QX interviews Gary Henshaw as we look back on three decades of Ku — the LGBTQ+ venue group that’s grown up, glammed up, and still knows how to throw a party.

How did you get into opening a bar, and what were you doing before?

I started my working life in the family business as a butcher in Dublin. Despite the opportunities, I knew neither Dublin nor butchering was my future. In 1985, with a small amount of savings and a big sense of adventure, I headed north to Copenhagen. That’s where I discovered hospitality—and my passion for it. The energy, the people, the nightlife… I was hooked. I opened my own bar in Ibiza in 1987-89 and arrived penniless in London in 1990. I was then at the forefront of the launch of Village, Kudos and The Gay Tea Dance at Limelight before opening Ku Charing Cross Road in December 1995.

When you opened Ku Bar in Lisle Street, you once told us that you’d put everything you owned into it. How nervous were you about that, and was there ever a time you thought you’d done the wrong thing?

Opening Ku Bar with my then business partner, Michael Joyce, was an exciting (and slightly reckless!) adventure. The shutters went up on a bitterly cold Friday in December 1995.

To put it in context, it was a time when mobiles and the internet were just emerging. No emails, no texts, no Facebook, no Instagram, no apps… and definitely no Grindr. Back then, the only way to meet people was face-to-face—imagine that!

We sub-rented the bar week to week because we had no funds. It wasn’t really run like a business, more like our own private party venue. I’m pretty sure we gave away more booze in lock-ins than we ever sold.

But Ku Charing Cross Road became a beacon for the “coming-out” crowd — a place where so many people found their tribe. To this day, it’s still affectionately remembered by a generation as “My First Gay Bar.”

When I moved Ku to a much larger site in Leicester Square in 2007, it was another huge leap. The rent was staggering and the risk enormous. I threw in every penny I had — and a fair bit of bluffing. We opened on Valentine’s Day 2007, and the rest, as they say, is history.

At the opening of Ku Bar in Lisle Street, we recall your father saying that this would be the making of you. What are your thoughts as you look back on all those years?

All business is risky—it’s not for everyone. My father was my biggest inspiration; he built a meat-packing business from nothing, and I saw firsthand how hard work and passion could pay off.

When Mum and Dad came to London for the Ku opening, my dad turned to me and said, “This will be the making of you.” He was right, and that moment has always stayed with me. Both my parents have since passed, but I’m proud they lived to see and enjoy being part of the Ku story.

While so many other venues have gone by the wayside, why do you think Ku, as a brand, is still going so strong?

We’ve survived because we’ve evolved. Ku has always adapted to the times—constantly refreshing, reinvesting, and reinventing. Today, we’ve grown to include Ku Lounge, Ku Leicester Square, Ku Klub, Little Ku, and She Soho.

I like to feel proud of the venues, and I want our customers to feel that we’re giving something back. Ku started as a young people’s bar, but over the last decade, it’s become a home for everyone.

Our 30th Birthday tagline says it best:

“Your First Gay Bar — All Grown Up.”

From afternoons on the terrace to early evening offers and pop playlists to luxury cocktails in Ku Lounge, the intimacy of Little Ku, and the energy of She—we now offer something for everyone across the LGBTQ+ community, as well as our many allies and visitors.

Ku is for everyone.

What have been the standout moments over the last 30 years?

Far too many to count! There’ve been incredible highs, some legendary nights, and thankfully, no mobile phones capturing the more chaotic moments from the ‘90s. Let’s just say, some memories are best left undocumented!

You have a great party planned to mark Ku’s thirtieth birthday on the 6th December — what can we expect on the night?

We’ll be starting at 7pm sharp – just as we did back in 1995. Sandra London, one of our original resident queens from Charing Cross Road, will co-host alongside our current queen, Vicki Vivacious. Expect the champagne to be flowing, a free raffle with great prizes from our suppliers, goodie bags, and of course, a big birthday toast.

We’ll be playing Ku classics and pop favourites from the last 30 years, before DJs Lloyd-Paul Dixon and Dan Devlin take over the main floor. We have invited lots of ex-Ku staff to come by and raise a glass. It’s going to be one for the books.

Can customers expect any treats before then?

Absolutely! We’ve launched our biggest-ever offer: 30% off everything (yes, everything!) Monday to Friday, up to 9pm, via our loyalty app Kudos.

We’re also bringing back the infamous Ku “Blowjob Shot” at a proper ‘90s price. And there are plenty more surprises and promos lined up as we count down to the big night.

And what plans do you have for the future?

The past 30 years have been an incredible ride. Ku will keep evolving but remain stylish, inclusive, and a little bit cheeky, just as it’s always been. We’re focusing on using our Kudos app to connect even more closely with our community, and we’ll continue reinvesting in our venues, so they stay among London’s most vibrant LGBTQ+ spaces.

None of this would exist without the amazing people who’ve made Ku what it is. I owe a huge thanks to the incredible teams, past and present — the bar team, management, DJs, drag artists, doormen, cleaners, and creatives — everyone who’s poured their energy, passion, and personality into these venues. I’m especially proud of our current young, dynamic team, who are carrying the Ku spirit into the next chapter with fresh ideas and real heart.

I keep saying I’ll slow down one day, and I guess I have… but then I get another idea —a redesign or a new concept. As long as people keep walking through our doors to laugh, flirt, dance, and feel at home, I’ll keep creating spaces for it. The world keeps changing, but Ku’s spirit—connection, fun, and freedom— will always stay the same.

Visit Ku.

Ku 30th Birthday Party is on Saturday 6th December 2025, from 7pm, 30 Lisle Street, London WC2H 7BA, United Kingdom.