Category: Scene

  • Thierry Alexandre is about to do a non-binary/pansexual/queer night and we’re all in

    CRÈME ANGLAISE – THE CREAM OF NON-BINARY BRITAIN!

    -By-

    Sasha de Suinn

    Never heard of Thierry Alexandre? Don’t worry, sweethearts – you will! Arguably the uncrowned uber-queen of transhuman London, Thierry gorgeously violates every appreciative orifice wholesale!

    Best loosely described as a stormingly pansexual performance artist, Thierry’s triumphantly usurped the f*ck-everything gospel of Leigh Bowery and protégé Transformer, and run with as if his dick’s been sheathed with queer, sacramental fire at the head of a non-binary marathon!

    His closest rival, perhaps – if only in sartorial terms – is RuPaul’s latest darling, US drag diva Sasha Velour, but Thierry easily trumps Velour with an infectious lust for life that’s the pansexual pandemic that this dreary, strait-jacketed Brexit Britain is subconsciously screaming for!

    And in a sense, Thierry – originally French, though thoroughly queerly baked in England – epitomises the French, national credo of liberty, equality and fraternity. Like some gender-f*cked jump-start cable, Thierry’s ultra-feisty sparks od deviant electricity have kick-started centres of queer civil resistance worldwide.

    Drawing on and gaily re-imagining a huge array of disparate, quintessentially contentious sources – among them, clown, Commedia del’ Arte pantomime and – in a linkage that’s game-changingly unlikely – Paul Ruben’s Pee-Wee Herman – Thierry seals his unholy, provocative, queer witch’s brew with the steely, unflinching aesthetic of his adored Butoh dance form.

    And briefly, it’s that audacious, impossible-on-paper marriage – fusing child-like innocence, openness and graciousness with the serene but unbending clarity that informs every gesture of Butoh, that ancient, Japanese performing art – that makes Thierry such a unique, irrepressible and fizzing presence in gay London’s crucial, inner circle of bohemians.

    So, does he have one talent in particular towering above his poetic, avant-garde dance and kaleidoscopic, sartorial gifts? Certainly, and it’s perhaps one that Thierry himself has overlooked – master facilitator. Arguably, no other non-binary individual in town has energised so many delightful, cutting-edge events with such non-stop, bubbling ebullience, the giddy enthusiasm of a marvellously adult child still in touch with his primal, contagious innocence.

    Intrigued? Of course you are, so – without further ado – please feast your eyes, desires and imaginations on Thierry’s self- written manifesto below! Au Revoir,

    Lady Sasha XXX

    SALON CRÈME ANGLAISE

     A co-creative artistic rebellion where generosity, opportunity, unbridled self-expression and kindness collide in a psychedelic vortex of possibilities. 

    The sumptuous premises a refined members club above the iconic L’Escargot restaurant, it’s magical attic filled with decadent dreamers, impassioned geniuses and deliciously transgressive post gender spectators. 

    Feel the flush of freedom flowing through your veins, the thrill of youth filling your heart and soul at the sights of wondrous creatures clustering its Edwardian interiors, its bijoux salons transformed into blissful boudoirs of bohemian bonhomie, its historical walls perspiring with the bodacious breeze of impossible dreams suddenly made vividly realisable. 

    Come and slide down the feather filled rabbit hole that is Salon Creme Anglaise and bounce back as a reinvented and readjusted Earthling ready to unleash its creative juices well into the 2020s!

    Leave your troubles and machinations on the marble steps, embrace your joie de vivre and insouciance, and the best version of yourself will emerge victoriously !

    Welcome the waves of fearless creativity trickling down your analogue brain, breathe in the gifts of inspiring arts, become a muse, a model, a poet or a star, let yourself be whole again, if only for a night, unabashed, vibrant, resplendent. You may arrive a spectator, be charmed, be enlightened and leave an active contributor to this spiritual putsch against the political establishment. And irresistibly whip up your return for more, when Creme Anglaise pours down – sometime very soon! – on scintillating Soho once again. 

    ART PARTY EXTRAORDINAIRE:CRÈME ANGLAISE FRIDAY 13TH @ L’ESCARGOT PRIVATE CLUB RESTAURANT, GREEK STREET SOHO. Book tickets here

  • Iconic LGBT pub in Bedford relaunched

    Iconic LGBT pub in Bedford relaunched

    The Barley Mow in Bedford, one of the most established LGBT venues in the UK has relaunched after new licensees take over.

    The pub, one of the only LGBT+ venues in the area has been given a new lease of life after the pub gained two new licensees, Katee and her father Stuart Turtill.

    With a combined 28 years of experience in the pub industry, the father and daughter duo aims to preserve the pub’s reputation and retain its strong roots as an established LGBT venue. This will include more community events and extending trading hours for customers to come and enjoy the pub throughout the day.

    Katee Turtill, Licensee of the Barley Mows commented: “Everything about the Barley Mow drew us to it. It’s a great pub with a fantastic community following. For that reason, we aren’t looking to change it too much, rather we want to enhance what people already recognised as being signature to the Barley Mow. I absolutely adore the pub; the customers are lovely, and I really want to make it that fun place for people to come back into.”

    Customers will be spoiled for choice with a fantastic line-up of events planned, including a monthly cabaret show and special weekly theme nights such as fancy-dress evenings, Ru Paul Drag Race nights, Rum and Reggae nights and Pop and Cheese nights. Resident Drag Queen host and karaoke master, Fanny Burns, will continue to entertain locals every Wednesday night with a DJ secured for both Friday and Saturday nights. Those visiting the pub for a tipple will be impressed by the extensive selection of fantastic draughts, spirits and signature cocktails which can be enjoyed in the spacious beer garden outside. 

    The Barley Mow will celebrated its official grand re-opening on Friday 7th February at 2 pm. Special guest, Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford, hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony and raised a new LGBT flag to pay homage to the landmark pub along with Fanny Burns.

    A special karaoke line-up was hosted soon after by the lovely Fanny Burns following the ceremony. Resident DJ Brummy took to the decks from 9pm onwards. The dress code and theme of the day was smart-casual attire with a rainbow theme. 

    Business Development Manager for Admiral Taverns, Mick Sheridan said, “I am thrilled to have Katee and Stuart on board at the Barley Mow and look forward to working with them. Both of them are incredibly experienced and have fantastic reputations. Both Katee and Stuart understand the importance of this community pub and have a strong vision to keep this a fantastic asset to the local community. I am very excited to see the new Barley Mow and I look forward to seeing all the wonderful events they have planned over the next few months.” 

  • Iconic LGBT+ club night in Cambridge saved with last minute venue offer

    Iconic LGBT+ club night in Cambridge saved with last minute venue offer

    “Dot Cotton Club has been a huge part of the LGBTQ+ scene in Cambridge, first opening its doors almost 30 years ago”

    An LGBT+ club night was facing an uncertain future this week and may have been forced to close its doors had a new venue not saved the day.

    The Dot Cotton Club, based in Cambridgeshire, which has been in existence for nearly 30 years, has had an emotional week after the venue it uses to host its iconic night, Atomic, are reportedly “struggling with negotiations with their college landlords”.

    The club night had been held at Atomic for the last four years.

    In a statement, organisers of the Dot Cotton Club said, that there were hopes of working with a new venue, Fez Club, in order to keep the night alive.

    “We are sure Dot Cotton Club will continue to evolve”

    Speaking about the abrupt ending with Atomic, organisers wrote on the official Facebook page, “Dot Cotton Club has been a huge part of the LGBTQ+ scene in Cambridge, first opening its doors almost 30 years ago, and is the final regular club event here for our community that takes place on a weekend.

    “This is hugely important as it provides a safe and welcoming space for both students AND Cambridge locals, along with visitors to the city, to celebrate everything that makes them fabulous. We are also sad for our current home Atomic (formerly Q-Club), as it is one of the only alternative venues in the city with nights catering for the less mainstream communities, including the rock, metal and goth crowds – we know everyone who has visited will miss it greatly.

    “Looking to the future, while we hope some agreement can be made to allow us to continue where we are, we are sure Dot Cotton Club will continue to evolve and find some way to keep supporting the community in any way we can.”

    Light At The End Of The Tunnel

    In a separate post, Dot Cotton Club told its fans, “After seeing our posts online and the story in (the) local press, Fez Club Cambridge have stepped in and kindly offered to help us with a venue to keep our fabulous LGBTQ+ Dot Cotton Club community alive!

    “Because they (Fez) already have some other commitments pre-planned in their diary, we still won’t be able to celebrate our festive White Party on December 7th as originally planned, but instead we are moving it to Saturday, December 28th, 10 pm-3 am! The Fez Club has two bars, cocktail menu, large seating area and dance floor, the bathrooms will be gender neutral for the night and there is a lift up to the first floor”.

  • REVIEWED | Queeriosity Manchester

    REVIEWED | Queeriosity Manchester

    ★★★★ | There’s a new show in town and it’s queer and curious.

    I was excited to go along to a brand new cabaret in Manchester on Saturday night, Queeriosity. It’s going to be held weekly every Saturday at Void/Kiki in Canal Street, Manchester and what’s even better is it’s free entry.

     

    It was the first show on Saturday 14th of September, and I must say I was suitably impressed by what was on offer. I was lucky enough to speak to creator of the show Donna Trump to ask what inspired her to bring this new show to Manchester and she told me “Yes it’s something new and different but you know, it’s something not to be missed. I want to unearth the world of cabaret as it’s known in Manchester. Give everyone a taste of something different. We have great cabaret in Manchester already existing and I just want to show people another wonderful side of it too” and show it they did.

    There’s going to be rotating cast and guest performers so each show will be something new and different, with new performances every week with at least 4 performers every week. And if week one is anything to go by, these performers will give it their all to entertain people. All the artists on stage gave it 110% and I could tell all of them really enjoyed what they were doing. But it really wasn’t a standard drag queen show. There was spoken word comedy lipsync, high energy burlesque style and a drag king lipsynching to Hercules songs. I laughed, I cheered and I came away very happy. I have very high hopes that this show will be something amazing. What seems to set this aside is that this is a passion project of Donna and the artists involved and one feels that having a new show like this could certainly help revive the scene in Canal Street. The other great thing is that people are utterly free to come as they feel comfortable. I saw, drag kings and queens, genderfluid people, pups, and every other kind of LGBTQ+ & ally person there and no one gave two hoots as long as you were having a good time. It felt like a very welcoming and safe environment to just kick back and enjoy.

    The whole show felt fresh and fun and everyone watching on Saturday really got into it, and seeing the reaction of Donna to the cheers she got at the end shows just how invested she is in this cabaret. I wish her all the luck in taking this forward and I cannot wait to see what she and the other performers come up with next

    So if you find yourself in Canal Street on a Saturday night, I would highly recommend a visit to see Queeriosity, the new curious cabaret.

    Social Media is linked below.

    Queeriosity

    Donna Trump

    Coco DeVille

    Cherry Valentine

    Christian Gay

    The Vicars Daughter

    Ellen DeGenerate

    Julie Noted

  • Lost LGBT Scene | The Duke of Clarence, Islington

    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 Duke of Clarence

    A lesbian bar in Islington off the Essex Road, most likely closed at the end of the 90s.

    A reader shares, “. Lesbian bar on Rotherfield St just off Essex Road N1 – when That area was full of gays bars. After about a year of trying to remember the name someone finally came up with it last night!  The Duke of Clarence. It deserves to be remembered purely because it existed in Islington when it was THE gay place to be”

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

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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.

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  • 7 things you actually need to do at Savage Disco & Sink The Pink’s Sunday Service

    7 things you actually need to do at Savage Disco & Sink The Pink’s Sunday Service

    Sunday is about to get epic.

    If you’re in London on the 14th April then you might want to check out the camptastic, dragtastic and fantastic Savage Disco & Sink The Pink’s Sunday Service. An epic event that will leave you breathless and certainly a way to queer up your Sunday. So here are the 7 things we absolutely suggest you do if you go to Savage Disco & Sink The Pink’s Sunday Service.

    1) Check out the DRAG

    On Sunday you’ll see the full Savage Disco family of dancers and performances from Asttina Mandella, Barbs Balls, Bimini, Bourgeoisie, Carlie Carpenter, David Cummings, Hairy Rose and more…

    2) Be one of a million

    Well, 5000 in fact. Yep, this is going to be the biggest, queerest event in London

    3) Spread yourself out


    There are two rooms of music, including Printworks iconic main room the Press Halls, plus specialist bars for craft beer, cider and cocktails as well as a spacious outside courtyard with food vendors and plenty of seating to relax between dance floor stints. Queer club night Transmissions will also be overseeing the locker space with podiums, inviting party-goers to heaven or hell.

    4) Beautiful people


    Dress to impress or dress to feel comfortable. Savage Disco & Sink The Pink’s Sunday Service is all about feeling the most you. Be outrageous, be camp, be flamboyant or whatever makes you comfortable, go for it. As they “you do you, baby”.

    5) Get into Hymn…


    Sing along to the House Gospel Choir with hymn sheets handed out on the day or make big shapes on the dance floor to house and disco spun by legendary DJs Kenny Dope and Todd Terry.

    6) Room Bounce

    One of the great things about there being multiple rooms of music and beautiful people is that you can room hop. From the cavernous Press Halls where several ‘services’ will take place throughout the day, to the intimate Crypt hosted by Savage Disco’s DJ, and Sink The Pink’s Pop Heaven room with Tete Bang, the organisers will be pulling out all the stops with immersive production at this alternative Sunday homage – expect rows of confession booths, smutty stain glass windows, foul-mouthed preachers, the best in drag cabaret and a whole load more… This daytime extravaganza isn’t just a party, it’s a festival

    7) Get third release tickets now

    Third release tickets start at £32.50 + BF and grant access to the full event including the balcony with stunning views of the Press Hall dance floor. All tickets available from: https://www.printworkslondon.co.uk/listings/sunday-service/

    This article was sponsored by (what does this mean)

    Printworks:

    https://www.facebook.com/printworkslondon

    https://twitter.com/printworks_LDN

    https://www.instagram.com/printworkslondon/

     

    Sink The Pink:

    https://www.facebook.com/sinkthepink.page/

    https://www.instagram.com/@sink_the_pink

    https://twitter.com/SinkThePinkLDN

  • Lost LGBT Scene | Blackout, Molton Street

    Lost LGBT Scene | Blackout, Molton 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.

     

    Blackout

    An Art Deco cocktail bar in Molton Street, London

    Memory from George:

    Lastly I had a art Deco style cocktail bar called Blackout in 46 St Molton Street above one of the shops in the 80’s. It was small but always packed every night with a gay mixed crowd, perfect stop for great cocktails music then after 11.00 off to the Embassy club in New Bond St. If they made it there after the cocktails!!

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

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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!

  • Lost LGBT Scene | Biograph Cinema, Victoria

    Lost LGBT Scene | Biograph Cinema, Victoria

    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.

     

    Biograph Cinema

    A cinema where gay men went, but not necessarily to watch films!

    Memory from George:

    There was a very well known Cinema called the Biograph in Victoria I think, lets say I really do not know anyone that went there to watch the film playing. I remember a friend taking me once and couldn’t believe how no one ever stayed in their own seats should we say! and forget trying to buy ice cream or popcorn!!

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

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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!

  • Lost LGBT Scene | Kensington Roof Gardens, Kensington

    Lost LGBT Scene | Kensington Roof Gardens, 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.

    Kensington Roof Gardens, Kensington, London

    A roof garden bar that closed in 2016. Used to have a gay night on Sunday nights.

    Memory from George:

    The Kensington roof Gardens was a fantastic venue and only closed about 2 years ago. On the top of Derry & Toms old department store building then later the famous Biba.
    Something to see with flamingos small rivers and different gardens to stroll around in from the club all from the 1920’s.
    Gay only on Sundays and jeans were not allowed! the days of when we all dressed up in the 80’s

    Open date: UNKNOWN (can you help?)

    Closed date: 2016/17

    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 | 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

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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!

  • 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!