THEGAYUK

Tag: London News

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

  • Daily Mail readers really aren’t happy that London has “gay” lights

    Daily Mail readers really aren’t happy that London has “gay” lights

    Daily Mail readers are literally flipping over the fact that some of London’s traffic lights have LGBT symbols.

    Sometimes we try to imagine the minds of those commenting on DM’s stories, but we get very claustrophobic.

    So the DM reported that some of London’s traffic lights have LGBT symbols where the green light should be. Around 50 traffic lights in central London have been modified so that the green light has LGBT icons glowing instead of just a green light. The symbols include, two men or two women holding hands – or the gender symbols linking together…

    Well commenters on the piece are mad. So very mad about this crazed PC world we live in.

    One concerned citizen even called for a law to ban all political correctness and repeal all “p.c” laws that have been passed in the last 50 years.

    Others were, of course, concerned that the tax payer might have been footing the bill for the scheme, whilst another was concerned that in time to come that “straight people will not be the norm”

    Of course our absolute favorite was this rant which questioned why the gay community needed to parade its sexuality… Unlike the hetero community, which quietly goes on about it’s business – unless of course they’re on Jeremy Kyle.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Texas Joe’s Slow Smoked Meats

    There are now two American style meat serving restaurants named Joe in London – Joe’s Southern Table & Bar and Texas Joe’s Slow Smoked Meats. And while they both share a common first name, Southern Joe’s is all about the deep south with lots of variation on chicken, while Texas Joe’s is all about traditional BBQ meats, done the Texan way.

    Texas Joe’s, located behind London Bridge Station right near the upper end of trendy Bermondsey Street, is like stepping into a wild west saloon. A bit small on the inside – 70 seats (though there are plenty of tables outside if the weather is conducive), Texas Joe’s aim is to bring the spirit of Texas into a very small pocket of London. Does Texas Joe’s succeed? Yes.

    Luckily the menu, which is cleverly printed in the style of a 1936 Texas newspaper named ‘The Big Smoke Signal’ and features articles written by Texas BBQ journalists, is not overwhelming. There are five different types of main courses; beef (brisket or short rib), chicken (wings, thighs or breast), pork (shoulder, belly and ribs), tacos (brisket, mutton or pork) and mutton (shoulder and ribs). What, you might ask, is mutton? It’s similar in texture and flavor to lamb.

    Visiting Texas Joe’s six weeks after it’s opening, me and my dining companion were ready to savour the meats and other Texan-style dishes on the menu, food that I was very familiar with having grown up in New Mexico. I decided to go for the beef brisket, as I am a huge fan, while my companion went for the mutton. We were torn between the excellent variety of sides, but then settled for bone marrow (basically fat nestled into a bone), a house salad, cornbread and brisket chilli. As it was too hot that night to drink alcohol, we ordered the very refreshing root beer and cream soda from new brand Soda Folk.

    My beef brisket was absolutely delicious. There were many larges slices presented on a platter, alongside coleslaw, lots of pickles, and a few slices of bread. The brisket, as you would imagine, was tender and lean while a cup of very mild and not too thick BBQ sauce accompanied it. The coleslaw was a bit too creamy for my taste, however, it had onions which gave it a nice kick. My companion’s mutton was thick, a bit colorless, but nonetheless delicious. Our starters were also very good – the house salad (quite a generous portion for £5), the bone marrow (a bit too lardy and fatty for us), corn bread (deliciously tasting with a hint of jalapeño, just like they make it in the southwest), and the brisket chilli – which was absolutely amazing. Yes it was spicy, but the massive portion given (at £5.50) is almost a meal in itself. So is the Mac & Cheese, which the people next to us were eating. The mains are reasonably priced based on how much meat they give you (most in the £12 to £15 range, though the chicken is no more than £9). The bread served with the meals is a bit unnecessary – cornbread should be served as that would make for a better companion to the food, though perhaps if you want to make a sandwich with the meat, then it’s makes sense. To top it off, we had pecan pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The portion was just the right size, it was moist, warm and freshly made. After finishing our dinner, we didn’t feel too stuffed, and we were very satisfied. And compliments go to our waitress Beth. She was very knowledgeable about the menu, knew when we needed something, and was very charming and friendly. Too bad the goes back to school in Manchester in a couple weeks – she’s an asset to the restaurant.

    After your meal, I highly recommend a visit to Joe’s Honky Tonk Bar, located right next door, which serves Texas bourbons and whiskeys, along with Texan Lone Star Lagers and a selection of local beers. And while you are there, pick up a bag of Texas Joe’s Beef Jerky. It comes in two flavors – Low & Slow BBQ and Lean & Mean Beef Jerky. it’s actually the best jerky I’ve ever tasted here in England!

    Texas Joe’s has all the delicious dishes and southern hospitality that you could possibly want, in the central but deceptively discreet surroundings of Bermondsey.
    And make sure you meet the owner Joe, he’ll say a big HOWDY to you all!

    REVIEWED BY: Tim Baros

    ADDRESS: 8-9 Snowfields, London, SE1 3SU

    WEBSITE: http://texas-joes.com

    STAR RATING: ★★★★ (explained)

    COST RATING: £££ (explained)

    TIPPING POLICY: At the customer’s discretion

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Unfathful at Found 111

    THEATRE REVIEW | Unfathful at Found 111

    ★★★★ | Unfaithful at Found 111

    UNFAITHFUL_1_Sean_Campion_Niamh_Cusack___Ruta_Gedmintas_Matthew_Lewis_Photo_Marc_Brenner

    What happens when your once passionate relationship starts to become stale and sexless? In the case of Tom and Joan, you sleep with a stranger, tell your wife about it and then wait for the explosions of bitterness, venom and rage. Oh…and the retaliation.

    Found 111 is a pop up theatre on Charing Cross Road in an old college building. It’s hosted critically acclaimed hits including ‘The Dazzle” with Sherlock’s Andrew Scott and “Bug” with the luscious James Norton. It’s a tiny space and in the case of issues about sex, for once, small is good. This play works well in a cramped environment. It’s a hilarious and excruciating 75-minute trawl through moments in the lives of two couples as they lurch around a bed on the stage. This is a voyeuristic and intimate experience that is as painfully uncomfortable as it’s intriguing. Thankfully, it’s very funny too which helps.

    Niamh Cussack (of the Cussack acting dynasty) shows her pedigree and is monumental as the wronged wife. She’s a delicious mixture of seething, uncontained anger contrasted with insecurity and hurt. She’s magnetic and is almost impossible to draw your gaze away from. She’s more than ably accompanied by Sean Campion as her feckless and beaten-down by life husband. They have the best lines in the play and Joan and Tom are well rounded and fascinating in their ordinariness.

    Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter’s Neville Longbottom all grown up and buff) and Ruta Gedmintas play less instantly credible characters. They eventually flesh out (as well as getting flesh out) and in spite of a slightly creaky plot, become almost plausible. Lewis plays a well-hung male hooker with a heart and Gedmintas plays his lost-soul girlfriend, so bored with her life that hooking up with middle aged men in bars seems a diverting pastime.

    Owen McCafferty’s script is tight and engaging with no slack moments and the characters are mostly resonant and sympathetic. This isn’t a Whitehall farce or a night at the musicals but there’s something thrillingly earthy about the whole experience. Theatre in microcosm with a stellar central performance like Cussack’s is a rare opportunity and one to be embraced.

    Unfaithful plays at Found111 until 8th October

    Follow Chris Bridges on Twitter

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Much Ado About Nothing

    THEATRE REVIEW | Much Ado About Nothing

    ★★★★ | Much Ado About Nothing

    Shakespeare fans “roll up roll up” – thou art in for The Tempest of treats. The young British theatre company, The Faction, have refashioned, revved up, edited, Selfridges-styled and speared Much Ado About Nothing into the 21st century – much like Alessandro Michele’s influence on Gucci.

    Much Ado About Nothing at Selfridges
    CREDIT: PR Provided

    Popping a pop-up theatre in the basement of Selfridges is poetry to one’s ears. Sampling Roja Parfums: A Midsummer Dream, eau de parfum – a snip at only £295 – while passing through the perfumery. Then straddling the escalator to the lower deck – a quick whizz through Conran and Danish design brand Hay, followed by a spot of wick sniffing in Jo Malone – all before parking your derrière in the contemporary mini-catwalk 122-seat auditorium.

    You wouldn’t produce a production of Romeo, and no Juliet – so why a theatre and no bar? #justsayin

    Director Mark Leipacher and Co-director Rachel Valentine Smith have sharpened William’s comedy of confused love, slander and tell-tales with news bulletins, Kooples clobber, an enthusiastic, flowery and playful cast thrown in with some horny, animalistic line-dancing. The story is clear and punchy. They’ll be no “wherefore art thou amusement” – the humour is as fresh as the dark amber and ginger lily emanating from the defusers in Selfridges Ultra Lounge.

    “The course of true love never did run smooth” – but Shakespeare, Selfridges and The Faction is no question, to be.

    Much Ado About Nothing plays at Selfridges Refashioned Theatre until the 24th September

  • What are these posters that have cropped up in Soho?

    What are these posters that have cropped up in Soho?

    Have you seen these posters which have been cropping up in Soho?

    IMG_1236 IMG_1238

     

    Well it’s all about the fact that gay and bisexual men STILL can’t give blood in the UK unless they’ve abstained from sex for ONE YEAR – even if they are in a monogamous relationship or feel that they have been enjoying safer sex.

    IMG_1240

    The posters – which leave out the letters of blood groups – such as A, B, invites people to log on to a website – where they can send a pre-written letter to let the Minster for health, Jeremy Hunt know how you feel.

    Bravo.

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Bright Courtyard Club

    In the affluent district of Marylebone lies the street made most famous by Sherlock Holmes – laid in the 18th century and named after William Baker – Baker Street.

    CREDIT: PR Supplied

    In amongst the commercial premises and behind a corporate and grey exterior sits a little piece of East Asia – Bright Courtyard Club (BCC).

    Once we’d stepped into the club we needed for nothing. A warmer-than-a-steamed-dumpling welcome – martial-arts service from start to finish.

    We were offered tea as an aperitif – a tradition in China and probably refreshing, but it wasn’t cracking our fortune cookie. Friday nights for TheGayUK involve something a wee bit stronger.

    And stronger is what we received – two Old Fashion cocktails arrived made with bourbon and aniseed at £10.50. Liquorice and fennel flavours gave the sharpener a unique edge on this old favourite.

    We asked for a selection of what they do best.

    To start we shared: Shanghai marinated beef shin slices, boiled chicken slices in chilli oil and edamame beans.

    The beef was dry and brought back memories of primary school lunches. The chicken was tender and livened up by chilli.

    CREDIT: PR Supplied

    As well as: classic Shanghai pork and crab dim sum ‘Siu Long Bao’ at £7.50. Hints of ginger, onion, sesame and garlic elevated both meats. The broth was tart and enhanced the light pastry – Guangzhou’s street market has nothing on them.

    The Old Smoke is one of the world’s culinary hotspots, with Asian eateries such as Sexy Fish with her mid-century glamour decor displaying works of Damien Hirst and Frank Gehry. And then there’s Yauatcha Soho with contemporary expertly crafted dim sum and interior – the list is almost as long as the Great Wall of China.You have to stand out. That’s sadly where BCC doesn’t – the ornamental fixtures are cliché and tired.

    To wash down the mains we ordered a French Pouilly Fumé Cuvée de Boisfleury at £43: flowery, with a citrus bouquet and suggestions of grapefruit – it yinged our yang.

    There were more lobsters in the tanks than there were other diners – an empty-shell like ambience.

    For our mains, we shared: Chilean sea bass steamed with preserved vegetables at £15, and braised pork belly with grandmum’s recipe at £16. The fish was succulent and sweet with undercurrents of coriander – setting flames to our paper lanterns, beautiful. Vinegar and plum made the delicate pork moreish – not too fatty, an elegant dish.

    There’s an old Chinese proverb: “Ròu bāozi dǎ gǒu” – which translates: to hit a dog with a meat-bun – which we don’t recommend. But we do recommend, if you’re in the mood for authentic Asian cuisine, you don’t have to be one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional characters to dine on Baker Street.

    REVIEWED BY: Thabian Sutherland

    ADDRESS: 43-45 Baker Street, London W1U 8EW, info@brightcourtyard.co.uk, Tel: 020 7486 6998

    WEBSITE: brightcourtyard.co.uk

    STAR RATING: ★★★ (explained)

    COST RATING:  ££££ (explained)

    TIPPING POLICY: A discretionary 13.5% gratuity will be added to your total

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Chemsex Monologues

    ★★★★ | The Chemsex Monologues

    Introducing a hexagon of narratives that will surge a memory, ignite a demon or pep your G spot.

    PR Supplied

    If you’ve never darkened the dimly lit doorway of a chill-out, you’ll grasp that the etiquette for accepting others’ pharmaceuticals is to putout; sexual health workers hand out condoms in saunas to the beats of Kylie; Bermondsey is a hotspot for Roman style orgies; gays high on meth get lost buying cigarettes; G-o’clock equals a contorting face; overdoing the liquid-high could leave you with an unexplained bleeding rectum.

    Writer Patrick Cash leans on the darker side of the drug-fueled free-for-all, with more authenticity than an Eastenders’ Christmas double bill – graphically touching on a mosaic of very real circumstances.

    Sex, high on narcotics, can rocket your orgasm to another sphere, but, for some, what happens when the euphoria fades?

    Denholm Spurr (Nameless), snorts Andrex-Puppy-ness into a character you’ll know, have seen or can relate to. Charly Flyte (Fag Hag Cath) is credible and injects a decent size syringe full of humour.

    Leave ya poppers at home and there’s no need for laughing gas. You’ll rush, and sink to the bottom, in this well-quilled chem-hole.

    The Chemsex Monologues plays at The Kings Head Theatre until 20th August 2016, 0207 226 8561 

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | ‘O ver Italian Restaurant

    If a Londoner wants white, earthy, luxurious truffle oil, or by chance pungent époisses, or perhaps is in the mood for Pacific fresh rock oysters – where does an Old Smoke dweller go?

    Borough Market’s a given. But what if you’ve a hankering for seawater pizza? Up until now you’d have had to cross the Channel and head to southern Italy. But as of 29th July 2016 you can now hop on the Jubilee line to south London’s borough of Southwark, where the Big Smoke’s first seawater pizza restaurant resides – a mozzarella-ball’s throw from Borough Market.

    At the opening night we arrived to chaos – it was like feeding the 5000 without the miracle. Prosecco and pizza were being served as if they only had five loaves and two fish – at first, not a lot didn’t go very far.

    The space is bright, clinical and intimate – fresh white walls, marble counters, a wood-fired pizza oven and being able to see the chefs beavering from every angle, make up the main fixtures. A neat, boutique Pizza Express, with a White Cube gallery feel.

    ‘O ver’s mantra is healthy, delicious, genuine Neapolitan street food. Eventually, when we were able to bypass the other locusts we were able to try:

    First up: Regina, Neapolitan buffalo mozzarella, piennolo cherry tomatoes, San Marzano tomato sauce and fresh basil. Our moods lightened instantaneously – the pizza base is almost crape floppy, light and beautifully salty. Ripe tomatoes lifted with aromatic and peppery basil – scrumptious.

    We did manage to get our hands on a glass of Prosecco, but there was so little in the glass it’s not worth writing about.

    Margherita: Fior di latte from Monti Lattari, San Marzano tomato sauce and fresh basil. It’s all ’bout that base, ’bout that base, no treble. Instead of adding salt and water to make the dough, they add purified seawater from an already ‘pure section’ of the Mediterranean – apparently, withholding its 92 minerals and the sea salt – making a lean, moreish lip-lickin’ pizza.

    After wrestling a few hacks out the way, we made it to the bar. We were offered: Aperol Sprits, Aperol, “Mabis” Prosecco Millesimato DOC, Soda. It took two staff six mins to make two drinks – serving others in between was apparently more important. Thanks were given to the second member for taking over the process, at which she retorted “I don’t like the way you were looking at me – I can do two things at once”. Pleasant. The Sprits was bitter, sweet and orangey – decent, unlike the service.

    The last we tried: Paloma, smoked mozzarella from Sorrento, Chiodini mushrooms, rolled Italian pancetta, black pepper and fresh basil – again, limp and luscious. Truffly mushrooms gave the spicy meat and smoking gooey cheese a sophisticated edge.

    Mama Mia the ingredients are fresh, pizzas are £7 to £15 and so worth a jaunt to SE1. Hopefully, after a few weeks of being open, they would have regained that Neapolitan charm.

    Star Rating: ★★★
    Price Rating:
    Website: http://www.overuk.com
    Phone: 44 2073789933
    Address: ‘O ver 44 Southwark Street London, SE1 1UN

  • Another London gay bar closes, Queens Head set to close in September

    Another London gay bar closes, Queens Head set to close in September

    A legendary gay bar in London has announced it is to close.

    CREDIT: Google Maps 2016

     

    The Queen’s Head in Chelsea, London, is set to close after its management said it was unable to “come to reasonable terms for renewal of the lease”.

    The pub, which is one of London’s oldest gay bars is just one of over 100 gay bars that have closed since the year 2000 in London.

    It was an interesting concept for a bar as its setup was mixed for LGBT+ and mixed customers. Two sides of the bar catered for two different audiences.

    A Facebook message confirmed the closure, revealing that the last day of trading would be the 6th September.

    The statement said,

    “Unfortunately it’s true, the Old Lady of Tryon Street will be closing her doors,

    “We’ve been unable to come to reasonable terms for renewal of the lease on the building with our landlords and therefore we’ll be shutting up shop.
    The Queens Head will be back in some form or another but the place that we all know and love will cease to be.

    “We’re bloody gutted as well by the way.”

     

    ALSO READ: One of London’s most iconic gay bars has been saved from the developers.

     

    In a later post, management of the Queen’s Head explained that the pub’s owners, Stonegate Pub Company where not to blame for the closure but the building’s owner saying,

    “If the landlords are asking for too much money then it’s untenable for them to keep the place.

    “They honestly didn’t want to let us go and have been trying for months to come to an agreement with the landlords.”

  • Yard Bar in Soho saved from the developers

    Yard Bar in Soho saved from the developers

    The historic Yard Bar in Soho has been saved after planning inspectors upheld Westminster City Council’s decision to protect it.

    The well-known LGBT venue in the heart of Soho found itself at risk, as the developer, Consolidated Property Corporation Limited, originally submitted plans to build flats over the courtyard area.

    Westminster City Council first blocked those plans in March 2015, but the developer submitted subsequent applications and launched two appeals that were finally rejected in the Planning Inspectorate on 10th August.

    In its final report, the appointed inspector described any move to build over the Yard’s courtyard as one which would “fundamentally alter” the character of the bar.

    The decision represents a full vindication of the council’s two-year battle to protect this much loved Soho bar, which received outstanding support from the local community and the bar’s owners, who led a high-profile ‘Save The Yard’ campaign.

    Cllr Robert Davis MBE DL, Westminster City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Built Environment, said,

    “Soho is one of the most iconic areas of Westminster, with a unique character that everyone at the council is committed to protecting.”

    “The Yard is a jewel in Soho’s crown and I am thrilled that we have joined forces with the ward councillors and the local community to ensure it remains open for business.”

    “I am absolutely delighted that Westminster City Council has been able to play its part in saving this long-standing example of Soho’s history, culture and diversity.”

    The proposals for the development of three flats meant that the courtyard would have been enclosed beneath a glass roof, something which the Soho Society and Historic England also strongly objected to.

    This would mean the loss of an “extremely distinctive feature of the bar and its related culture” said the planning inspector.

    The Yard Bar’s owner, Andy Jones, led the “Save The Yard” campaign which brought the issue to even greater attention.

    He said,

    “It has been a very long battle and we are so delighted that we have been successful. The support we got from Westminster City Council, ward councillors, Historic England, Soho Society, heritage experts and the LGBT, business and residential communities was huge and unbelievable. We can’t thank everyone enough. Ultimately, all of their support helped to overcome the multiple applications and common sense has prevailed. Long live The Yard!”

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Allegro, Southwark Playhouse

    ★★★★ | Allegro

    CREDIT Scott Rylander

     

    With Allegro, the charming space at Southwark Playhouse sees the UK premiere of a dusty old 1947 musical. Thanks to the partnership of Thom Southerland and Danielle Tarento (Titanic, Grey Gardens, Dogfight and Parade) this forgotten piece has had the cobwebs blown off it, regained its sparkle and is a welcome find rather than a lacklustre piece of tat from the store cupboard of musicals that should stay dormant.

    Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals have been entertaining theatre audiences since the early 1940s when they hit the scene with Oklahoma. The pair went on to score a string of hits with The Sound of Music, The King and I and South Pacific among many others. Given their continued critical and commercial success it was a surprise when Allegro floundered and failed to win over American audiences when it premiered. Theories abound as to why this was: a misguided choreographer/director, a storyline ahead of its time or too radical a departure from accepted musical theatre form. Whatever the reasons, it’s resulted in something quite extraordinary for us in that we now have a ‘new’ musical from an iconic writing duo to enjoy.

    The storyline isn’t the strongest around, the intention of the show being to tell a simple tale of an all American everyman. It’s a little flawed, has the odd flabby moment in Act One and is occasionally too sentimental for modern tastes but has an endearing core message. None of that matters though and it’s easy to overlook the cracks in the core material. The genius of the show lies with the team behind it. Southerland has stripped back the show and presents it on a pared down set of almost perpetually moving ladders and platforms with a cast of sixteen and an eight-piece band. The cast form the musical equivalent of a Greek chorus, commenting on the life of small town doctor Joseph Taylor Jr. as he moves from birth through to an early mid-life crisis at 35 with individual members stepping forward and taking on the roles of significant people.

    Unlike the ill fated first run where a reputedly Gorgon like choreographer reigned havoc, the choreography is one of the key factors that makes this performance work. Lee Proud makes use of the limited space and the company move with panache, seamlessly augmenting the narrative. The ensemble singing is as strong as the individual numbers and really packs a punch. Some killer numbers and an accomplished cast combine to make this a winning show. Gary Tushaw as Joseph is handsomely wholesome without being nauseating and Kate Bernstein is particularly enlivening as his waspish nurse, Miss Lipscombe. Her take on “The Gentleman is a Dope” is a sight and sound to behold.

    Forget Jesus Christ Superstar. If this team continue to breathe life into shows that are as dead as Lazarus then we’ll definitely be hailing them as a the new Messiahs of musical theatre.

    Allegro plays at Southwark Playhouse until 10th September

    Follow Chris Bridges on Twitter