With so many kink venues closing, it’s reassuring to know that one is thriving. As the arrival of spring gets us in the mood, and conveniently located just a short walk from the Soho mayhem, there’s a tempting basement cruise bar that caters to all those in need of some immediate man-on-man action. It’s called Vault 139, and we spoke to the governor of this palace of pleasure, Mike, to find out about what goes on in the darkened vaults beneath Fitzrovia.
When did you first take over the venue, and what was it about the place that said, ‘Yes, this space is right’?
We took the venue over in July 2008… the week before the recession started! When we saw the venue, we knew immediately it was gonna be our new home; it had a great location and a great layout inside that just felt right and worked well for cruising.
Are you aware of any of the venue’s history before Vault 139?
Most recently, before we took it over 16 years ago, it was a salsa bar. However, apparently, in days gone by—and I’m talking about before my time—when London and Fitzrovia were very different places in the early 1900s, it was a brothel for London’s gentry.
Tell us about the space and the facilities on offer?
We are tucked away discreetly on Whitfield Street; as you come down the stairs and into our venue, you’ll be faced with the bar instantly, from there you can check your bags, get your drinks in and even keep your phone and wallets safely there so to you don’t need to worry. Also, phones are not permitted in the bar’s cruising areas. As you make your way around the venue, you’ll find we have two darkrooms, our biggest one with beds and a sling; at the back, we have arches for more intimacy, Gloryhole cubicles and many other nooks and crannies to hide in or explore.
£12 entry, £11 for members who have downloaded our app. The app has benefits and perks, including a loyalty scheme: five visits, and you get a free entry. You get your first drink included free, and the coat check is free. We also offer free re-entry for the whole day.
Run us through some of the nights and the kind of customers that come to the bar?
We structure our week so that everybody can experience a theme suited to them. We have NKD on Monday and Thursday (being one of our most popular nights for all those exhibitionists who love to strip), UNDERWEAR-UWP is on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons. ALL OR NOTHING is a much more relaxed and all-inclusive night where dress code wise anything goes – dress up or down or indulge your kink with some leather or rubber gear. Most guys end up NKD anyway.CRUISE is all weekdays and Saturday afternoon and all day Tuesday and Friday for those who are horny and just want to CRUISE. Our clients are all mixed. Whether you’re old or young, whatever your kink, we do not judge, as this space is safe and inclusive for all!
How do customers usually dress, if at all?
A lot of the guys will dress casually on a cruise night, but we do get a huge mix of those who make an effort to go ALL OR NOTHING and throw on the spandex, leather, jockstraps, pup masks – you name it! We encourage the effort people make for kink wear, so if there’s something specific you want to try then this is the space for you!
What advice would you give to a first-timer at Vault 139 or to someone who hasn’t ever been to a cruise bar?
My advice to a first-timer is to come on in! We don’t bite, and neither do the clients (much) everyone here is friendly enough and will guide new people through the process of the bar clearly and easily, so you can get down to business and feel relaxed quicker. Guys hanging out at the bar are chatty, and our team will help anyone who may have an issue with something.
Has there been a Vault 139 wedding yet, one where the happy couple first met at the venue?
Yes, actually, a few guys have met their life partners and VAULT139, including myself! However, the wedding was at a more “family-friendly” location, lol.
Cruise bars are well known to throw up a wealth of lost property after closing time. What have been the strangest or funniest things that you’ve found left behind by customers?
I think the strangest thing I’ve come across here was a tiger dildo, just left stuck to a wall. The look on the guy’s face when he had realised he’d left it and came to claim was priceless! Also, for some reason glasses and with the number we find we could open an opticians! Ooh, and quite recently a cucumber … at least that guy was having his 5 a day. lol.
To download the app visit the Vault 139 website. Follow Vault 139 on Facebook.
Vault 139 is open 7 days a week, 1 pm – 1 am, (entry includes a drink and coat check, re-entry), 139-143 Whitfield Street, London W1T 5EN, United Kingdom.
