London’s gay scene is buzzing with Diamond Jubilee events. Here’s the low-down of the best, edgiest and down-right funkiest clubs over the weekend…
• 03–05/06/12: Win a DIAMOND @ G-A-Y.
At G-A-Y Bar and G-A-Y Late you’ll have no excuse not to join the patriotic bandwagon as they’re mixing up G-A-Y ‘Rule Britannia Cocktail Jugs’ fit for all us queens. Plus, every time you buy a drink, you’ll get a raffle ticket that could win you a REAL DIAMOND. Oh yes, this isn’t no Kinder Surprise-cum-Elizabeth Duke piece of plastic, but a real mutha-funking diamond!
G-A-Y Late, 5 Goslett Yard, WC2H 0EA. 11pm–3am
G-A-Y Bar, 30 Old Compton Street, W1D 4UR. 12pm–12am
• 01–04/06/12: THE HOIST
The Hoist are gonna’ get your rocks off and make you play hard for a long, fun and of course, punishing weekend. Friday night hosts a Classic Hoist party. Step up the game on Saturday with The Crown Jewels Vs Oi M8 with a huge wet area, the tower room and a special punishment zone for the badly behaved. Sunday sees the world’s largest and hottest men only naked party wit SBN and Monday throws a dress code of sports, underwear or your bare naked flesh wit SBN v NBN.
The Hoist, Railway Arch 47c, South Lambeth Road, SW8.
• 01/06/12: TONKER
This will be one man-sized party! Tonker celebrates the Royal Weekend with a Mega Bear Bash featuring Tim Jones who’ll be joined on the decks by Tim Mc Loone, hot from his world tour. Come and join over 400 of the hottest and friendliest blokes in town for a right hairy royal knees up!
The Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall SE11 5QY. 6pm–3am. £6.
• 02/06/12: BEAR PRIDE
This year sees Bear Pride celebrate its 10th anniversary, and it comes as no surprise that the bears are throwing a party worth roaring about. The mammoth party spans over two nights with Christian M and Alex Loganplaying the main room and Joe Egg playing his legendary tunes in the Fluff Bar on Saturday 2nd. They’re pumping up the tunes, the drink and the bears to make it an action packed night, as well as having a Big Burly Beefy BBQ in the garden area for all those hungry men. The party continues with Summer Rites Fusion on Sunday 3rd.
Pulse, 1 Invicta Plaza, South Bank, SE1 9UF. 9pm-super late. Advance £15, more OTD.
• 02/06/12: CARPET BURN’S ‘DIAMONIQUE JUBILEE CELEBRATION’
Playing the best of British pop and anything else that takes your fancy, Carpet Burn is bringing you a celebration that’s more ‘Claire’s Accessories’, than ‘Cartier’. So don your diamante jewels and golden chains and all things fake. We’re talking about paper crowns, fake tiaras, union jack face paint and lots of vodka jelly and ice cream! Anyone dressed in full regalia gets in for FREE. Jonny Kalifornia and Simon Kilner on the decks.
The Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5QY. 9pm–4am. FREE b4 10pm, £5 after.
• 02/06/12: ALEXANDRA BURKE @ G-A-Y
Calling all bad boys in broken heels, Alexandara Burke has returned to her hometown and what better way to celebrate the launch of her second album, ‘Heartbreak On Hold’ than at Heaven. She’s no stranger to performing under the arches and after shacking up the Victoria line in her new video for ‘Let It Go’ we know it wont take much for her to get G-A-Y rocking hard.
Heaven, 9 The Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG. 10.30pm–5am. £5 entry wrist bands available at G-A-Y Bar, more OTD.
• 02/06/12: MEGAWOOF!
The bears have been in hibernation for a few months, but there’s not long to go now until you can bark through the bank holiday as ‘MegaWoof!’ is back by popular demand. Stripping back to the basics of clubbing, music, cruising and boozing, with a very intimate and furry feel. DJs on the night are Mickey Galiano, Tim Mcloone,Daz Saund and Gibson & Ganio.
Covert, 65 Albert Embankment, SE1 7TP. 11pm–6am. £12 b4 midnight, £14 after.
• 02/06/12: THEMENWHOFELL2EARTH ‘JUBILEE LANDING’
It might be more basement rave up than street party, but they’ll have queens for sure! Our party people from another galaxy have planned an out of this world celebration. They’ve gone and got Mr Horse Meat Disco himself, Jim Stanton to spin alongside The Bother Boys, Kat and Mouse and The Shake Yer Dix boys, so expect a planet size of dope beats and regal treats.
East Bloc, 217-219 City Road, EC1V 1JN. 10.30pm–6am. £8, £5 concessions.
• 03/06/12: REBOUND (AFTEROURS)
Don’t miss the launch of a fresh new Sunday morning after party at Vauxhall’s slick industrial clubbing spot, Barcode. Featuring an army of new and established DJ names, expect quality house tunes for a crowd that likes to dance to a different beat than the same old-same old. With special drinks deals between 6am and 8am and the best new house music across two rooms, it’s a safe bet that this party will be rocking.
Barcode (rear entrance), 9 Goding Street, SE11 5AW. 5am (Sunday morning)–Midday.
• 03/06/12: BOOSTER ‘SUMMER OPENING PARTY’
Booster is back for another bank holiday bonanza, with progressive house DJs Riano, Fabio Luigi & Alan Xand Tech House in room two with Ferno, Ale Amaral and Miss Crazy D at the slick, industrial clubbing zone that is Barcode in Vauxhall.
Barcode, 9 Goding Street, SE11 5AW. 7pm–6am. £6.
• 03/06/12: HORSE MEAt DISCO ‘THE VERY REGAL DIAMOND JUBILEE DRAG BALL’
It’s time to celebrate the reign of one old Queen in the company of lots of old queens! Hosted by Filthly Lukaand with music from Jim Stanton, James Hillard, Severino, Nita Aviance and DJ Will Automagic, this is not a Vogue ball, it’s a Rogue Ball! So get dressed up and entered as an individual or as a house for the Queen of Balls in Londontown. The Horses want to see it all! Trophies to be awarded and drag extravagance is strongly encouraged.
Eagle London, 349 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5QY. 8pm–3am. Entry £10.
• 03/06/12: DICK AND FANNY
Prepare for bank holiday madness as the superstore goes Dick and Fanny! Homos of all persuasions takeover the ‘Superstore for one night only. Special guests The Pet Shop Bears from Berghain in Berlin will be bringing their hairy German haus sounds alongside residents The Duchess Of Pork and Prince Michael of classic house, techno and plenty of disco dazzlers!
Dalston Superstore, 117 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB. 9pm–5am. Free before 10pm, £5 after.
• 03-04/06/12: S.L.A.G.S / CHILL-OUT
With an extension ‘til 2am on both nigts, it’s definitely set to be a right royal knees-up at the RVT. Huge dance anthems and commercial house from the DJs Simon Le Vans, Andy Almighty, Sean Sirrs and Rob C. Don’t miss the genius of The D. E. Experience (aka Jonathan Hellyer) on stage with witty banter and a live song at 5.30pm.
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5HY. 2pm–2am. Entry £8 before 9pm, £5 after.
• 04/06/12: The Profile Garden Party
Gaydar are firmly placing themselves on the party radar, with some very special Jubilee plans. Closing Wardour Steet for the sheer sake of your enjoyment, they’ll be creating a US Style Garden party. With Profile’s super hot staff in their finest swimwear, DJs spinning summer sets and sipping cocktails, it’ll be like Desperate Housewives meets spring break! GaydarRadio DJs and the dream boys will be down on the day to ensure the party kicks off in style. Anyone for Pimms darling?
Profile Bar, 84-86 Wardour Street, W1F 0TQ.
• 04/06/12: TRANNY JUBILEE with special guest ROBYN
The Queen would be filled with patriotic pride if she joined tranny royalty Jonny Woo-Windsor and Lady Ma Butcher Bowles to celebrate her 60th year on the thrown. Kicking off early at 7pm for all those daytime street party stragglers expect plenty Pimm’s and a jolly good royal tranny knees-up! Downstairs Swedish superstarRobyn will be teaming up with Rokk and an extra special guest from her new album for some disco dancing mayhem. Oh and there will be a stripper too, of course!
Dalston Superstore, 117 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB. 7pm–3am. Free.
• 04/06/12: SKINHEADS
This is not for the hair-parted or faint-hearted boys out there. ‘Skinheads’ comes to The Backstreet, where only those in the most extreme get-up are invited. Only shaved 1,2,3,4 crops or Mohawks are invited and you’ll need to don your skinhead kit, army gear, leather skin or rubber skin if you want to get let in. You’ll find dark corners to hide in, cages to play in, benches to get over and plenty of seating for bootlicking and anything else!
The Backstreet, Wentworth Mews, Mile End, E3 4UA. 9pm–3am. £10.
• 04/06/12: ITS QUEEN B, B***CH!
Whether it’s Britney or Beyonce that gets your flag waving, check out the Shadow’s jubilee party that’s fit for a princess. Soho’s bubblin’ premier pop and R’n’B party takes the Royal Stage for a celebration of royal pop queens and princesses of the last 10 years.
The Shadow Lounge, 5 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF. 10pm–3am. £5.
• 04/06/12: HORSE MEAT DISCO ‘DRAG BALL RECOVERY PARTY’
Expect broken heels and a lot of smeared lipstick. The Horse Meat crew are throwing an extra party for you to show off your tranny trophy if you won Sunday night’s Drag Ball, or simply to try and pick up if you didn’t get so lucky. There’ll be cocktails, a buffet, music and some bickering about who shoulda’ won the night before!
Eagle London, 349 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5QY. 8pm–3am. £6.
• 04/06/12: POPCORN ‘ROYAL HOUSE JUBILEE’
Once you pop you just can’t stop! The masters of Monday are back to celebrate her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee and whether you have a sweet tooth for Popcorn or not, the planned line up is mouth watering. Clubland legends the ‘Sharp Boys’ Steven React and George Mitchell will be headlining an exclusive all night set, tearing up the main floor of Heaven’s gallant arches. Expect mind blowing laser and light shows, a super hot gogo dance troop, live percussion drums and of course, vocals from the ever eminent Tonnic.
Heaven, 9 The Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG. 10pm–6am. Free entry wristbands available from G-A-Y Bar, £4 before midnight, £8 after.
