17/03/12: Not only is Central Station a joy to review because I live about a five minute walk away (ten if I’ve started on the shandy’s before leaving my yard) but because there genuinely is no other place like it on London’s gay scene.
A veritable multi-floored wonder that encompasses everything from dinner to drag ‘n’ drinkin’ to… erm… dungeon diva shenanigans in the basement. This weekend’s review was focused on the ground floor for a very special occasion – owner Duncan’s 65th birthday.
A stalwart of the venue, which is itself a stalwart of the area, having seen off almost all other local gay businesses and is one of the few remaining bastions of a King’s Cross that is being increasingly gentrified by dull hotels and trendy coffee shop chains.
So, off I went to my local, armed with two heterosexual Central Station virgins. To salute Duncan, there truly is no-one finer than Miss Jason; truly old school, and I say that with a huge amount of positivity. She can command any room, fire out the jokes at 60 MPH (without being venomous) and knock back the shots without missing a beat or a witty line.
She can also inadvertently smash glass all over the stage, but even cleans up her own mess whilst still delivering the zingers. Legend! Jason Prince provided the tuneage whilst Kelly Wilde belted out the ballads in her own inimitable style.
The crowd was full of regulars, old friends and fresh faces, as an emotional Duncan took to the stage to give thanks not just for people showing up, but for how Central Station has been a huge part of his heart and the local community for a couple of decades now.
A testament to this welcoming atmosphere, which almost always stems from the top down, was the grin on my hetero housemates faces on leaving the venue. Where else can they get chatted up by war veteran whilst guffawing at a cock in a frock and singing their hearts out to a power ballad? Not in an All Bar One that’s for sure. Happy Birthday Duncan – here’s to many more years.
Words by Lee Dalloway
Photos by Joel-ryder.com
