Soho london gay clubs

Ku Bar

Ku Bar (Lisle Street) | LGBT Bar

After a spell in Ibiza during the 80s, Ku Bar’s owner, Gary Henshaw, was inspired by the now defunct Ku Club. Taking the name from the iconic Balearic nightspot (infamous for hosting Bacchanalian parties), he hoped to sprinkle some of the same Ibiza fairy dust on London.

Ku Bar has now worked its magic on Soho for over twenty years and it’s still going strong. One of the first gay bars in the area, it was a beacon for the LGBT community.

After moving from Charing Cross Road to its current Lisle Avenue locale in 2007, it still retains its blissfully attitude-free, inclusive and welcoming spirit. One of Event in London’s sponsors, each year Ku Bar pump up the action and celebrate in style, with the party spilling out onto Chinatown’s streets.

Open seven days a week from midday to midnight, Ku Bar is a destination hotspot for fun-seeking regulars, locals and tourists looking to throw some insane shapes to the latest pop smashes.

Bedecked in shadowy and white humbug stripes and cheery rainbow flags, Ku Bar has a relaxed day vibe. But, after dark, the magic really happens, and party-chasing customers can keep the vibe going by heading downst

G-A-Y Bar goes on sale as Soho 'loses vibrancy'

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One of central London's main LGBTQ+ bars has gone on sale with its owner saying Soho has "lost its vibrancy".

G-A-Y Bar owner Jeremy Joseph said he had had to make the "tough decision" after his other venue, Heaven nightclub, was temporarily closed late last year after a member of security staff allegedly raped a woman.

He criticised Westminster City Council and the Met Police as well as local residents' groups as being too resistant to measures, such as late licences, which he said would profit the nightlife industry.

A council spokesperson said they were proud supporters of LGBT+ businesses and the wider community in Soho and Westminster, while the Met said it understood the "complexities" that night-time venues face.

"This isn't an straightforward decision. To me it is more than just a bar, it's also my home - I've lived above it for over 15 years," Mr Joseph said in a statement.

He added the closure of Heaven while its licence was under review had put G-A-Y Prevent "at risk financially".

"Even now after Heaven's reopenin

For hundreds of years, Soho has been a haven for gay Londoners, entire of packed pubs and late bedtime drinking dens even before the decriminalisation of homosexuality. In these enlightened times, Diverse city dwellers contain got a plethora of options all across the metropolis. But gay aged Soho still holds a special place in London's LGBTQ scene and remains most visitors' first port of name, whether for kingly nights or mingling. It's centred around Old Compton Highway, where you can spend a raucous night at the enduringly popular G-A-Y lock or down unpretentious drinks at pubs like The Admiral Duncan. Here's our pick of the best homosexual bars and clubs in Soho.

RECOMMENDED: Initiative further afield with London's best homosexual bars and queer clubs.

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The best gay bars and clubs in Soho

Occupying a prominent spot on Soho’s Chinatown

10 Best Gay Clubs in London

The significance of pinpointing the best gay clubs and bars in this sprawling urban area goes beyond just finding a excellent party; it’s about connecting with spaces that resonate with the community’s liveliness, offer safe and inclusive environments, and contribute to the rich tapestry of London’s cultural life.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through the crème de la crème of London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife, ensuring your nights out are nothing short of spectacular.

The Best Gay Clubs in London

In the bustling streets of London, a club’s uniqueness is defined by its ability to blend thrilling entertainment, a welcoming atmosphere, and a deep sense of community. It’s where the music, the people, and the history come together to create indelible nights.

The Heart of Gay Nightlife

Soho, the epicenter of male lover nightlife in London, is famed for its historical layers and inclusive soul. Here, every corner tells a story, and every venue invites you to be part of it.

1. Village Soho

Village Sohodistinguishes itself as a pioneer within Soho’s lively male lover scene. Renowned for its electrifying kingly performances that brightness up the stage with colour and charisma, this club

Timeline of London Bars and Clubs

The gay scene in London has always been centred around the West End, especially Soho. In the 1980s some clubs opened up in Earls Court, where the rent was cheaper. In the 1990s, the scene reverted back to Soho, revitalised by new style bars like The Village. Vauxhallbecame the locus of queer clubs from 2000. Included in the following timeline are bars and clubs in Earl’s Court and Vauxhall, though they are not strictly in the West End.

1720s

The Golden Ball (Bond's Stables, off Chancery Lane).

Jenny Greensleeves' Molly House (Durham Yard, off the Strand).[1]

Julius Caesar Taylor's Molly House (Tottenham Court Road).[2]

Plump Nelly's Molly House (St James's Square, St James's).[2]

Royal Oak Molly House (Giltspur Street, Smithfield)[2]

Three Tobacco Rolls (Covent Garden).

1724Mother Clap's Molly Residence, closed 1726 (Holborn).

1770s

Harlequin (Nag's Head Court, Covent Garden)

1800s

1810The White Swan, Vere Street (Vere Street)

1832Admiral Duncan (54 Mature Compton Street, Soho)

The Hundred Guineas Club (Portland Place)

1866 The Coleherne, gay from the 1950s?, closed 24 September 2008 (261 Earls Court Thoroughfare, Earls Co
soho london gay clubs