Central London (Soho)
79 CXR, 79 Charing Cross Road, WC2. 020 7734 0769. Leicester Square tube. Mon-Sat 1pm-3am, Sun 1pm-10.30pm. Cover charge after 11pm. Huge late night bar over 2 floors. Boozy and very cruisy. You should go home… but, one for the road? Admiral Duncan, 54 Old Compton Street, W1. 020 7437 5300. Leicester Square tube. 11am-11pm. Traditional gay pub slap bang in the middle of queer street. Bar Aquda, 13-14 Maiden Lane, WC2. 020 7557 9891. Covent Garden tube. 11am-11pm. Recently refurbished, stylish bar with great cocktails, tasty lite bites and fab staff. Popular with the after-work crowd. Barcode, 3-4 Archer Street, W1. 020 7734 3342. Piccadilly Circus tube. Mon-Sat 4pm-1.30am. Sun until 10.30pm. Hugely busy with dance bar in the basement. £1 a drink on Mondays (7-9pm), Comedy Camp on Tuesday. Big name DJs every night. The Box, 32-34 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, WC2. 020 7240 5828. Leicester Square tube. 11am-11pm. Mecca for the muscle bound and homo about town with pin-up staff. Full menu all day. Great for al fresco boozing. For the scene queen that likes to be seen. Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1. 020 7494 4041. Tottenham Court Road tube. Mon-Thu 5-11.30pm. Fri & Sat 5pm-2am. Sun 5-11pm. Free Mon, Wed & Sun. £3 entry to basement bar. £5 after 9pm on Fri, 36 on Sat. For girls who like girls and their friends. First women’s venue with strip license. From lipsticks to diesels, pints to cocktails. Comptons, 52 Old Compton Street, W1. 020 7479 7961. Leicester Square tube. Noon-11pm. The grand dame of queer street. Two floors: cruisy street level bar, heaving with skins, blokes and geezers. Loungier upstairs with pool table. Packed pavement outside in Summer. A Soho staple. The Duke of Wellington, 77 Wardour Street, W1. 020 7439 1274. Piccadilly Circus tube. Mon-Thu noon-11pm, Fri & Sat noon-midnight, ‘til 10.30pm on Sun. Traditional gay pub over two floors. You might not live in Soho but it feels like your local. The Edge, 11 Soho Square, W1. 020 7439 1313. Tottenham Court Road tube. Noon-1am, Sun 2pm-11.30pm. Wonderfully stylish bar over four floors. Cruisy ground floor that serves the sun-worshippers in Soho Square. Newly refurbished Hygge Bar on 2nd floor, Al Fresco Bar on 3rd floor complete with baby grand, club space at the top. Stunning design. Food during the day. Top DJs on the weekend. Element, 4-5 Greek Street, W1. 020 7434 3323. Tottenham Court Road tube. Mon-Sat 5pm-2am, Sun 12pm. Gorgeous, opulent bar over three floors. Top DJs from Orange clubs provide the sounds on the weekends. Delicious, comprehensive menu serving everything from light snacks to a la carte. Good wines and fab cocktails. Escape, 10a Brewer Street, W1. 020 7734 2626. Piccadilly Circus tube. 5pm-3am. Cover charge after 11pm. Late night video dance bar with extended happy hour prices and sexy staff. More of mini club than a bar. DJs on the weekend. First Out Café, 52 St Giles High Street, WC2. 020 7240 8042. Tottenham Court Road tube. 10am-11pm. Sun 10.30pm. Long serving café bar with busy basement on the weekends now in its 20th year. Popular with the girlz. Veggie fayre served until 10pm. Freedom, 66 Wardour Street, W1. 020 7734 0071. Piccadilly Circus tube. Cover charge. Plush drinkery with glitzy disco downstairs catering for a well-heeled mixed clientele with a penchant for cocktails. G-A-Y Bar, 30 Old Compton Street, W1. 020 7494 2756. Leicester Square tube. 12pm-12am. Poptastic palace over three huge floors with video juke box and banks of screens. Fabulously cheap drinks and ongoing promotions that tie in with acts on at G-A-Y club. Outrageously busy on the weekends with queues down the street. Get your tickets here for G-A-Y club. G-A-Y Late, 5 Goslett Yard, off Charing Cross Road, WC2. PHONE. Tottenham Court Road tube. 11pm-3am. A late night version of G-A-Y Bar that packs them in with its winning formula of top pop music from a video jukebox and ridiculously cheap drinks. A great alternative if you don’t want to commit to a big club. Halfway To Heaven, 7 Duncannon Street, WC2. 020 7321 2791. Charing Cross tube. Mon-Thu noon-11pm, Fri & Sat 12pm-12am. Traditional gay boozer with basement bar. Regular karaoke, occasional cabaret. The Kings Arms, 23 Poland Street, W1. 020 7734 5907. Oxford Circus tube. Mon & Tue 12pm–11pm, wed-sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12pm-11.30pm. The big bear hangout. Happy hour on Tuesday, DJs on Saturday, fab karaoke on Sunday. Pool table upstairs. Ku Bar, 75 Charing Cross Road, WC2. 020 7437 4303. Leicester Square tube. 12pm-11pm. Bustling bar for a cute, young crowd. Always busy. Video jukebox, great drinks offers, chill out mezzanine level and enclosed outside seating area. Kudos, 10 Adelaide Street, WC2. 020 7379 4573. Charing Cross tube. 3pm-11pm, Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-10.30pm. One of the first café bars. Stylish upstairs, cruisier in the basement bar. DJs on the weekend with pop visuals on plasma screens. Popular with the Asian crowd. Retro Bar, 2 George Court, WC2. 020 7321 2811. Charing Cross tube. Mon-Fri noon-11. Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-11pm. A brilliant scene alternative with excellent music. Quiz on Tuesday, open deck sesh on 1st, 3rd & 4th Thursday of the month. 2nd Thurs of the month is the ever-popular Eurovision homage. Rupert Street, 50 Rupert Street, W1. 020 7292 7141. Piccadilly Circus tube. 12-11pm, Sun 10.30pm. Stylish bar that’s popular with professionals and continental queens. Well-priced menu served during the day giving way to very busy bar from early evening on. Rush, 24 Old Compton Street, W1. 020 7734 9992. Leicester Square tube. Late night dance bar with three floors. Chill and people watch from upstairs. Juice and smoothies on the ground floor. Cruise and booze in the Tardis like basement. Trash Palace, 11 Wardour Street, W1. 020 7734 0522. Piccadilly Circus tube. Sun-Thu 5pm-midnight. Fri & Sat 5pm-3am. Two floors of slick design for indie kids and alternative types. Great music, cheap drinks and passes for club nights at Ghetto. Acoustic sesh on Sundays. Village, 81 Wardour Street, W1. 020 7434 2124. Piccadilly Circus tube. 12-1am, Sun 11.30pm. Late night door charge. Four bars over three floors offering café culture to late night cruising. DJs on the weekend with nearly naked gogos flashing flesh. Karaoke with Dusty O on Tuesday. Snack menu throughout the day. The first gay café bar in Soho. The Yard, 57 Rupert Street, W1. 020 7437 2652. Piccadilly Circus tube. Mon-Thur 4pm-11pm, Fri & Sat 1pm-11pm, Sun 1pm-1.10.30pm. An oasis amidst the chaos. Suntrap courtyard for al fresco boozing with New York loft style bar with balcony upstairs.
North London
The Black Cap, 171 Camden High Street, NW1. 020 7428 2721. Camden Town tube. Shufflewick Bar: Mon-Thu Noon-1am, Fri-Sat 12noon-2am, Sun Noon-10.30pm. Club: Mon-Thu 10pm-2am, Fri-Sat 10pm-3am, Sun 10pm-1am. The Queen of North London bars, the Black Cap has a huge history of gay entertainment, featuring the finest cabaret, dance and pop sounds in the club and a charming outdoor terrace area. Central Station, 37 Wharfdale Road, N1. Tel: 020 7278 3294. Kings Cross tube. Mon-Wed 5pm-2am, Thur 5pm-3am, Fri 5pm-4am, Sat 1pm-4am, Sun 1pm-12am. Legendary gay bar with three floors. Boozing, cruising, disco, cabaret and numerous naughty nights. Head down there for monthly sportswear special Shoot!, council chic social Scally Ladz or slap on a suit and smart shoes for City Boys. MA1 Bar upstairs caters for all sorts of fancy fetishes with nights like Spurt, Buff and Club CP - all very self-explanatory. Cosmo Lounge, 43 Essex Road, N1. Tel: 020 7688 0051. Angel tube. Sun-Wed 2pm-Midnight, Thu-Sat 2pm-1am. Intimate, mixed trendy bar that’s popular with the local ladies. The Green, 74 Upper Street, N1. Tel: 020 7704 0713. Angel tube. Mon-Wed 4pm-midnight, Thu 4pm-1am, Fri 12noon-2am, Sun 11am-midnight. Islington’s hip homo hangout located in the heart of Islington, offering top nosh, great cocktails and a variety of nights. King Edward VI, 25 Bromfield Street, N1. Tel: 020 7704 0745. . Angel tube. Sun-Thu 12noon-12midnight, Thu 12noon-1am, Fri-Sat 12noon-2am. Islington’s long serving gay pub with a great atmosphere, hugely friendly staff and locals and a cosy beer garden too. Serves pub grub.
South London (Vauxhall)
Barcode Vauxhall, Arch 69, Albert Embankment, SE11. 0207 734 3342. Vauxhall tube. Open 7 days a week. Mon-Thu 4pm-1am, Fri-Sun 4pm-4am. Brand spanking new bar in the throbbing heart of the Vauxhall Village. Mimicking the successful Barcode formula south of the river, Barcode Vauxhall features two bars, a dance floor and a private chill space on the mezzanine level. DJs play ‘til late most nights. Free internet during the day. Great airconditioning. The Hoist, Arch 47c, South Lambeth Road, SW8. 020 7735 9972. 10pm-late. Door charge and strict dress code. 10 years on and still the Daddy of Vauxhall. Featuring a range of ‘special interest’ nights, from military to rubber themes on Saturdays to Stark Bollock Naked parties every Friday and Sunday. Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11. 020 7840 0596. Opening times vary. Vauxhall tube. Door Charge. The grand dame of Vauxhall and one of the longest running gay venues in London. Recently refurbished and under new ownership, the venue has had a makeover! It’s laughs every Wednesday at comedy night BrouHaHa, Friday shakes to new wave/rock ‘n’ roll alternative disco with Yo!Suzi, Duckie presents a smorgasbord of alternative entertainment every Saturday. The notoriously riotous Chill Out and S.L.A.G.S. is every Sunday with its ‘back yard’ the Grassy Knoll playing host to a lively carnival of gay boys and gals! South Central, 349 Kennington Lane, SE11. 020 7793 0903. Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 9pm-late, Tue 7.30-10.30pm, Sun 4pm-2am. Vauxhall tube. One of Vauxhall’s most established gay bars! The current owners have given the bar a genuinely unique identity in London, adopting the branding of the US’ infamous cruisey Eagle nights but with a cool Britannia UK edge (Mon, Wed, Thu and Sat). Chunk on Friday is a big, burly bear zone (and their admirers are of course, welcome), Horse Meat Disco every Sunday is the home of the zany, crazy and kooky or simply pop along on Tuesday for a line dance with Lines & Bears! Wyvils, 8 Wyvil Road, SW8. 020 7627 8175. A traditional pub in the Vauxhall vicinity with cabaret every Saturday night. Food available.
South London
Little Apple, 98 Kennington Lane, SE11. 020 7735 2039. Kennnigton tube. Open 7 days a week. Sun-Thu 12pm-12am, Fri-Sat 12pm-1am. A local pub for local lads! Intimate, friendly with one of the best Sunday roasts in town! Ego, 82 Norwood High Street, SE27. 020 8761 5200. West Norwood BR. Sun-Thu 8pm-late, 7pm-4am. Door charge on weekend. Huge venue that is pub and club under one roof with massive beer garden. Karaoke on Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Naked night ‘Nanti Zhoosh’ on Tuesday, chillout on Wednesday. Club nights on the weekend and great drink promos. The George & Dragon, 2 BlackheathHill, Greenwich, SE10. 020 8691 3764. Deptford Bridge DLR. Mon-Thu 4pm-1am, Fri & Sat 4pm-4am, Sun 4pm-2am. Traditional late night pub that has great drag and cabaret on the weekend. One of the few venues that has a live band to accompany artists. Kazbar, 50 Clapham High Street, SW4. 020 7622 0070. Clapham North tube. Mon-Thu 4pm-midnight, Fri 4pm-1am, Sat noon-1am, Sun noon-midnight. Blending camp and cool this hugely popular video bar is always busy. Cruisy bar area and mezzanine lounge area. Top DJs on the weekend. The Powder Monkey, 1 King William Walk, Greenwich SE10. 020 8293 5928. Greenwich BR and tube. Newly opened bar over three floors encompassing ground floor bar, 1st floor disco and 2nd floor lounge bar. Lush, plush design with bespoke, quirky furniture and fittings. Karaoke on Tuesday, trashy pop on Thursday, commercial house on Friday and Saturday, funky and underground house on Sunday. The Two Brewers, 114 Clapham High Street, SW4. 020 7498 4971. Clapham Common tube. Mon-Thu 5pm-2am, Fri & Sat 5pm-4am. South London’s premiere cabaret venue offers up music, mime and mayhem with regular nights from scene stars such as Sandra, Dolly Diamond, Laquisha Jonz and Dave Lynn. Bingo on Thursday and karaoke on Tuesday. Dance your tits off in the back bar ‘til very late. The Stag, 15 Bessenden Place, SW1. 020 7828 7287. Victoria tube. Mon & Tue midday-midnight, Wed-Fri midday-2am, Sat 5pm-2am, Sun 4pm-midnight. Very friendly gay pub that’s perfect for a quick pint on the way home, or a late night libation. Popular with commuters with weekend cabaret.
East London
The Angel, 21 Church Street, E15. Tel: 020 8555 1148. Stratford BR and tube. The biggest gay party in Stratford for an up-for-it, unpretentious crowd. Killer pool and supersaver drinks offers during the week, top drag cabaret and disco on the weekends. Gets very busy. The Black Horse, 168 Mile End Road, E1. Tel: 020 7790 1684. Mile End tube. Mon-Thurs 8pm-1am, Fri-Sat 8pm-3am, Sun 8pm-1am. Recently refurbished, this cavernous late night bar packs them in, offering disco and top drag cabaret. Perfect if you’re hankering after a late night drink as it’s open ‘til 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. Bistrotheque, 23-27 Wadeson St, E2. Tel: 020 8983 7900. Bethnal Green tube. Cabaret start times vary. Great restaurant, fabulous bar and brilliant cabaret space that has become home to some of London's most interesting acts such as Jonny Woo, Tranny Lip Synching, Bear Beauty Contests and Spanky's amazing shows. Charlie’s Bar, 124 Globe Road, E1. Tel: 020 7790 1007. Whitechapel tube. Recently refurbished Moroccan style, the bar offers food, a huge range of drinks and has a cocktail list to die for. From funky house to Greek and Turkish nights. The East, 80 Brunner Rd, E17. Tel: 020 8520 4836. Walthamstow tube. Wed 5.30-1am, Thu-Sat 5.30pm-2am, Sun 1pm-midnight. A jam-packed weekly programme from Walthamstow’s most popular gay venue. Movie night, pool, cabaret and karaoke. Huge beer garden that’s wonderfully cruisy in summer. George & Dragon, 2-4 Hackney Road, E2. Liverpool or Old Street tube. Wicked gay friendly pub run by Warhol-esque Richardette, features Nelly's Top Forty Countdowns, trashy music, funny clothes and asymmetrical hair-do's. Rammed to the rafters, especially on Sunday! The Joiners Arms, 116 Hackney Road, E2. Tel: 020 7739 9854. Hoxton's answer to San Francisco’s mad mash-up club, ‘The End Up’… says it all! Kings Head, 11 Church Street, E15. Stratford BR and tube. Cosy pub just a stone’s throw away from The Angel that has regular drag cabaret. The Old Ship, 17 Barnes Street, E14. Tel: 020 7790 4082. Limehouse DLR. Open from 7pm Mon & Tue, from 6pm Wed-Sat, from 4pm on Sun. A local pub for local people, but fun and friendly. Regular cabaret for the scene’s best. Not many sailors, though, sadly. Red Lion, 41 Hoxton St, N1. Tel: 020 7729 6930. Old Street tube. Great little pub, attracting a mixed crowd, brimming with characters, a bubbly atmosphere, nice staff and good music - also roof terrace with Jacuzzi sporadically open. Plus, a Thai restaurant, too! Royal Oak, 73 Columbia Rd. E2. Tel: 020 7739 8204. Liverpool Street tube. Mon-Sat 1pm-11.30pm, Sun 8am-10.30pm. Always plenty of queers here especially on a Sunday - getting sloshed the day after the night before. The White Swan, 556 Commercial Road, E1. Tel: 020 7780 9870. Limehouse DLR. Mon 9pm-1am Tue-Thu 9pm-2am, Fri-Sat 9pm-3am, Sun 5.30pm-midnight. A legend in its own lifetime. Huge venue, steeped in history. From the alternative Windypops to the infamous Amateur Strip Contest to the Sunday Tea Dance with camp cabaret for good measure. A night out at BJ’s White Swan is always great night out.
West London
Bromptons, 294 Old Brompton Road, Earls Court, SW5. 020 7370 1344. Earls Court tube. Long running gay pub with late night disco. Popular with the late night drinkers determined not to go home. Coleherne, 261 Old Brompton Road, Earls Court, SW5. 020 7244 5951. Earls Court tube. Noon-midnight. Legendary pub that was hugely popular with the leather crowd. Still cruisy, with lounge area and pool table in the back. Culvert, 54 Cowley Mill Road, Uxbridge. 01895 236 690. Uxbridge tube. Mon-Wed 4pm-1am, Thu noon-2am, Fri & Sat noon-3am, Sun 3pm-1am. The only gay pub in Uxbridge. Hugely popular with great theme nights, camp bingo, karaoke and fab one-off parties. Regular drink promos and some of the best drag cabaret. Leinster, 57 Ossington Street, W2. 020 7243 9541. Notting Hill tube. Noon-midnight. Friendly two-storey pub a short walk from the frenzy of Notting Hill and Bayswater with outside drinking area. Upstairs is loungier with comfy seating. Food served daily. Ted’s Place, 305a North End Road, West Brompton, W14. 0207 385 9359. Earls Court or West Brompton tube. Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri from 7pm-late, Thu 8pm-late, closed Sat & Sun. Admission charge. West London cruise bar that while super-friendly has a deliciously seedy edge to it. TV/TS night on Thursday for T-girls and their admirers. Windsor Castle, 152 Bath Road, Hounslow. 020 877 6590. Hounslow West tube. Mon-Wed 4pm-1am, Thu 1pm-1am, Fri & Sat 1pm-2am, noon-1am. Massive modern pub with huge beer garden. Great drink promotions and theme nights. Quieter lounge area and dance floor. Absolutely fabulous drag cabaret. Sunday lunches too!
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