The Two Brewers turns 30 this week and the famous Clapham cabaret bar’s Jimmy Smith and Grant Boatman took David McGillivray on a guided tour…
David: We’re outside and it’s looking a bit different from when you came here in 1997, Jimmy?
Jimmy: Oh, God, yes. We had shutters all the way round. The main entrance was down the side of the building. It was when gay bars weren’t open. They were all blacked out then. And Clapham wasn’t desirable at the time.
Grant: I used to go clubbing at a club up the road, a straight place, and it was a bit rough.
Jimmy: Now Clapham’s such a vibrant area. Probably more gay people live in Clapham than anywhere else.
Grant: The street parties we’ve had have helped as well.
Jimmy: We and the Kazbar have been doing the Clapham street party for seven years now and each year it’s got bigger and bigger. It’s probably one of the best outdoor events in London now.
David: What do you know about the pub before it went gay?
Jimmy: Phil Starr opened it. He turned the back bar gay, it became very successful, and then the whole pub turned gay.
Grant: The front bar was a bikers’ bar.
Jimmy: People had to walk through the bikers’ bar to get to the club at the back.
Grant: It was a graveyard.
David: Literally?
Grant: Yes. This bit is an extension.
David: Built when?
Jimmy: A hundred years ago. Rumour has it that it was built on the Church of St Peter’s graveyard.
David: Let’s go inside.
Jimmy: This is the cabaret bar. Who used to be here? Paul O’Grady, Adrella, Cher Travesty, Regina Fong, Lee Paris, Dockyard Doris. On a Wednesday night you used to have queues round the corner for the Trollettes. Pam Ann had a residency here for years.
David: You’ve got some photos on the wall here.
Jimmy: Who’s this? The Disappointer Sisters. There’s Sandra, Lizzy Drip, CK.
David: Up here on this balcony I was once a judge for the forerunner of Drag Idol [Miss Alternative, 2003].
Jimmy: Well, this is the Drag Idol photo wall. This year Son of a Tutu won it, the year before was Baga Chipz, year before that was Kevin Cruise.
David: Whatever happened to him?
Jimmy: He’s doing extremely well. He’s massive on the Butlin’s circuit.
Grant: He did Britain’s Got Talent straight after Drag Idol.
Jimmy: Then we’ve got Tanya Hyde, Kelly Mild. And that’s Mercedes Benz and The Fleurettes, who were absolutely fantastic.
Grant: They split up.
Jimmy: It was through them that Drag Idol became so popular. All these other acts, they work all the time.
Grant: Baga Chipz did Glastonbury this year.
Jimmy: This is a very popular area up here. Everybody loves to sit here because they can see the cabaret.
David: Tell me some of the stuff that goes on in that tiny dressing room.
Jimmy: On charity nights we’ve got 20 acts in there with egos. Have a word with Sandra. Rose Garden could tell you a few stories.
David: What’s been your most memorable night?
Grant: Charlotte Church popped in for karaoke.
Jimmy: We’ve had what’s’ername from EastEnders…
Grant: We’ve had a few from EastEnders. Martine McCutcheon…
Jimmy: That was a funny night. She came in to see Pam Ann so Pam Ann got her up on stage for a song, then Kandi Kane got her up, then Sandra got her up as well!
David: Take me in the back room.
Jimmy: This was the toilets here, which is now part of the club. The cabaret acts had to get changed in the ladies’ toilet and then had to run through the crowd. It all changed in 1997 when I took it over.
David: What’s happened here lately?
Jimmy: We had Ben Cohen. My God, it was huge!
Grant: It was just mad.
Jimmy: We raised how much?
Grant: Ten grand?
Jimmy: For his charity [StandUp Foundation]. He took his top off and everyone went wild. We had The Reason 4 from The X Factor. They went down really well.
David: How many are gay?
Jimmy: None. But…
Grant: One of them’s curious.
“I remember the Brewers when Phil Starr was the manager and it was one big room. It’s much better since Jimmy came back. The cabaret is amazing. He knows what works and what doesn’t. It’s an intuitive thing. It’s a privilege to be part of it” – Sandra
“So many memories! Marvellous times. I was just saying to Jimmy the other day the Brewers was a real breakthrough for us. I’m really looking forward to coming back. It’s one of the best venues!” – Maisie Trollette
“I used to do the Brewers on a Thursday and go off and do the RVT after so Thursdays were a bit hectic for me. You had to get changed in the toilet and then you fought your way through. But it was a great gay boozer and a nice crowd. And I loved Phil Starr. People said we looked like each other so I used to call him me mother” – Paul O’Grady
“I would like to thank all that have contributed to the success of the Two Brewers over the past 30 years. To all past and present managers, bar staff, door staff, cleaners and of course Christine on the front door and Paul Flowers… a big ‘Thank You’ for your support in making the Two Brewers what it is today.” – Jimmy Smith
• The Two Brewers, 114 Clapham High Street, SW4, has birthday events all this week.
Thu 20th October: Lola Lasagne hosts a one night only reunion of The Trollettes.
Fri 21st October: Titti La Camp hosts Drag Idol night with five former winners.
Sat 22nd October: Masquerade with Titti La Camp, Millie Turner, Nicky Vixen.
Sun 23rd October: Lola Lasagne and 14 acts appear in aid of 17-24-30 Vigil Against Hate Crime.
