28/06/14: Glitz, glam, activism and #freedomto were the themes exploding out of this year’s rather epic Pride London celebrations… and lashings of booze and partying, bien sur. The morning rain thankfully didn’t piddle on anyone’s parade, and after the march we, quite selflessly, hopped around our Soho favourites, who went all out with their Pride shenanigans.
Kicking off with Molly Moggs, and the little bar that could knows how to throw down. Packed to the rafters with punters enjoying a wig-based sing-along, MM is always our first port of call on this our special day.
Shimmying around the corner to a heaving Old Compton Street, we had our usual, “where the hell do all these queens come from?” moment; clattering around on crumpled plastic cups, weaving between hard-bodied boys and lesbians with whistles.
Perfect pop beats pumped from the upstairs window of Ku Soho, and looking down at a sea of smiling faces from behind the DJ booth was a heart-warming sight. Trying not to be distracted by the gorgeous gogo boy in tiny yellow pants, wiggling around said window with gusto was equally pleasurable, for different reasons.
Across the road at G-A-Y Bar and the purple powerhouse did what it does best: serving up cheap drinks, hot young fellas and more Kylie than you can shake a limp wrist at. Comptons, usually known for their more butch take on Old Compton capers, stacked up the blinged-up muscleboys and sent wave after wave of happy house to our already super-stimulated eardrums. Even purveyors of kween-merch, Clone Zone and Prowler, got in on the action with a DJ at the former and scantily clad meat slabs at the latter.
Around the corner, dirty, bassy beats collided with cowboys and beach bods brandishing beer at Rupert Street. Looking fresh, sounding funky, with an awesome crowd to boot, Rupes knows how to throw a party! Over to The Yard, and rainbow flags adorned the already eye-popping beer garden/balcony, serving up some serious jaw-clenching, fist-pumping tuneage to a metrosexual gaggle of lovelies.
Tottering round to Edge and super spinner Brent Nicholls blasted out some rather tasty sounds to Soho Square. One of our favourite hosts, Felicia Van Cartier, looked resplendent in purple as our jaw smacked on the floor on sight of those muscle-god gogo boys. Bracing ourselves, the crowd outside the always epic Circa was a thronging mass of slut-dropping delight. Sam DMS lead what’s probably the freshest DJ line-up in town and shook Frith Street to the rafters. Trendy clientele and cackles galore!
Down to the Daddy, as Ku Bar Lisle Street carried the Soho vibe right through to Chinatown. Bar boys sent from heaven, adorned with the KU tramp stamp, shook their pert booties to a soundtrack of pop perfection. Rainbow flags, tipsy twinks and Pride were bursting out of every window.
Finishing the evening with a strut down to Halfway II Heaven, where cabaret capers were the order of the day. The atmosphere was electric, as CK, Rose Garden and more brought forth the original spirit of Pride with some fab performances. Remember, it was drag queens who started the Stonewall riots that lead to this glorious day, and these gurls carry that mantle wonderfully.
The diversity of our scene and wider community showcased in (a little over) one square mile should hopefully send out a message to our brothers and sisters around the world. Offering hope to those who may not have freedoms we enjoy here that being gay doesn’t just “get better”, but it can be absolutely bloody marvellous, too.
Words by Lee Dalloway
Photos by Joel-Ryder.com
