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  • Boris Johnson’s devastating XMAS plan “denies LGBTQ+ community time with chosen family”

    Boris Johnson’s devastating XMAS plan “denies LGBTQ+ community time with chosen family”

    The CEO of one of the UK’s oldest and best-loved LGBT+ bars, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, has hit out at Boris Johnson’s Christmas plan of allowing multiple houses to mix during the height of a pandemic, but not allowing them to mix in Covid-secure settings like pubs and bars is a “road to nowhere”

    He said it was “inflicting devastating pain to an industry on the verge of collapse”.

    James Lindsay, The RVT‘s CEO has written a blistering open letter to Boris Johnson and his cabinet saying that the current Christmas plan to allow up to three households to mix for five days during the festive season is a “mockery” of all the hardship that the hospitality industry has been through in the last 39 weeks.

    He also told the Prime Minister that the plans to allow families to mix in their own homes, but not in restaurants or pubs, was putting “vulnerable people at risk” and denying the LGBT+ community a chance to mix and socialise with their chosen families.

    He wrote, The Government’s olive branch for a ‘family Christmas’ is clearly aimed at appeasing the “party” faithful. As well as putting many vulnerable people at risk this also denies the LGBTQ+ community their much needed time with friends and our chosen families.

    “Our venues offer a safe space for people who often don’t have the ‘normal’ family support”.

    Gay Bars are at particular risk when the tier system returns.

    One of the issues facing many bars, but in particular gay bars, is that many aren’t equipped to serve food – which is one of the requirements for pubs to be able to open in at least two Tiers of the Government’s system. Bars which solely sell drink are unable to open in Tier 2 and Tier 3. Only bars which sell “substantial” food can open in Tier 2 and can only operate as takeouts in Tier 3.

    With most of the country expected to be entered into Tier 2 or 3 when Boris Johnson announces the Tier system today, the Equator bar in Birmingham announced that it might have to close forever, adding “Equator bar is not a restaurant so will not be allowed to open in Tier 2” and added, “Maybe time to call it a day”.

    Speaking about the crisis facing the LGBT+ Scene, Lindsay continued, “The vast majority of LGBTQ+ venues don’t serve food but offer cabaret, DJs, screenings and a whole range of other events that people need to buy tickets in the same way theatres do.

    “A venue such at The RVT not only supports its staff and customers but has a whole range of self-employed performers and promotors that rely on us and all the other venues, many of whom are from marginalised groups within our community.”

    How does hospitality contribute to the rising numbers of Coronavirus cases?

    Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association said, “Hospitality has accounted for as little as 2% of Covid cases”, and Kate Nicholls CEO, UK Hospitality said, “Pubs and restaurants pay the price of tougher tier restrictions – no other sector are facing restrictions like these.”

    Government data has shown that house-to-house mixing has the highest rate of rates of transmission for the virus.

    Government must compensate the hospital sector

    Government must compensate bars and pubs like the Royal Vauxhall Tavern

    Lindsay continued, “We understand the need for safety and Public Health, since March we have followed every rule the Government has told us to, but now the Government needs to do the honourable thing and financially support the approach to destroy a much loved industry and fully compensate commercially viable businesses who have been operating Covid-19 compliance.

    “That means grants that fully cover their fixed costs and loss of business and loss of profit.

    Road to nowhere

    “It feels like we are on a road to nowhere that will result in the decimation of the hospitality sector as well as more deaths from Covid.

    “Maybe I should ask – What is the purpose of this Government? They have not consulted with the hospitality industry and the advice that has been provided by the industry experts has been ignored. Equally the advice of the Governments own experts with the strategy they have deployed has also been ignored.”

    Read the full statement here

  • You have to watch Royal Vauxhall Tavern’s hilarious “in house safety video”

    You have to watch Royal Vauxhall Tavern’s hilarious “in house safety video”

    The Royal Vauxhall Tavern has created an “in house” safety video which will play before all its shows, very much like an inflight safety video, instructing patrons on how to keep safe during these COVID times.

    The video stars Myra Dubois and she gently reminds customers that they must sign in or use the track and trace app, check all coats and bags to make sure that the floors are kept clutter-free and ordering drinks from the official RVT app.

    She also asks customers not to cheer or sing along to the show and to “follow the rules”.

    Lastly there’s a reminder that last orders are at 9.30 PM and that the bar must close at 10 PM.

  • Royal Vauxhall Tavern demands to see the evidence that hospitality is high risk when it comes to COVID 19.

    Royal Vauxhall Tavern demands to see the evidence that hospitality is high risk when it comes to COVID 19.

    One of the UK’s longest-running LGBT+ venues, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, has demanded to see evidence that the hospitality setting is a ‘high-risk setting’ when it comes to spreading the coronavirus. The hospitality industry has been targetted by the UK’s governments, which have introduced numerous restrictions on the sector that could lead to job losses and closures.

    Taking to Twitter the RVT stated simply, “Show us the evidence. Be more precise” after MP Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, insisted that there was “academic evidence” to show “quite a high risk associated with hospitality settings”.

    RVT went on to Thank Sky News‘ Kay Burley for her robust questioning of the MP who was unable to provide details, or to name the study on the show, in which he was invited on to talk about the measures the government were taking. He said there was “academic evidence” from the US, but was unable to cite the study or researchers who provided the evidence, but said that it was “robust”.

    Business owners are planning to sue the government after the hospitality industry, in particular, has been heavily hit by Government-mandated restrictions.

    Last week it was announced that Jeremy Joseph from G-A-Y had launched a legal challenge to the government’s controversial 10 PM curfew. He argued that the government had not put forward any scientific evidence to show that the new restrictions would work.

  • Royal Vauxhall Tavern backs G-A-Y’s legal challenge to 10 PM curfew

    Royal Vauxhall Tavern backs G-A-Y’s legal challenge to 10 PM curfew

    One of London’s longest-running LGBT+ pubs, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT) has backed G-A-Y’s Jeremy Joseph in his quest to legally challenge the controversial restrictions placed on the hospitality sector across the UK, which the government has said is a “necessary measure” to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

    In a message of solidarity, the RVT’s CEO James Lindsay echoed Jeremy Joseph’s comments that the 10 PM curfew “made no sense” adding, “not only us it another massive blow to us as a business, but it also puts our customers at more risk” as the 10 PM kick out means that hundreds of pub and restaurant-goers are forced out into the street at the same time.

    No science to back up the curfew

    four women chatting while sitting on bench
    Photo by ELEVATE on Pexels.com

    They added, “We totally support Jeremy Joseph and the action he has taken with the NTIA (Night Times Industries Association) to hold Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock account for this dangerous and shortsighted action that seems designed to blame the night time industry for increased numbers of Covid-19 cases when there is no science to back it up.”

    Adding her voice, London’s night czar Amy Lamé wrote on social media, “Another weekend of London’s struggling hospitality businesses closing early due to the Govt’s arbitrary curfew. When will @10DowningStreet realise they are part of the SOLUTION, not the problem? @SadiqKhan and I are calling for an urgent review + financial support

  • Where’s the best place to watch drag in London?

    Where’s the best place to watch drag in London?

    London has a rich history of drag from the Royal Vauxhall Tavern to the now-shuttered Black Cap, here’s the best place to go to catch some drag in the UK’s capital.

    where to see good drag in London

    Central London

    Admiral Duncan

    If you’re in central London, i.e. Soho, there’s really only one place to find drag every night and that’s at the Admiral Duncan. It’s a friendly traditional pub in the heart of Soho (Old Compton Street). It has regular drag from the likes of Mary Mac, Sandra, Baga Chipz and Cookie Monstar. See what’s going on at their website.

    Halfway II Heaven

    Is another great haunt to see some traditional drag queen shenanigans with queens appearing almost every day of the week, right on the doorstep of Trafalgar Square (where Pride In London is hosted). Whether you’re into karaoke, lip syncing or good old fashion cabaret this venue is a must watch. See what’s going on at their website.

    East London

    The Glory

    The home of East London Drag, the Glory is a highly rated queer space in the heart of East London with events almost every night of the week. See what’s going on at their website.

    South London

    Royal Vauxhall Tavern

    where to see good drag in London

    One of the oldest, if not the oldest venue in London just south of the river in Vaxuhall. With shows from Duckie to David Hoyle the Royal Vauxhall Tavern offers a cool, queer as f**k experience that mustn’t miss if you’re in London town. See what’s going on at their website.

    Two Brewers

    This is a MUST go venue if you’re in south London (Clapham). It’s legendary and it’s drag from wall to wall. It’s also got a great value for money bar and friendly bar staff. See what’s going on at their website.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Charming Dick

    THEATRE REVIEW | Charming Dick

    ★★★ | Charming Dick

    Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a couple of cut-price synthetic-fibre-clad drag queens, a Eurovision medley, and a huge sack full of festive double entendres and innuendos – we at THEGAYUK can’t wait for Kris Kringle to cum down our chimney – falalalala la la la la.

    Producer Catia Ciarico and The Royal Vauxhall Tavern’s production of Charming Dick has more puns than letters to Santa requesting penis pumps. If you’ve a penchant for musical theatre, know your way around a winklepicker-tapping Dolly Parton number and the melody to ‘Money Money Money’ sends your baubles into a figgy-pudding frenzy, then this should be right up your North Pole.

    Charming Dick is a posing-pouch-packed with everything an adult yuletide panto should be, audience participation – “oh yes there is”. A Twankey (Tim McArthur), a wicked witch (Matthew Floyd), a prince (Stewart Briggs) a Little Red Riding Hood/blind mouse/chem-sex party fag-hag (Abigail Carter-Simpson) and of course, a Big Dick (Ali Frederick). Imagine Westminster City Council as the witch, then you’ve got the Noel narrative.

    Not every scene was like skating around the rink at Somerset House, a few of the lines took the same route as the lemon does with the Turkey on the nut-cracking day, and the ‘Twelve Day Of Christmas’ almost got lost in a snow-hole – but it all added to the jingle-belling jollity. Any mince pie indulgence from the derrieres-on-seats would have been worked off with the continuous guffaws.

    This is a stuffer for your stocking, a trimming for your tree, full of festive vulgarity – head to the Cockpit Theatre and we hope you ‘Oh Cum All Ye Faithful’.

    If we gave halves – we’d give three-and-half.

    The Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH
6 – 23 December 2016 | Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm 
£16 (adv), £18 (on the door), £12 (conc) | www.thecockpit.org.uk | | 020 7258 2925

  • London: Oldest Gay Venue RVT Gets Listed Status

    The Royal Vauxhall Tavern has been granted listed status, now a community group is trying to raise money to buy the iconic venue back off the property developers.

    Campaigners are now facing the task of raising enough money to buy the Royal Vauxhall Tavern off Austrian property company Immovate, after Historic England granted the building listed status, meaning there will be restrictions on how the space and building can be modified.

    However the current leaseholder and CEO, James Lindsay, has stated in an interview with Boyz that “RVT is not for sale” and has no intention of handing the RVT over to anyone.

    A number of LGBT venues have closed in 2015 and since the year 2000 an investigation by THEGAYUK had found that over 86 gay pubs and bars have been shuttered.

    Earlier in 2015 another of London’s iconic venues The Black Cap was closed.

    A spokesperson for the owner of the property Immovate refused to comment on future plans for the building.

    The owners have been steadfastly silent about their plans with the community, despite numerous calls for a conversation.

  • Boris Johnson Backs Campaign To Save The Royal Vauxhall Tavern

    Boris Johnson has joined Sir Ian McKellen and Paul O’Grady in the campaign to secure one of London’s most iconic LGBT venues, The Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

    Speaking about the RVT Future’s campaign, which is fighting to turn the RVT building into a listed building, Boris Johnson said,

    “The Royal Vauxhall Tavern has been a lynchpin at the heart of London’s LGBT community for more than six decades. This week, New York gave the Stonewall Inn landmark status, recognising its place in that city’s history. The RVT’s unique contribution to the vibrancy of London life should also be celebrated. It is a beacon that is known around the world and must be made a listed building so it can continue to shine for years to come.”

    Amy Lamé, chair of RVT Future – a group of performers, producers and punters concerned by the RVT’s purchase by property developers last year – said:

    “We are absolutely delighted to have Boris’s support. It’s great to know he takes the LGBT community’s interests seriously and loves the Royal Vauxhall Tavern as much as we do. We hope Historic England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport give the Mayor’s view due consideration as they consider the listing application. Ultimately, we’d like the RVT to be owned by the community that cherishes it, so we hope this will be an important step on that path.”

    Yesterday, Sir Ian McKellen and Paul O’Grady – who developed his legendary character Lily Savage during a long-running residency at the RVT – gave their support to the campaign.

    O’Grady developed his legendary character Lily Savage at the RVT during a long-running residency in the 80s. “I consider the venue to be my very own school of dramatic art,”

    O’Grady writes. “The Vauxhall Tavern was our village hall” during a turbulent era marked by homophobia, police raids and the AIDS crisis.

    More than 30 performers, producers, local residents, LGBTQ charities, architects, historians and politicians have written to Historic England (formerly English Heritage) to back the listing application made by RVT Future.

  • Sir Ian and Paul O Grady Support Turning The RVT Into A Listed Building

    The action plan to turn the iconic Royal Vauxhall Tavern into a listed building has being given celebrity backing as Sir Ian McKellen and Paul O’Grady put their weight behind the campaign.

    Many of London’s gay venues have closed recently forcing the iconic RVT to seek landmark status as a listed building, which could protect it from redevelopment.

    In recent years over ten LGBT venues have shuttered.

    New York’s Stonewall Inn was awarded Landmark Status in recognition of its role in LGBT+ history.

    The application for listed status was made by RVT Future, a group of performers, producers and punters concerned by the RVT’s purchase by property developers last year. The new owners have refused to discuss plans with the community about the fate of the RVT.

    McKellen and O’Grady are among more than 30 performers, producers, local residents, LGBT+ charities, architects, historians and politicians who have written to Historic England (formerly English Heritage) to back the listing application made by RVT Future, a group of performers, producers and punters concerned by the RVT’s purchase by property developers last year.

    The pub’s local vicar is on board with the campaign too.

    O’Grady notes that following the closure of LGBT+ spaces across London, including the Black Cap in Camden, Madame Jojo’s in Soho and the Joiners Arms in Hackney, the RVT “is now one of the few remaining venues to showcase new and old talent every week”.

    He believes the Tavern “should be offered protection to withstand today’s developers… Without listing the threat to its future is all too real. With listing I know the community will rally round and ensure it remains an important venue for many decades to come.”

    Sir Ian McKellen has also written to Historic England to support the application. “I support the campaign to grant the Royal Vauxhall Tavern listed status”, says Sir Ian.

    McKellen was among the founders of Stonewall UK in 1989 and is himself co-owner of a listed pub, The
    Grapes in Limehouse.

    The Tavern was built on the former grounds of the Vauxhall pleasure gardens around 1862, and has been a site of LGBT+ community and culture since the 1950s, if not earlier. The RVT featured in last year’s international hit film Pride, ‘playing itself’ as a hub of community activism.

    A number of venues in recent years have closed, these include: The Black Cap, Barcode Vauxhall, Candy BAr, Covert, Escape, Madame Jo Jos, Green Carnation, Joiners Arms, Lo Profile, Profile Bar, Oak Bar,

  • Stars Back Royal Vauxhall Tavern After New Owners Refuse To Talk About Future

    BAFTA winning writer Stephen Beresford is among those backing performers and punters of the iconic Royal Vauxhall Tavern in a new campaign to safeguard its future, following its recent sale to property developers.

    The launch of the campaign comes in the wake of the shocking closure without notice of the Black Cap in Camden, another venerable London LGBTQ venue.

    Stars of Duckie, the RVT’s biggest weekly crowd puller, and the legendary performer David Hoyle are among those leading the campaign to save the Tavern. Rob Holley, who runs the venue’s popular Push the Button night, is also on board.

    The RVT is believed to be the UK’s longest running LGBTQ venue and recently featured in Beresford’s hit film Pride. A haven before decriminalisation, and a crucial hub during the AIDS crisis, the RVT is today a thriving site of culture, performance and community in South London.

    But since buying up the Tavern in October, new owners Immovate, an Austrian property company – have repeatedly declined to reveal their intentions, or even guarantee the venue’s long-term future as an LGBT+ bar.

    Speaking about the importance of RVT, Beresford said,
    “The RVT is so much more than just a bar. As Pride shows, it has a special role in LGBTQ history and London life; a unique place where different communities can come together.

    “The RVT has always stood out as embodying the true spirit of the LGBTQ movement and it would be a real shame if it lost touch with that heritage. I support the campaign and wish it all the best.”

    The continuing uncertainty has fuelled fears that the Tavern will be closed or transformed out of step with its unique history.

    That has spurred some of the RVT’s most successful acts to join forces with concerned regulars and take things in to their own hands.

    RVT Future is the most high profile of several recent campaigns to date to save well-known London LGBTQ venues that have fallen victim to London’s over-heated property market.