sundays appeal to the more fetish-slanted of our scene.
Rose & Crown
1 Croom’s Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8ER
As much like a traditional pub as one can get (if your local has men in sequin dresses doing over-the-top cabaret; which, if you live in Greenwich it does), the Rose and Crown combines the qualities of a modern bar (slick sofas, gaming and extensive cocktail/wine menu) making it your den and living room rolled into one. They also just hosted the annual Drag Race for charity!
The George and Dragon
2 Blackheath Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8DE
The George and Dragon is probably Greenwich’s most well known gay bar, and with drink prices this low we’re not surprised. (Although at those rates, we’re surprised patrons could remember where they were by the time they leave!) Take advantage of cheap drinks between 6pm and 10pm while a selection of London’s finest drag artistes take to the stage. DJs play on Friday and Saturday, with pure pop/guilty pleasures and commercial remixes respectively.
Prince of Greenwich
72 Royal Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8RT
Maybe you’ve never yet strayed to Greenwich, nor know what is in it aside from the O2 arena, but the Prince is a venue well worth changing that fact for. Just a short walk from Greenwich DLR and Overground station, the pub/bar displays a certain inherent elegance in its aesthetic, serves an extremely reasonably priced and delicious tapas menu and all draught beer is £2.90 Monday to Thursday with bottles of wine £10 – what are you waiting for?
The Star & Garter
227 High Street, Bromley, BR1 1NZ
Should you live in Bromley, it’s advisable to take note – if you didn’t know already, that the Star & Garter is the only gay venue in a ten-mile radius! A welcoming and special venue the friendly management team work hard to make sure they serve up crowd-pleasing entertainment each night of the week with comedy on Mondays, a quiz night on Tuesdays, karaoke on Wednesdays, reggae (yes, man!) on Thursdays, DJs on Fridays and Saturdays and that all-important delectable roast dinner on a Sunday. There is also a function room available for private hire and a beer garden to the rear.
The Old Ship
17 Barnes Street, Limehouse, E14 7NW
Situated in Limehouse, the Old Ship is a traditional style pub with an excellent range of beers, real ales and wines, an effervescent atmosphere any day of the week, staff that know how to flash on a winning smile and a beguiling selection of some of the scene’s top live entertainment and cabaret at the weekends. There’s a big screen TV for sports nights (and Eurovision), a pool room for those who like a quick tournament of balls and, of course, a beer garden. Quiz night is on Wednesdays, and the management assure us that absolutely anyone is welcome, you’ll find no egos down the Old Ship!
The Victoria
186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 4QH
During the weeks this venue is a mostly straight pub where you can get a damn good point of Guinness, have a natter with the cosy Walthamstow locals, kick back and watch a bit of sports on the TV. At the weekends however, the urinals spin round like George Michael’s ‘Outside’ video to reveal mirrorball aesthetic, glitter bursts from the ceiling and the staff whip off their trousers to reveal sequined Kylie hot pants! Okay, so maybe some of that is a slight exaggeration, but The Victoria at the weekends is majority gay-orientated with some exceptionally brilliant cabaret acts, making itself the best thing in Walthamstow since… well, ever!
BJ’s White Swan
556 Commercial Road, Limehouse, E14 7JD
As old and venerated as the gay scene itself, this amazing East End gay bar has seen it all through its doors in its illustrious history, and is likely to be the only building still left standing amongst the radiation and the cockroaches when the end of the world eventually hits. BJ’s brings a great mix of fantastic cabaret, hot strippers and some of the best entertainment events to its stage every Friday and Saturday – those of you who missed horse hung stripper Sexecute breaking the Guinness Book of Records for weight-lifting really missed out on a spectacle! The weekly Amatuer Strip on Wednesday is the stuff of legend and the Sunday dance session is simply the most eclectic experience ever.
