THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • Tickets for Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 are just £24, here’s where to get them from

    Tickets for Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 are just £24, here’s where to get them from

    It’s the show that has one of Dolly’s enduring songs, at its very heart – and now the tickets are as low as £24, find out where and how you can get them from.

    get tickets for 9 to five the musical

    Fans of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 the musical can now get their hands on some really affordable tickets and those tickets are available to performances right away. The show, which has been touring the UK is opening in London’s West end has now has some tickets at the bargain price of just £24 and from £30 on a Saturday night.

    Based on the 1980 hit movie starring Dolly Parton, 9 to 5 The Musical is coming to London after a UK tour and London Fringe Premiere. With the characters you loved from the film, songs (music and lyrics) by Dolly Parton herself, and a book by Patricia Resnik 9 to 5 tells the story of 3 working women who find their voices and take control.

    Find out more and browse tickets by clicking here

     

    This article contains one or more affiliate links. This means we may receive a commission on any sales of products or services we write about. This article was written completely independently but about a subject that we think you, as a reader of THEGAYUK will enjoy, see more details here

  • Lost LGBT Scene | Silks club

    We’re creating an online memory board for some of London’s lost venues. Since the turn of the century, London’s gay scene has lost over 100 venues.

    We’d love for you to help us grow this historical archive of London’s lost gay scene. If you’ve got photos or memories of any of the venues you’d like to share please use the comment section below and we’ll add them right here.

    Silks Club

    An LGBT club in Shepherds Bush Shopping centre

    Opened: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    Closed: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

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    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

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  • Lost LGBT Scene | Napoleon Club

    We’re creating an online memory board for some of London’s lost venues. Since the turn of the century, London’s gay scene has lost over 100 venues.

    We’d love for you to help us grow this historical archive of London’s lost gay scene. If you’ve got photos or memories of any of the venues you’d like to share please use the comment section below and we’ll add them right here.

    Napoleons Club

    An LGBT club on Bond Street

    Memory from Paul:

    “l worked at Napoleon Club in the early 1980s. It was a private members club located in the sizable basement of the Bonaparte Restaurant. Law at that time required new members to apply and pay a fee, but wait three days before they were allowed in.

    The club reception was on the ground floor, but the bar and disco were down a narrow wooden staircase to the basement.
    Rumour had it that in Victorian times the building had been some kind of hospital or clinic, and stories were spread that the place was haunted by the ghost of a nurse. It certainly felt uncomfortable being alone there after everyone had left.
    The MD was a German guy named Hans, and the manager an Irish guy who decamped one night with the takings. An investigation showed that he had been skimming off a slice of the bar takings for years.
    Despite the odd laws, the place was generally very busy all week, and felt like a family”

    Can you add more description or pictures? Add them at the bottom of the page in the comment section.

    Open date: Unknown (Can you help with that?)

    Closed date: Unknown (Can you help with that?)

    BACK TO MAIN LIST

    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!

  • Lost LGBT Scene | The Masquerade Club

    We’re creating an online memory board for some of London’s lost venues. Since the turn of the century, London’s gay scene has lost over 100 venues.

    We’d love for you to help us grow this historical archive of London’s lost gay scene. If you’ve got photos or memories of any of the venues you’d like to share please use the comment section below and we’ll add them right here.

    The Masquerade club

    Memory from a user:

    In small cellar with dancefloor beneath SUDS launderette on the corner of 310 Earl’s Court Road, though the club was entered via small door numbered 310A (first of three doors) in adjacent side street strictly called Earl’s Court Square. Current Google Street View shows a title over this door: “Tips and Toes”.

    Masquerade ran from c.1972 as a cool gay disco playing latest soul and disco US imports such as O’Jays and Temptations. First heard the extended version of Masterpiece here 1973.

    Few other London gay clubs offered black music at that time: these included Sombrero (Yours or Mine), Chaguaramas, Rod’s on lower King’s Road.<br /><br />Can’t swear whether it was even licensed for alcohol – many “clubs” were not in those days. Bowie rumoured to have visited!

    An LGBT club on Earls Ct Rd.

    Can you add more description or pictures? Add them at the bottom of the page in the comment section.

    Opened: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    Closed: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    BACK TO MAIN LIST

    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!

  • Lost LGBT Scene | El Sombrero, Kensington

    Lost LGBT Scene | El Sombrero, Kensington

    We’re creating an online memory board for some of the UK’s lost venues.

    We’d love for you to help us grow this historical archive of the UK’s lost gay scene. If you’ve got photos or memories of any of the venues you’d like to share please use the comment section below and we’ll add them right here.

     

    El Sombrero (Yours or Mine)

    A gay bar on Kensington High Street

    Memory from George:

    Leaving the Sombrero club the easiest way for us to walk home to Notting Hill was through the notorious Holland walk this was something to see even if you were not cruising, 20 mins walk through the other end with wall to wall with guys just waiting for action! We were very young then and would walk down together for a laugh but things changed soon after that we became lets say much more curious especially without our friends with us!!

    Can you add more description or pictures? Add them at the bottom of the page in the comment section.

    Opened: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    Closed: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    BACK TO MAIN LIST

     

    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!

  • Lost LGBT Scene | Spats Club

    We’re creating an online memory board for some of London’s lost venues. Since the turn of the century, London’s gay scene has lost over 100 venues.

    We’d love for you to help us grow this historical archive of London’s lost gay scene. If you’ve got photos or memories of any of the venues you’d like to share please use the comment section below and we’ll add them right here.

    Adams Club

    A gay club on London’s famous Oxford Street.

    Can you add more description or pictures? Add them at the bottom of the page in the comment section.
    Opened: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    Closed: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    BACK TO MAIN LIST

     

    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!

  • Lost LGBT Scene | Adams Club

    We’re creating an online memory board for some of London’s lost venues. Since the turn of the century, London’s gay scene has lost over 100 venues.

    We’d love for you to help us grow this historical archive of London’s lost gay scene. If you’ve got photos or memories of any of the venues you’d like to share please use the comment section below and we’ll add them right here.

    Adams Club

    A gay club in London’s Leicester Square.

    Can you add more description or pictures? Add them at the bottom of the page in the comment section.

    Opened: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    Closed: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    BACK TO MAIN LIST

     

    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!

  • Lost LGBT Scene | Catacombs, Earl’s Court

    Lost LGBT Scene | Catacombs, Earl’s Court

    We’re creating an online memory board for some of the UK’s lost venues.

    We’d love for you to help us grow this historical archive of the UK’s lost gay scene. If you’ve got photos or memories of any of the venues you’d like to share please use the comment section below and we’ll add them right here.

    Catacombs

    A gay bar in London’s Earl’s Court region. According to reader George, it never sold alcohol, but played the best music.

    Memory from Peter:

    Catacombs as I remember never sold alcohol but they did sell softer drinks and toasted cheese sandwiches which I never quite understood.
    Very late night club but the best music in town and was like an old large cellar in the basement.
    Memory from Paul
    Vivid memories of The Catacombs…..
    At the tender age of 18, new to London, very green and exceedingly shy and discovering freedom!! Soon discovered Gay News and the gay scene at Earls Court. Must have been incredibly brave to go on my own. Saturday nights. There were bouncers on the door, and the club used to provide square gold coloured metal keyring fobs with raised lettering CATA top line COMBS bottom line to help ID. There was a steepish narrow flight of steps down to the dance floor and a bar on the right I think.
    I THINK they did sell beer, but I only ever drank Coke, so might be mistaken.
    The dance floor was always dark, illuminated with numerous flashing disco spotlights. I vividly remember the packed floor and the heads bouncing to Motown, Stevie Wonder-Superstition, Temptations-The Law of the Land, Timmy Thomas-Why cant we live together. I hear those on the radio sometimes, shut my eyes and Im back there in 1971/2 such was the huge impression. Around the dance floor which was circular or multi-sided such as Octagonal was a series of arches which led on to a corridor around the dancefloor.
    There was a series of arches into open rooms around the outside of this corridor, each room with tables and seating around. There was always a row of stationary figures around the wall just watching the dancefloor and a similar row around the corridor, all awaiting the next pickup. I dont remember where the toilets were, very shy and maybe didnt use them, nor the disco, nor if there were any emergency exits and looking back, I always think the place could have been an inferno if the worst happened, but oh! such happy memories.

    Can you add more description or pictures? Add them at the bottom of the page in the comment section.

    Opened: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    Closed: Can you help? Click here to update this listing

    BACK TO MAIN LIST

    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!

  • Lost LGBT Scene | Chaguramas Club, Neal Street

    We’re creating an online memory board for some of the UK’s lost venues.

    We’d love for you to help us grow this historical archive of the UK’s lost gay scene. If you’ve got photos or memories of any of the venues you’d like to share please use the comment section below and we’ll add them right here.

     

    Chaguramas Club, Neal Street, London

    According to one of our lovely readers George, the club in 1970 and was the first club he ever visited.

    Memory from George:

    Chaguramas club in 41 Neal St had a small look out opening in the front door and if they didn’t like the look of you or thought you were police you wouldn’t get in! After the club closed for the night or should I say morning quite a few people used to go to the pubs in Covent Garden just up the road where the pubs were open very early in the morning for the traders in the market. Very different from today’s C.Gdn being dressed up from the all night club we had to be discreet amongst the traders! but dodging the filthy streets there, rats and hookers and pimps…all exciting though.

    Open date: UNKNOWN (can you help?)

    Closed date: 1970

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    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!

  • Scores of people were outside the Russian Consulate to protest the persecution of gay people in Chechnya

    Scores of people were outside the Russian Consulate to protest the persecution of gay people in Chechnya

    A demonstration, led by Peter Tatchell, All Out and Queer Tours of London were outside the Russian Embassy over the weekend to protest the “gay purge” in Chechnya.

    rihaij / Pixabay

    As the “gay purge” continues in Chechnya, a protest group gathered outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand “never again ever”. The protest was timed to coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day.

    The protest organisers had four demands,

    1. We call on Theresa May to publicly condemn these atrocities;
    2. We ask all Governments to give shelter to those fleeing from Chechnya;
    3. We call for a United Nations Independent Investigation on Russia with a specific mandate on the human rights violations in the Chechen Republic
    4. We urge Russian authorities to bring those responsible for these atrocities to justice and, failing that, for the international community to intervene and arraign the perpetrators before the ICJ

    Speaking about the protest, Peter Tatchell said,

    “The heart-breaking reports of renewed state torture and murder of LGBT+ people are a damning indictment of the tyrannical Chechen regime and of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has refused to use his powers to stop the homophobic terror campaign and to bring perpetrators to justice. We deplore all human rights abuses in Chechnya – including detention without trial, torture and arbitrary killings. At this protest, we stand in solidarity with Chechen LGBTs and all persecuted Chechen people.”

    Matt Beard, Executive Director of All Out, added:
    “A new wave of brutal state-sponsored attacks against LGBT+ people is taking place in Chechnya right now. Silence is complicity. World leaders must condemn these atrocities and ask Russian authorities to bring those responsible to justice.”

    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!

  • LGBT Travel blog wins silver at the NATJA Awards

    LGBT Travel blog wins silver at the NATJA Awards

    The owner of LGBT Travel blog, Travels of Adam is celebrating after winning silver at the NATJA travel journalism awards.

    StockSnap / Pixabay

    Adam Groffman is celebrating after his independent travel blog Travels of Adam won the silver place in the 2018 NATJA Awards Competition in the “Best Independent Travel Blog” category.

    This awards competition, now in its 27th year, honours the best of the best in travel journalism, photography and destination marketing that cover all aspects of the travel industry.

    Submissions for the competition are worldwide and reflect major publications, renowned journalists, and influential bloggers. “The winners are a microcosm of the talent, creativity and journalistic excellence that encapsulates our industry-leading members,” said Helen Hernandez, CEO, NATJA. “As our membership continues to grow so do the submissions of the accomplished pool of those who work in the travel industry—raising the competitiveness and prestige of the annual NATJA Awards.”

    This is Adam Groffman’s second win from the NATJA awards, and follows a silver Lowell Thomas award last year from the Society of American Travel Writers, also for “best travel blog.”

    “The inaugural awards dinner will feature the entrants whose work stood out amongst the hundreds of superb submissions competing for a NATJA Award,” said NATJA Advisory Board Chair Kathryn Farrington. “The NATJA board, staff and members would like to thank the judges for their time and expertise in evaluating this year’s submissions and identifying the best of the best from each category.”

    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!