THEGAYUK

Tag: London News

All the latest from London, the capital of the UK, home to the UK’s largest gay community.

  • Man told he and his husband “not welcome” in homophobic attack in London

    A man and his husband were told they were “not welcome” as they walked together just weeks before another gay man was violently attacked in Walthamstow, east London.

    Police say a man and his husband were homophobically attacked and told they were “not welcome”, just weeks before another violent attack on a gay man in the Walthamstow area of London.

    The second attack in early November left a 31-year-old victim with a black eye, cuts and bruises.

    In the first incident, the married couple were approached by a man who asked them if he could take a picture of them, and then asked if they were gay. When the couple started to walk away, the suspect then grabbed hold of the victim and said “you are not welcome” and grappled with him.

    The first incident happened on Walthamstow High Street.

    The victim was then pulled away by his husband before they walked away and called the police. The victim was not injured in this incident.

    Second attack

    The second incident took place, on Hoe Street very close to the High Street

    In the second incident on Saturday, 4 November, the victim, a 31-year-old man, was walking along Hoe Street, E17 with two friends.

    They were approached by three men who were unknown to them. One of them punched the victim in the face and shouted homophobic abuse at him. The punch caused the victim to fall to the floor, and the attacker made off.

    The victim suffered a black eye and cuts and bruises – he did not require hospital treatment

    The victims, who were both left extremely shaken after the incidents, provided detailed descriptions of the attacker from which the two e-fits were produced.

    A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police said, “Based on these descriptions and the locations where the assaults happened, officers have not ruled out the possibility that the attacks may well have been carried out by the same man.

    “Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call Waltham Forest police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC.

    “To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org”.

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Victory Mansion, Stoke Newington, London

    ★★★★★ | Victory Mansion

    Dalston is a hive of Kabob shops, loud bars and clubs, and lots and lots of Turkish supermarkets. But a bit further north in Stoke Newington is a place that stands out on Stoke Newington High Street just down the road from the local Wetherspoons – it’s Victory Mansion.

    Victory Mansion is both a restaurant and a bar and is doing things a bit different, delicious and decadent, than most, if not all, of the places on this side of town.

    Victory Mansion, named after a mansion block that used to be on this site, is a restaurant/bar that intertwines its food and drinks with literature to create an amazing and memorable experience.

    Victory Mansion, first off, has an absolutely amazing cocktail menu that’s practically scientific in its design. There’s an amazing array of drinks, drinks that are named after characters in famous books. There’s the Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye), a drink includes Aylesbury duck vodka, lillet rose, raspberry, apple and soda and the Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) which has Wild turkey bourbon, plum sake, lychee, lime, chilli & peach bitters and ginger, among many others. We had a few of the others – one was the Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) which was a superbly delicious blend of Calle 23 tequila, banana and chocolate wine – it needs to be tasted to be believed! If you like it sweet, and who doesn’t, then please try the Henry Chinaski (the literary alter ego of Charles Bukowski) which was blended with Plantation pineapple rum, cognac, limoncello and pineapple sugar – it’s so sweet and so good. Victory Mansion’s cocktail menu is like a book, and I recommend you read it from cover and cover and sample as many as you can. It’s is an absolute standout menu.

    But it’s not just the drinks where Victory Mansion is king, it’s their new Ta-Ko menu, introduced a month ago, that’s also a standout.

    There are so so many choices of tacos (or as they would like to call them Ta-Ko) that you’ll be spoiled for choice. I highly recommend their Crispy Cauliflower, black bean & tamarind ragu with avocado and pepper mayo. It’s crunchy and is absolutely delicious. The charred sprouting broccoli & spring onion is also a standout – it sits in a nice dollop of salted duck egg relish for a creamy delight. Both the Nahm jim chicken and the Palm Sugar glazed beef short rib are deliciously filled – the chicken with pickles, crispy onions and mayo – and the short rib with pickled watermelon and blackberry sriracha, which were a burst of flavours in the mouth. All their Asian-inspired tacos are so good they really need to be tried. And while they are not Mexican-style (i.e. large) tacos, if you order several of them they will quickly fill you up. Each flavour comes with two tacos – so perfect for sharing for two so that you both are able to try each one. Other tacos that we didn’t get to try, but no doubt probably just as delicious as the ones we had include tacos with Blackened river trout, torched seabream, red pepper pork neck as well as one with fermented yellow bean leas, halloumi, sweet potato and mustard relish – it’s one I would definitely go back for. As a matter of fact, I would go back to Victory Mansion for pretty much the entire experience again. My dining companion and I enjoyed everything so so much, we want to go back again, and next time bring more friends. It’s just that kind of place, warm, hip but not trying to be, knowledgeable and very friendly staff, it just ticks all the boxes. Even the prices – those amazing cocktails previously mentioned go for between £8 to £10 each, and the Ta-Ko’s range in price from £3.50 to £4 and their absolute must sides (Asian cole slaw, charred corn, shredded beetroot, and MSG fries – basically Nori friend potatoes that are a must), all go for between £3 to £4 each. So there you go, all the above are reasons why you should go to Victory Mansion – what are you waiting for?

    Victory Mansion does a 2 for 1 – 12 pm to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Brunch where you get brunch Ta-Ko’s and £5 brunch cocktails.

    There is also a basement that is perfect for private birthdays or dinner parties, for 30 – 70 guests.

    18 Stoke Newington High Street
    London N16 7PL

    https://www.victorymansion.co.uk

    Closed Mondays
    Bar
    Tuesday – Thursday
    5 pm – 1 am
    Friday
    5 pm – 2 am
    Saturday
    Noon – 2 am

    Restaurant
    Tuesday – Friday
    6 pm – 11 pm
    Saturday and Sunday
    12 pm – 5 pm
    6 pm – 11 pm

  • London Man punched repeatedly in a ‘homophobic attack’

    The Metropolitan Police has reported that a man in central London was the subject of a homophobic attack.

    Detectives in London are seeking the public’s help after a man in his 50s was allegedly subjected to an assault in central London in what police are calling a, “suspected homophobic attack”.

    The victim, a man in his 50s, was standing at a bus stop outside Charing Cross rail station on Saturday, 18 November at about 21:30hrs.

    The location of the reported attack is just a few hundred meters away from one of London’s most popular LGBT+ hotspots, the Heaven / G-A-Y nightclub.

    Two men approached the victim and began to shout homophobic abuse at him before punching him several times. He sustained head injuries, but he was not hospitalised.

    After the alleged attack the two men, described as white and in their 20s were seen running towards Trafalgar Square.

    The two men, who were both described as white, aged in their 20s and wearing dark jackets, ran away towards Trafalgar Square.

    Trafalgar Square is particularly important to the LGBT+ community in London as it is where Pride In London has been held for many years.

    There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

    Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident are asked to contact Westminster Community Safety Unit via 101 or Tweet @MetCC.

    Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Callisto a queer epic, Arcola Theatre, London

    ★★★ | Callisto, Arcola Theatre London

    CREDIT Lidia Crisafull

    Callisto is four tales for the price of one in a time travelling epic concerning queer people in different eras. They’re not stand alone stories but are interspersed and entwined with each other. Basically, it’s a poor man’s ‘Cloud Atlas’ but with LGBT people. The first tale is about opera singer Arabella who’s married to another woman and about to be exposed and get herself in some serious trouble. Secondly, Alan Turing is talking to the mother of the boy who was his first love. Thirdly, Tammy is on the trail of a hot porn actress who she’s become infatuated with. Finally, CAL is an A.I. in the future who’s fallen for a human.

    They’re a mixed bag of plays which don’t all work as well as they might and there’s something derivative about the whole set-up at times. The scenes about the 17th-century female couple are the strongest and the Alan Turing scenes are cleverly written but lack much drive, floundering in parts. The other two sections fare less well, especially the futuristic part. If the future involves talking in strange mixed up speech whilst wearing bicycle lights shining down your legs and tee-shirt, culottes combos with odd side ties then count me out of it.

    The production has merits with strong acting and a wry sense of humour but doesn’t quite fill its potential. Regardless, it’s an engaging evening and worthy of a look.

    Callisto a queer epic is playing at the Arcola Theatre, London

     

     

  • Two teenagers arrested following reports of homophobic attack on London train

    Following an appeal for information in relation to a homophobic assault, two teenage boys have been identified and arrested.

    The British Transport Police confirmed that two people they wished to speak to in connection with an alleged homophobic assault on the Jubilee line have been arrested.

    The two 16-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of assault (5/12) and are currently in custody.

    Investigators had been asking for the public’s help in identifying two people they’d wanted to speak to in connection with a violent incident on a Jubilee line train between West Ham and North Greenwich.

    The incident happened on 21 October at around 11.10pm, when the alleged offenders boarded the train at West Ham and verbally abusing the victim and his friends, using homophobic language.

    CREDIT: R~P~M / Flickr

    When they were challenged about their language, they purportedly became violent.

    British Transport Police reported,

    “The first offender then pulled the victim from his seat into a headlock, strangling him.

    “The second offender took the victim’s phone and verbally abused him again, also making threats to stab him.

    “They demanded the victim apologise for being gay which eventually the victim did as he was struggling to breathe. They then let him go and handed back his phone and a fight ensued between the victim’s friends and the offenders.

    “One of the victim’s friends, a 25-year-old woman, was punched and pushed to the ground. She sustained bruising.

    “The original victim did not sustain any injuries”.

    The two then disembarked the train at North Greenwich, leaving the victims on the train.

    In a statement, the BTP said, “Hate crime will not be tolerated by British Transport Police. We believe that everyone has the right to travel safety. We won’t tolerate behaviour where someone is targeted because they are perceived to be different, or made to feel uncomfortable on their journey”.

    You can text the British Transport Police on 61016 to report non-emergency incidents.

  • Teenager “strangled” and forced to “apologise for being gay” on London Train

    A 19-year-old victim of homophobic abuse was allegedly held in a stranglehold and forced to apologise for being gay on a London tube.

    Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying two men they’d like to speak to in connection with a violent incident on a Jubilee line train between West Ham and North Greenwich.

    The incident happened on 21 October at around 11.10pm, when the alleged offenders boarded the train at West Ham and verbally abusing the victim and his friends, using homophobic language.

    They were challenged about their language, which is when the incident purportedly became violent.

    British Transport Police report,

    “The first offender then pulled the victim from his seat into a headlock, strangling him.

    “The second offender took the victim’s phone and verbally abused him again, also making threats to stab him.

    “They demanded the victim apologise for being gay which eventually the victim did as he was struggling to breathe. They then let him go and handed back his phone and a fight ensued between the victim’s friends and the offenders.

    “One of the victim’s friends, a 25-year-old woman, was punched and pushed to the ground. She sustained bruising.

    “The original victim did not sustain any injuries”.

    The two men then disembarked the train at North Greenwich, leaving the victims on the train.

    Officers would like to speak to the people shown in the images as they may have information which could help the investigation.

    If you recognise them, please call BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference number 273 of 1/12.

    In a statement the BTP said, “Hate crime will not be tolerated by British Transport Police. We believe that everyone has the right to travel safety. We won’t tolerate behaviour where someone is targeted because they are perceived to be different, or made to feel uncomfortable on their journey”.

    You can text the British Transport Police on 61016 to report non-emergency incidents.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | La Soiree, Aldwych Theatre, London

    ★★★★ | La Soiree, Aldwych Theatre, London

    La Soiree has garnered quite a reputation on the cabaret scene over the past few years.

    They’ve won a couple of Olivier Awards, headlined the circus field at Glastonbury and globe-trotted around in various Spiegeltents and opera houses. Now they’ve gone all upmarket and are inhabiting the lovely old but freshly repainted Aldwych Theatre. Don’t worry though. They might be in the West End but there’s still plenty of filth and subversion to keep you dirty birdies happy. Or not. If you want to take your nan and your nephew there’s a toned down version sans smut called ‘La Petite Soiree’ (aimed at ages 8 and upwards).

    They’ve re-jigged the theatre to make it look like a cabaret venue with on stage seating and rows of in the round stalls seats. You’ve got to have nerves of steel if you’re planning on sitting on stage, by the way. There’s a distinctly ‘cabaret’ atmosphere (i.e. slightly drunken) and it’s a fast-paced frenetic show with little chance to pause for breath. Unlike a lot of cabaret shows there’s no compere and no filler. It’s just back to back acts. If you’ve seen it before you might be looking forward to the pole dancing city gents and their amazing pecs. Sadly, they’re not here this year but don’t fret. There’s plenty of buff male flesh including a comedic set piece with two chaps barely hiding their two old chaps behind skimpy towels.

    It’s the usual mix of comedy, acrobatics, hoola-hooping, puppetry and plain weirdness (a woman spinning around in an aerial display, suspended by her hair? I rest my case M’lud). Perfect for a Christmas night out or for raising you out of a case of the New Year doldrums.

    La Soiree plays until 3rd Feb 2018

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Boys in the Buff, Kings Head Theatre, London

    ★★★ | Boys in the Buff

    The Full Monty. Naked Boys Singing. And put Boys in the Buff in that category.

    Yes, these are shows where the male cast take their clothes off and sing and act (a bit) for the audience. Of course, The Full Monty was the biggest of the bunch (biggest I mean most popular – ahem). Naked Boys Singing was the gayest, and Boys in the Buff is in a category all by itself – the campiest!

    Four good-looking young men and a voluptuous compere entertain us with their flare, razzle-dazzle, and their bits (well not the compere – who is female!) in a show with witty and cute songs and dialogue but perhaps lacking in good taste, and in a couple of cases, passable acting! But singing, and acting, is not what this show is all about – we’re left in anticipation of waiting, and wanting, for the boys to take their clothes off. In the meanwhile, we are treated to really fun songs like ’Size Doesn’t Matter,’ ‘Does My Bum Look Big in This,’ and ‘Let it All Hang Out,’ and dreadful ones that include ‘Dancing in the Semi-Nude’ and ‘My Foreskin and Me.’ There’s also audience participation much to the delight (not) of the audience. But in the intimate confines of the Kings Head Theatre, where the first two rows are so close to the stage it’s almost a crime, the boys really pour out their hearts, and display their bits, for us soldieringly. Adam Mroz is so cute and sexy; you just want to take him home and put him on your bookshelf! Hunky Adam O’Shea, who was in the original production at the Lost Theatre this past summer, brings his muscles with him, – he’s certainly got pecs-appeal! Daniel Timoney is along for the ride, as is Eli Caldwell. But Shani Cantor is just fab fab fab as the hostess with the mostest! All in all, it’s one hour of fun!!!

    Boys in the Buff plays at The Kings Head Theatre until Dec 9th, 2017

     

  • Sadiq Khan plans to make London’s toilets gender neutral

    Plans to turn public toilets into gender-neutral spaces were unveiled this week, by London mayor Sadiq Khan.

    London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has plans to turn the capital’s toilets into gender-neutral spaces, a move that he hopes will reflect the capital’s incredible diversity. Advocates of gender-neutral spaces see the policy helping trans and non-binary people feel more comfortable.

    Sadiq’s “London Plan” will call on building planners and developers to include more gender-neutral toilets in places like leisure centres, shopping malls and cinemas, in a bid to reflect London’s diverse population.

    Gender-neutral toilets are usually toilets in separate cubicles, with a shared hand washing and drying area. Doors and walls of each cubicle are floor to ceiling length. These spaces could house baby changing facilities and have better access for people with disabilities.

    “We need a range of toilets to reflect diversity”

    Mr Khan said, “I have vowed to be a Mayor for all Londoners so I am determined to ensure that everyone has the ability to enjoy our great city to its fullest.

    “Toilets are a vital public service and can help to shape the experience of the capital for those who live here and for those visiting.

    “We need a range of toilets that reflect the incredible diversity of this city – giving people the confidence to move around London with dignity.”

    Guidelines

    The guidelines are only advisory for planners, however, many councils have adopted the ideas.

    The Mayor’s plans also call for management, surveillance and cleaning procedures to be agreed at the planning stage. It also calls for the installation of free drinking fountains.

    There are many businesses and public spaces that have already adopted gender-neutral facilities, the Barbican Centre, as well as Channel 4’s headquarters, have non-gendered toilet areas.

  • Have you seen Isla?

    Police are asking the public for help in finding trans teenager Isla Franco.

    Isla Franco, who is aged 15 has been missing since Tuesday. The teenager, who identifies as transgender went missing from a mental health facility in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

    Isla is described as white, around 5ft 8in tall, of slim build, and with brown shoulder length hair with pink highlights.

    Isla is transgender; however it is believed she may have cut her hair and be identifying as a boy named Johnny.

    A number of unconfirmed sightings have placed Isla in central London and Lambeth, including reports of her busking, but despite extensive efforts she has not yet been located.

    She was last seen wearing a black top, black skinny jeans, a brown coat and brown shoes.

    Officers are concerned for her welfare and ask anyone with information as to her whereabouts to call police on 101.

  • Thug jailed after slashing face of man holding his boyfriend’s hand

    A man has been jailed for two years following an attack on a man – who was holding his boyfriend’s hand – in which he glassed the victim’s face and cornea.

    In an unprovoked attack, Anjungi Lam, 35 (28.4.82) of Addington Road, Croydon glassed a man in the face, after seeing him holding his male partner’s hand at a pub in Peckham, London.

    Lam admitted grievous bodily harm at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, 23 June and was sentenced on Friday, 17 November.

    On Sunday, 5 March at around 22:30hrs the victim and his 20-year-old boyfriend arrived holding hands at the Kentish Drovers pub in Peckham High Street, Southwark SE15.

    They went to the bar and were deciding what drinks to buy when suddenly, Lam then raced towards the victim and smashed a pint glass against the right side of his face, cutting his nose, lip and neck, chipping his tooth and injuring his cornea. Flying glass also hit his boyfriend in the eye.

    Lam then ran out of the pub. Lam was quickly identified via CCTV; he had worked for the pub for three months before being sacked for lateness.

    He was arrested on Friday, 19 May and subsequently charged.

    Investigating officer PC Lance Sharrock, from Southwark’s Community Safety Unit, said: “This was an entirely unprovoked incident. Lam did not know the victim or his partner, they had not spoken nor had any disagreement to provoke such a violent attack.

    “The victims felt Lam must have been motivated by homophobia as they entered the pub holding hands and we began a hate crime investigation.

    “Lam was quickly identified and I am pleased at his sentence which shows that incidents of this nature will not be tolerated.”

    + Lam was jailed for an additional year for a number of separate offences not linked to the GBH; actual bodily harm, assault by beating, theft and having an offensive weapon.