03/05/12: We can’t believe it’s been a year since Soho was abuzz with rumours of a shiny new homoxual bar. It doesn’t seem like five minutes ago since the Circa crew were putting the finishing touches to this small but perfectly formed venue for opening night.
It barely seems like ten minutes since Landlady Alana was running potential bar names past yours truly. (Interesting side note trivia fans; if the wind had been blowing in a different direction we’d currently be celebrating Faze’s first birthday rather than Circa’s).
Whilst the right name was certainly picked, everything else also seemed to naturally fall into place. I’ve had the privilege of watching Circa grow from humble beginnings; building a loyal clientele who keep coming back and bringing even more friends with them to join the family.
Taking chances on unknown DJs (ahem!) watching them flourish and give the bar its own distinct personality. Witnessing this makeshift, somewhat dysfunctional but truly affectionate family being created, whilst laughing so hard and staggering out drunkenly into that good night more times than any of us care to remember.
The first birthday was literally a ‘who’s she’ of the queer scene. Every fucker who’s ever entered a gay bar was there, shimmying along to a stellar line-up of DJs that included Jonathan Bestley, Adam Turner, Munroe Bergdorf, Dusty O, Kris Di Angelis and even Queen of Cool herself, Jodie Harsh.
The atmosphere was electric and no-one wanted the party to end. As much as I cheekily rib boss man Alan Winter in this magazine (him sleeping in a coffin throughout the day, his hidden identity as the second coming of Satan, his real age of 82), the fact is, none of this would be possible without him and his immense knowledge of what makes bars and Soho tick.
Since I first moved to London, back when Queen Victoria ruled the waves, I’ve been longing for a place to hang out and trade witty quips with my best friends, like on all those American sitcoms that raised me. And Circa has finally provided us all with that Alan, Harry, the staff and all the gorgeous boys and borderline alcoholics (myself included) who frequent there – you’ve given this bar an amazing heart. There’s just nowhere else quite like it.
62 Frith Street, Soho, W1
Words by Lee ‘Ida Slapta’ Dalloway
Photos by Joel Ryder
Additional photography by Mario Benedetti
