Tag: Bar
All the latest breaking news on the bar scene. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of features and commentary on bars and pubs.
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Shoreditch Gay Pub Closes Down
The George And Dragon in East London has pulled its last pint.
According to the landlords of the George and Dragon in East London “dramatically increased” rents have forced the closure of the gay pub which opened in 2002. The pub is just one of many venues that have closed in London in 2015. In findings by THEGAYUK over 90 LGBT venues in London have closed since 2000. The last date of the George And Dragon’s lease is the 1st December.
A Facebook post released in August stated the owners were looking for another venue to reopen the bar, they said,
“We will be looking for a new opportunity and hope very much that some of our dear G&D fans will be able to join us on this new journey soon.
“We’ll try to be as open as we can throughout this process as we’d love as friends as possible to join us for a drink as we begin to bid farewell to our beloved old pub.”
Taking to Facebook once again the owners said,
“It’s almost 13 years since we opened our doors and from pretty much that night we have been blown away with the amazing response and all the amazing things which have their origins inside Number 2 Hackney Road, a former Victorian boozer, squatted and turned into a shoe shop which we reboozerified back in 2002.
“We are due to surrender our lease on Tuesday 1 December and a new owner will sign a new lease at the same time. We wish them every success. They inherit good times, good memories and a whole lotta love. We move to a new venue as soon as possible, hopefully within the week. The jungle drums are beating and from what we hear they’ve got it bang on.
“Today we open at 4pm and hope as many of you as possible can pass by and raise a glass, maybe even last the whole 8 hours. Music comes from Princess Julia, Richard Mortimer, Wayne Shires, Charles Jeffrey and The Lovely Jonjo.
“Tomorrow night we’ll be putting the last things in boxes and draining the brandy bottle – so if you can’t make today or prefer a more somber occasion there’s your chance.
“From the bottom of our hearts and written in the sky: Thank You
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New Bar And Restaurant To Open In Manchester Gay Village
New bar and restaurant is due to open in Manchester’s gay village in August.
A new bar and restaurant is due to open in Manchester and will create around 50 jobs, the Manchester Evening News has reported. MCR42 hopes to follow on from the success of its sister site, Tea 42, in the Northern Quarter.
The new establishment will be spread over two floors will take the place of Mongolian Grill on Chorlton Street. A drinks lounge will occupy the ground floor, whilst diners will enjoy food on the second.
Will Hannah, co-founder of Tea 42 and MCR42 said: “MCR42 is an extension of Tea 42.
“In that respect, what we’re retaining is an extremely high quality of delicious and creative dishes, coupled with a stunning backdrop that is still welcoming and relaxed.
“But we’re also putting a little twist on it. We will continue to offer a large gluten free and vegetarian menu.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be moving into the area – a cultural hub rich with entertainment, music and heritage.
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Old Compton Street snubbed in OutTraveler Top 200 Bar List
Despite having the highest concentration of gay pubs and bars in the UK, London’s iconic Old Compton Street missed out in OutTraveler.com’s 200 of the greatest gay bars in the world.
Stalwart venues such as Soho’s Ku Bar, Admiral Duncan and Molly Moggs missed out to a bar in Dalston and Vauxhall in OutTraveler’s top 200 bars of the world.
The OutTraveler.com top 200 lists only venues in the UK, 7 in England and 2 in Scotland. Despite there being over 50 venues in London, the list included just 4 bars including, Dalston Superstore, Fire, Heaven and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, snubbing all venues in Old Compton Street.
Brighton’s iconic scene was awarded just one venue, Revenge and Manchester’s Canal Street, in its entirety was given a special mention.
The OutTraveler editors wrote,
“As with any list, it’s impossible to be definitive. We’ve taken nominations, suggestions, polled friends and experts around the world, and even done a bit of on-the-ground research. We’ve also tried to arrive at a list that satisfies everyone from a pierced and leather-clad cub to a skinny, go-go boy wannabe. But we’re sure that this will only stoke the fires of debate.”
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COMMENT | What is it about gay bars and their disgusting toilets
Public toilets and gay men have gone fist-in-hand since communal lavs u-bended it on to the scene. But in 2015 we no longer have to skulk around dirty loos looking for love.
Now sausage-jockeys don’t have to frequent filthy washrooms, you’d think we’d refrain from doing so.
Gay men are associated with the art of pairing the right Aquascutum Herringbone twill trouser with the perfect Yohji Yamamoto chunky knit. As well as having the same skill with a feather duster and fur-hemmed marigolds as Nigella Lawson has with a rolled up tenner. And all poofs are guaranteed winners of any quiche baking competition.
So if crafty-butchers are male versions of Channel 4’s cleaning queens Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie why do homos accept the putrid odours, urine-soaked floors and lack of scented hand wash that characterise toilets of gay bars?
But the stereotype of the hygienic, clean-freak batty-boy is exactly that – just a stereotype.
Yours truly has undertaken extensive research up and down the country over the past 16 years, examining the quality and cleanliness of loos in poof pubs and bender bars. To this day not one homosexual drinking establishment’s lavs has matched, or surpassed that of a common-or-garden All Bar One.
Take the men’s bogs at that one on the corner, for suited gentlemen.. one of Soho’s busiest bender hangouts. They refurbished their lavs a couple of years ago – a decade late but nevertheless. The walls are caked in what looks like a dodgy sponge effect blood and primary red tiles, and gloss cream tiles with a mini pyramid mosaic texture. Clearly, the person responsible for this interior atrocity spent too much time in Rupert’s slash-room. Inhaling the intoxicating fumes addling their creativity.
Only two cubicles for the boys. Both are missing proper toilet seats and locks. Loo roll, if any, has all the silkiness of an acrylic cardi from Primark.
Their stainless steel communal urinal wasn’t fortunate enough to be part of the upgrade and has no doubt seen more cock than that of all the Catholic priests residing in the Vatican. If steel could talk. The damn thing is hanging on by the skin of its rusty screws.
That bar that’s famous for its go-go boys’ WC is also a delight to visit. It’s positioned in the basement, as most powder-rooms are in Soho. However, the stench punches you in the honker before you’ve even hit basement level. Waders would be the correct footwear for a widdle in this gaff but sadly Tom Ford hasn’t released a range to-date. Soap is like a brightly lit sky in Blighty during February. Is Jo Malone alien to bar managers?
In most fag-boozers there’s the perfume-pushers trying to scrape together their bus fare home, pressing you to squirt a soupçon of their tired and mankey bottles of JPG, Paco Rabanne and Kouros. Or forcing Tesco’s basic own brand soap into your palms before you’ve had time to readjust.
Undoubtedly nostril curdling whiffs, wee wee streams and dated 80s style décor are the theme of gay bar bogs.
If you know of any shirt-lifter haunts’ loos that come up to standard – do share. Thabulous would love to be proved wrong.
Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.
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London’s Manbar Loses Noise Complaint Against Westminster City Council
Manbar has lost its appeal to keep its regulated entertainment licence, after resident, two floors up made noise complaints.
In a statement released by Manbar, the popular venue’s management said that it had lost against Westminster City Council with regards to its ‘regulated entertainment license’, however it will remain open with its 3 AM alcohol sales license. This means that Manbar will remain in business, without music, despite the bar’s owners spending £25,000 on noise compliance.
During the hearing, Westminster City Council served up their witnesses and the 1 tenant, who originally made the noise complaint. He was the the only person living near Manbar to give evidence.
On day two of the hearing, the Court made a site visit to Manbar to witness both the sound levels within the venue and in the residency, two floors above – at maximum sound level.
Chris Amos, the bar’s general manager said:
‘The bar will be applying for it’s regulated entertainment licence again in the near future with all the stipulations possible to safeguard the venue without causing any noise nuisance. Hopefully the council will grant us back our licence! Also the government recently deregulated entertainment before 11pm each day so we will offering early evening entertainment and currently working out the schedule for this.‘Many thanks for the support through this case, luckily Manbar remains open – so be sure to come by for a drink.’
Andrew Ralph, Westminster City Council’s Noise and Licensing Manager said in a statement to TheGayUK:
‘An independent judge has today ruled that Manbar has a long history of playing music that constitutes a public noise nuisance and disturbs residents. Westminster City Council is duty bound to address any public noise nuisance wherever it is found, whoever is making it – and that is all it has done here. Last year, the council agreed to a compromise – suggested by the owner – that Manbar’s right to play amplified music would be temporarily suspended until the necessary measures have been taken for it to be played at acceptable levels – levels that apply to every other licensee wanting to play music. After a sound-limiter was fitted, the noise level was found by officers to be acceptable. However, within a week, further complaints were received and the levels were once again found to be a statutory nuisance. The Court found that this was because externally amplified music was being played at Manbar.
The result of the appeal means that Manbar must resolve the problems arising from noise nuisance, as they promised to do. If they are able to do that, Westminster City Council is ready to work with Manbar so that it can once again play amplified music.”
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Gay bar crawls to start in London
Visiting the London gay scene for the first time or just fancy a night out with some new friends? Then GBC (Gay Bar Crawls) may be what you’re looking for. A guided tour of Soho streets visiting the best gay bars and clubs on offer.
With so many venues in the heart of London, all offering different scenes, you may be a bit flummoxed as to where to go first. Well GBC have put together a handy tour starting off in a reserved area of a Soho bar giving time for the group to get to know one another and enjoy a few drinks.
From here the group then tours Soho learning about the famous sites and visiting a selection of bars and clubs. Of course you’ll need more than just one night to enjoy London’s scene, so the tour is a good start to get you settled into the party.The tour costs just £30 per person and includes your fist drink, plus club entry, which on a Saturday night is quite a bargain. The first crawl takes place on May 3rd 2014.for full details do visit www.gaybarcrawls.com -
London’s Manbar risks closure by Westminster City Council
Manbar, the iconic independent gay bar on Charing Cross Road will be forced to close if it loses a costly legal battle with Westminster City Council early in April.
The bar, which is on the site of 79CXR, the legendary dance bar, which ran for eighteen years before being sold to gay entrepreneur Chris Amos, opened as Manbar in 2012.
Since opening, Manbar has surged in popularity serving over 3000 customers a week and provided a unique and truly authentic gay space in central London.
Repeated complaints from one resident two floors above the bar led to a licensing review last summer in which Westminster Council banned regulated entertainment (the playing of music) until such time as improvements were made. Manbar has appealed and has continued to trade pending the appeal hearing which comes before Westminster Magistrates on Monday 7th April 2014.
In the mean time, expert advice has led to extensive works being carried out to ensure that noise nuisance, however slight, does not take place. Council officials have been involved in measuring, testing and have written to Manbar stating, ‘we are satisfied with the Sound Limiter setting, the sound limiter model and the way in which the system is now set up.’ But to no avail. Senior officers at Westminster refuse to see sense and compromise, insisting on pursuing the appeal.
So successful has Manbar been in solving the problem that council officials could not detect any noise in the complainant’s flat. They even turned off the resident’s fridge and laptop in an attempt to hear noise.
Whilst Manbar have been advised that they should win, if they lose they face a legal bill of up to £60,000.
Is this fair? Should one resident’s complaint – that he can hear noise if he turns his fridge off – lead Westminster, with its draconian powers and seemingly unlimited financial muscle, to pursue and persecute tiny Manbar?
Chris Amos is seeking support both from the gay scene and the general public to help fight off Westminster City Council.
Today the ‘SAVE MANBAR’ campaign is being launch. Full details at www.manbarsoho.com
Members of the public can show their support on Twitter and Facebook.
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Attack At Brighton Gay Bar
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was glassed in the face in a pub in Brighton.
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The original ladies’ night at Lounge returns in 2014
Lounge, the famous scene-changing night for women, is set to return following countless requests by the crowd that made it the fabulous night it once was.
A new venue – arguably the best yet – with a discerning and classic music policy sees Lounge return to form, which is sure to attract Loungers new and Loungers of yesteryear wishing to make an event of a night out with friends and lovers.
Voltaire is where we’ve chosen to make home for the foreseeable future – a gorgeous playden for the classic London Lounge lady.
From a palace to a prison, the Grade II listed Voltaire is steeped in history and has undergone many guises before finally finding its feet as one of London’s finest drinking haunts. Named in honour of the French writer and philosopher, who famously spent six years exiled in London, it’s the perfect subterranean spot with its vaults, alfresco cigar terrace and Pommery library to hide from the hustle and bustle of the City.
A cigar lovers dream, Voltaire’s very own humidor houses an array of smokes led by Padrón from Nicaragua, alongside limited edition cigars from the Dominican Republic and Cuba’s renowned Don Candido, regarded as the best cigar of the 20th century. Pull up a stool on the al fresco terrace and savour the latest vintages with a glass of bubbly.
More details will be announced nearer the time, but think Studio 54 for a new generation with a hint of sophisticated edge that will leave people wanting more.
For those who really want to feel the new vibe, we’ve created a collaborative Spotify playlist
for everyone to see at welovelounge.co.ukWhere: Voltaire, 19 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6DB [Find Lounge]
When: Friday 7th February, 2014 from 8pm
Who: Sophisticated, discerning and gorgeous ladies and their devilishly handsome boys
Door: Very limited £5 early bird tickets, then £10.
Music: Classic disco, soulful house, retro grooves and ironic anthems -
Queerly Out Opens A New Night In London’s Escape Bar
QueerlyOut presents new club night QueerlyPOP every Tuesday from 9-3am at Escape Bar Soho. Hosted by KLUBKIDS star Jason Prince and DJ Matt Unique , they present London’s best pop music and Karaoke entertainment.