03/08/14: We whirled into veritable venue of the East, The Old Ship, fell onto a handsomely rugged gentleman’s lap, and ordered ourselves a pint of fine ale to kick the evening off in shipshape fashion.
Despite this being the first time we’d dipped a toe into the Limehouse stalwart, we’ve always had a soft spot for the more traditional style gay pub that gives you just what you want: booze, pool and local lads with stubble.
And of course our scarlet Dynasty nails, leopard print crop top and heart-lined tights didn’t look entirely out of place in the Ship’s welcoming wood panels, because their Sunday (un)secret is that some of the best stars of the cabaret scene come to perform here each week…
We were well tucked into our seventh beverage of bitter – when in Rome – when support act Chamonix Aspen charged onto the stage to tickle our funny box, and if there’s anything our funny box enjoys, it’s a damn good tickling. But of course star of the show was the irrepressible Cookie Monstar, whose voice surged from her heaving lungs like a Mills & Boon damsel on heat, and had the entirety of the friendly, busy pub laughing the rafters down.
We will have to make the ‘Ship a regular fixture of la Jockstrap’s weekend odysseys through the East!
17 Barnes Street, Limehouse, E14 7NW
Words by Jackie jockstrap
Photos by Joel Ryder
