23/01/16: In a year when London has watched a number of established gay venues close their doors, the Glory in east London is one of those thriving new venues bucking the trend.
On Saturday the eclectic team behind this success story was taking stock and celebrating their first year of merriment. Sparing no expense, they had pushed the boat far out and decked the ever-crowded place with balloons.
They entrusted their stage first to a Bowie tribute by home-grown act The Big Queer Songbook before later surrendering it to a unique performance by Irreverent Sideshows involving two “ducks”, a scantily clad young woman and a spiked pot of “coffee”. I’ll say no more!
Soon though, flirty boys and girls were waving their hands and singing along to the musical ministrations of DJ Severino with gay abandon and a marked lack of irony (considering the neighbourhood).
Downstairs’ fare, as usual, was clubbier but just as electrifying. If the atmosphere wasn’t already steamily hot enough, Jonny Woo climbed onto the bar with two fair “maidens” all the better to squirt shots into the clamouring throats below. The January gloom and dry-athon were well and truly forgotten and we can only wish for many happy returns!
The Glory, 281 Kingsland Rd, E2 8AS
Words by Nicolas Chinardet
Photos by zefrographica
