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.
Substation South
Late night club, with different themes each night of the week in Brixton. Can you add more description or pictures? Add them at the bottom of the page in the comment section.
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Friday night. End of the working week. Dirty Dishes at Substation South. Late 95 onwards for me. Glorious.
This place will always have a special place in my heart, especially during the club nights called Vox back in the mid 1990s. If my memory serves me right, I believe the promoter of the night was Patrick Lilley, the long established urban club promoter that catered to the Black LGBT crowd. It was the first club I became a registered member of. It was a small club with different nights, that played great music especially on Thursday, where my fellow dancer friends and club kids would go to dance and vogue the night away, if we decided not to go to Heaven. People were so chill and down to earth. No bitchiness. Just great people coming together to have a good time. I think there was an underwear night on Mondays, if my memory serves my right. I went there one night without realising and to my horror, I was asked to remove my clothes down to my underwear. The first time stepping into an underwear night. Vox will always have a special place in my heart and I was gutted when it was closed.
I was newly out on the scene and I had just finished my university degree. I remember there was a beautiful Brazilian barman called Carlos. I had such a crush on him. 1994 to 1995. Great place and great memories.
What a venue Substation South was on a Sunday night in the late 90s. Indie music, lads out for an evening of laughter, flirting, dancing, pool, a bit of drug-taking, plenty of booze and all the adventures that pre-internet and pre-app London had to offer. Exciting times. Connection, exhilaration, friendship, love and lust in the urban jungle. Loved it.