So, we spend all our time writing about our gorgeous gritty city’s best-known gay venues but what about the secret gay bars, hidden gems that make up secret gay London? The clandestine taverns nestled down cobbled side streets. London’s full of history and secrets. It’s why we pay so much rent to live here.
But we’re not talking modern new builds. We’re talking faded crushed velvet, flaking candelabra, the flicker of candles and the flicker of smiles. The sort of places where Vivienne Westwood might go with her Sudoku book for a quiet sherry. The sort of places Derek Jacobi might take a toyboy to hand-feed him bits of succulent beef bavette.
So, here you go, it’s secret gay London! Shh! You didn’t hear it from us.
The Grapes
76 Narrow Street, Limehouse, E14 8BP
Clinging determinedly onto the end of a row of terraces in Limehouse, The Grapes is one of the oldest pubs in London. The current building dates back to the 1720s, and it’s on the site of a pub built in 1583. That’s OLD. That’s older than Maisie Trollette! Just. It’s old enough, that Henry V’s wives could have gone there. Catherine of Aragon sipping a blue WKD, bobbing her head along to a bit of Madonna. After hundreds of different landlords, it’s now joint-owned by none other than Sir Ian McKellen! The Grapes’ interior and general atmosphere are steeped in history, and Ian’s lent a wonderful queer slant to proceedings. Well worth hopping on the DLR for.
¨After hundreds of different landlords, THE Grapes is now joint-owned by none other than Sir Ian McKellen!¨
Friendly Society
79 Wardour Street, W1D 6QB
Friendly Society is on what is affectionately known to locals (Lady Lloyd) as “sex alley”. That alleyway just next to Anne Summers at the end of Old Compton Street. Going inside is a bit like going underwater. Goldfish swim confusedly around a bowl, in a bar festooned with fake foliage, prone Barbies, and all sorts of other kitchy nonsense. It’s lovely. If Cath Kidston, Björk and Misty from Pokemon all got together to design a bar, it’d probably look a bit like this. Perfect for dates, or if you want to show an unusual gay bar to straight mates.
King William IV
77 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1RE
Now, it’s really important that we all go to King William IV, because it’s one of those gay pubs that nobody realizes is a gay pub, and so fills up with straight people. Which, you know, is fine. Here at QX, we don’t have an issue with straight people going to gay pubs, as long as they’re nice about it. But when it’s ONLY straight people in there, we need to start reclaiming our heritage! Yes! Apart from anything else, it’s a lovely pub. It’s on Hampstead High Street, and a trip to Hampstead is always a nice scenic, civilized affair. They do a wonderful Sunday lunch, and they’ve got one of the best beer gardens in London.
The Queen’s Head
25 Tryon Street, SW3 3LG
The Queen’s Head in the coveted, conservative, perpetually chic Chelsea, is a dying breed. It’s like someone took a country pub in Devon, and plonked it in Zone 1 in London. There are beer mats, old paintings, and not a smashed avocado on rye bread in sight. It’s right around the corner from the Saatchi Gallery, and its clientele are an interesting mix of aging members of the Kings Road set, and people’s butlers. Let’s just say this, the conversation is top notch. Best way to enjoy that is to order yourself a Guinness and settle into one of their many plush armchairs.
The Queen Adelaide
483 Hackney Road, E2 9BG
Another queen! London’s full of them these days. Coming over here, stealing our cabaret gigs. The Queen Adelaide is a fairly new addition to East London’s broiling, insane gay scene. She’s the illigitmate little sister of the much loved George & Dragon, which shut down last year. Now, the George & Dragon people have opened this dusky, dusty, trinket-strewn watering hole to accommodate their host of loyal, unique, creative punters. Head down and pull up a pew (yes, there are actual pews). They’ve got cheap beer, plush bar stools and a barmaid who looks like Drew Barrymore. And downstairs is a gorgeous sequin-spattered club space! What more could you ask for?!
Retro Bar
2 George Court, WC2N 6HH
Retro Bar is nestled down an alley (you’ll notice there’s a recurring theme here, most of them are nestled down alleys) just off the hustling, bustling Strand. Now, Retro Bar is a slightly questionable entry in this article, because it’s actually not that secret. Mostly because everyone knows about it. It’s a cult favourite that everyone’s seen, and everyone seems to love. The Pulp Fiction of the London gay scene, if you will. The bar staff look like they’ve stepped out of an 80s indie movie, and the walls are tacked with gay icons, from Kate Bush to Katie Price (they don’t have Katie Price on the wall, we made that up). Highlights include their weekly pub quiz with one of our faves Myra DuBois, and their ridiculous gin and tonics, which must contain at least quadruple measures because they always get us disproportionately pissed.
Find out more about secret gay London with our London gay map and guide
