We raise a glass or five to one of the scene’s best-loved landlords.
Comptons waves goodbye to one of the gay scene’s best-loved landlords.
Neil Hodgson is a familiar face on the streets of Soho, primarily known for being the landlord of the iconic ‘Grand old dame of Soho’, Comptons.
Now it’s his last orders, as he retires to pursue other interests; from the saucy sands of Sitges to the butch bars of Berlin.
We asked him about his favourite memories from his eventful and adventurous time at one of London’s oldest and best-loved gay venues.
Hi Neil! Tell us your fondest memories of Comptons.
I have many fond memories, but a couple that stand out is when we started Monday club and called in “quid’s inn” back in the late 1990s. All drinks were £1 and entry was a £1. We had people queuing down to Charing Cross road to get in!
The other fond memories are of the fundraising events set up by us as the “Regal Court of The Knights Of Soho” raising money for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Jonathan Hellyer was our Queen and we held regular events where people came dressed as their alter ego.
What do you think sets Comptons apart from other venues?
PASSION! And always aiming for the ultimate guest experience. When I set out in the early days establishing Comptons, my vision was to create a fun, safe space for the LGBTQI community regardless of who you were, what you wore & where you came from. Whoever came through the door, we would try to ensure they left with a fond memory.
Sum it up in one sentence
“I came, I Listened, I persevered.”
We love your dress sense! Who or what is it inspired by?
I remain a huge fan of Liberace and have always collected militaria, so the two just went hand in hand.
Give us a taste of your life…what does your average day entail?
No two days are the same and not one day is average. I think this is why I’ve lasted so long with every day being a different challenge.
What do you do to relax?
I gym train daily for timeout and relaxation. I’m not a huge drinker strangely enough so tend not to socialise in other bars. I also retain a strict healthy diet.
Did you ever have Comptons lock-ins?
Of course! Those were the days when the industry was fun and being risky was all part of the excitement. It was also the way we networked.
What do you think of the London gay scene right now?
Personally, I feel the soul is no longer there. In the early days we fought hard for everything and that gave us real pride. There was also a dark underground element that made it mysterious and intriguing. Soho was a gay village and had a strong feeling of community. This has been totally diluted and we are no longer safe in numbers. The gentrification of Soho will continue and we will lose our gay spaces as they continue to become mainstream. But this is what equality looks like and is the very thing we all fought for, and still are fighting for. Maybe we now have the monster that we unknowingly created – integration.
What advice would you give to people who are thinking of going into the nightlife business?
See an opportunity, take it, work hard at it, listen to what people want and always be top of your game…my motto hangs above Comptons “Fortitude” “Trust” “ Perseverance”
FINALLY…give us a parting shot! What’s next in the life of Neil Hodgson?
People have asked me what I’m going to do for a “living.” My response is “live.” Well, until the money runs out. Certainly for the interim, I’m looking forward to a life in flip flops as I move home to the Mediterranean.
• Comptons of Soho is at 51 – 53 Old Compton Street, W1D 6HN. Make sure you pop in before the end of the month to raise a glass with Neil.
