THEGAYUK

Tag: G-A-Y

All the latest breaking news on the club G-A-Y. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on G-A-Y.

  • Jeremy Joseph perfectly sums up why the Tier system is causing a lot of confusion

    Jeremy Joseph perfectly sums up why the Tier system is causing a lot of confusion

    The owner of the G-A-Y brand, Jeremy Joseph, has perfectly laid out why the new “tier” system that Boris Johnson’s government has imposed to tackle the increasing number of positive coronavirus test results is so confusing. The new system leads to many questions about who exactly is responsible for policing it.

    As London is to follow a number of places around the UK into “Tier 2” this weekend, – the “High” tier, the hospitality sector once again finds itself at a loss for answers from the Government. There are three tiers, Medium, High and Very High. As it stands the only major city that is in the “Very High” tier” is Liverpool.

    Under the “High” tier rules, according to the Government website,

    • People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
    • People must not meet in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other space.
    • People should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible. If they need to travel, they should walk or cycle where possible, or to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport.

    Taking to social media, Jeremy Joseph explained why the new tier system was confusing.

    “I’m So Confused, just done an interview about London going into Tier 2 & don’t know any of the answers

    “The legislation refers to people not participating in gatherings which consists of two or more persons indoors, which would suggests two people from different households (one from each) can meet indoors. So can you meet in with one person in a different household?

    “Tier 2 is no indoor mixing between households (including in bars). So who is responsible that households are not mixing, is it the venue or the households. How does a venue manage this?

    “Does The Social Bubble Still exist? How does a venue know who is in each other Social Bubble?

    To cap off his statement, Jeremy reminded readers that he was still awaiting answers from the Government about why the 10 PM curfew had been introduced, when there was no scientific data, readily available to back up their policy.

    He added, “I would ask someone from Government, but they still haven’t answered the reasoning behind 10 pm Curfew.

  • 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

  • G-A-Y has launched a legal challenge to the 10 PM Coronavirus curfew

    G-A-Y has launched a legal challenge to the 10 PM Coronavirus curfew

    Jeremy Joseph who owns the G-A-Y brand has launched a legal challenge to the government’s controversial 10 PM curfew, arguing that it not put forward any scienciftic evidence to show that the new restrictions would work.

    Closures at 10 PM have meant that businesses in the hospitality industry, which are now forced to close, on the dot, at 10 PM have suffered a terrible financial loss. Already numerous LGBT+ bars have had to indefinitely suspend their business or close permanently due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

    The curfew is supposed to help stop the spread of COVID-19 among patrons of venues across the UK, except since its introduction on the 24th September, scenes of overcrowding on streets and public transport have been witnessed across the country as bars and restaurants “kick out” at the exact same time.

    “No sense”

    Speaking to Sky News this morning, Jeremy Joseph said he was launching a judicial review of the new restrictions, saying that the new policy made “no sense” and did the opposite of protecting people.

    He said, “The government has failed to show why the 10 pm curfew was put in place and has published no scientific evidence to substantiate its implementation.”

    He added that he thought that the hospitality industry had been “thrown under a bus” and they hadn’t done anything to protect businesses.

    Striking a balance

    G-A-Y had introduced its “Covid-secure” screening and systems back in July. It included screens around the payment and ordering areas and perspex bubbles for people to sit and drink.

    Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary has defended the measure saying that it was a “necessary measure”.

    A government spokesperson said, “Our measures strike a balance between saving lives by protecting our NHS and the most vulnerable and minimising the wider impact on the economy and schools.

    “The latest data suggests a considerable rise in the infection rate following people socialising in hospitality venues serving alcohol in recent weeks, so we have taken immediate action to cut the transmission rate and save lives and will keep all measures under constant review.

    “The 10pm closure allows people to continue to socialise while reducing the risk of failing to socially distance.”

  • G-A-Y Owner blasts ‘senseless, no logic’ 10 PM curfew

    G-A-Y Owner blasts ‘senseless, no logic’ 10 PM curfew

    The owner of one of the UK’s largest LGBT+ bar and club brands, G-A-Y, has blasted the government over its introduction of the 10 PM curfew, which sees most hospitality venues forced to close at the same time, across the country, in order to curb new cases of Coronavirus.

    Jeremy Joseph took to social media to say that the government’s decision to force all bars and restaurants to close at 10 PM was poorly thought out as it forced thousands of customers on to the streets of cities across the UK at the exact same time, just when the government has been stressing how important it is for people to socially distance themselves.

    He wrote, “On 24th September, the Government imposed a poorly thought 10 pm curfew on the hospitality industry. The curfew makes no sense, as we’ve seen it pushes people out into the streets in large numbers at the same time & packs them into public transport.”

    The 10 PM curfew, which was introduced on the 24th September, has added immense pressure to an already vulnerable sector, which, this year, has had to largely remain closed or trade with ever-increasing restrictions, making it near impossible for many venues to continue to trade. Last week, one LGBT+ bar in Cardiff said it would be closed indefinitely, while there have been reports of permanent closures in other parts of the UK.

    ‘Hospitality is the government’s scapegoat’

    Free-Photos / Pixabay

    Joseph said that he felt that the hospitality sector had been made into a “scapegoat” and added that there was no sense or logic to the curfew.

    He added, “Like so many other bars, pubs & restaurants, G-A-Y has done everything it can to make our venues Covid safe. The Government is forcing us to close Covid safe venues with no justification. It makes no sense!

    “The hospitality industry is being made a scapegoat. There is no sense or logic to this curfew & no publicly available scientific data that supports the curfew.

    “Today, G-A-Y has taken the first step to challenging the government and to stand-up to Matt Hancock and Boris Johnson.”

  • G-A-Y bar gives a tour around to show what drinks post-lockdown will look like

    G-A-Y bar gives a tour around to show what drinks post-lockdown will look like

    Drinkers will find that going for a pint at many of the Country’s bars will be a very different experience to what they’re accustomed to, when pubs and bars are allowed to reopen this weekend in England.

    G-A-Y owner Jeremy Joseph has opened up his doors to give fans of the popular bar a one minute guided tour around his flagship drinking hole in London’s Soho.

    From the outside, it doesn’t look like much has changed, except with the introduction of a hand sanitizer station at the entrance, but as the camera ventures into the bar, COVID secure provisions have clearly been introduced.

    Ⓒ G-A-Y / Facebook

    Aimed at keeping both staff and customers safe, perspex glass now separates bar staff from drinkers and even more, perspex separates customers from each other in the seating area in their own “social bubbles”.

    Only two people from each party will be permitted to go to the bar at anyone time. Their friends will have to wait in the “social bubble” area. Music will also be set at a level where drinkers will not have to raise their voices.

    The additions to the bar were met with a variety of reactions, with many praising the actions of G-A-Y, with one commenter adding, “there’s not gonna be loud music and thats the best bit” and another wishing the staff “good luck for the big reopening”.

    Other however weren’t pleased with some of the changes, one user wrote, “glad we went a few times before a new era” while anothered wrote, “No thanks I’ll party at home. Less rules. I ain’t getting thrown out for walking the wrong way to the bar. Bar staff can’t hear your drink order normally what chance do they have with a screen in the way”

  • G-A-Y Late granted an extra hour trading

    G-A-Y Late, one of London’s busiest gay venues has been granted an extension of its opening hours.

    G-A-Y Late granted an extra hour trading
    Extra trading time at G-A-Y late means that operating hours at G-A-Y on Old Compton Street must be decreased by one hour.

    Customers will be able to enjoy an extra hour of G-A-Y Late, the Jeremy Joseph owned gay bar in central London. Management will now be allowed to serve customers until 4 AM.

    G-A-Y had wanted to extend its opening hours to help combat an increase in rent for the venue just off Tottenham Court Road. The approval came on a number of conditions including the reduction of hours at the group’s other venue, G-A-Y on Old Compton Street.

    In response Councillor Angela Harvey, Chairman of Westminster Council Licensing Committee, said, “Preserving the unique mix of Westminster’s night-time economy is a key priority of the council, and we have worked closely with local businesses and residents to balance their needs within our licensing policy.

    “The City of Westminster has over 3516 licensed premises of which 1096 are located within the West End.

    “Councillors felt the amended application demonstrated that this case was exceptional and would not cause any significant disturbances to residents.

    “The application is subject to several key conditions to mitigate the cumulative impact of the later hours; Including the reduction of operating hours by one hour of G-A-Y Bar on Old Compton Street, and patrols of Goslett Yard by staff to ensure patrons disperse after closing time.”

     

  • 6 things we learned this week: Landlords, gender neutrality and Thomas Dekker coming out as gay

    From the cost of running a gay bar in London to gender neutral tube announcements, we’ve learned quite a lot this week.

    TV Star Thomas Dekker came out gay… Welcome to the family!

    Many of us were shocked to learn that Jeremy Joseph, owner of the G-A-Y venues is having his rent upped to nearly three-quarters of a million a year for G-A-Y Late. Could huge rent increases be the reason for London’s declining LGBT+ spaces?

    Peter Tatchell asked if homophobia was holding back Pride in London?

    A gay man who has been battling cancer got the shock of his life at pride when friends and family took over the video screens to send their love and support

    Adam Rickitt proved he still has the perkiest butt in the business.

    The news that Transport for London is going to get rid of “Ladies and Gentlemen” in its public announcements was met with mixed response and it has to be said, it was mainly negative.

     

  • G-A-Y’s landlords want to raise the rent by £400,000 A YEAR

    In a shocking revelation, Jeremy Joseph has revealed that the landlord of G-A-Y Late wants to raise the rent to nearly THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION POUNDS a year.

    Speaking to Vanessa Feltz on her BBC London show, Jeremy Joseph spoke about how G-A-Y Late’s venue, is under rent review following demands from the landlord that the rent to be raised from £300,000 to £700,000 a year a whopping £400,000 increase.

    He told Vanessa,

     “Rent is just ridiculous. G-A-Y Late, one of our venues, is up for rent review at the moment.

    “We currently pay up to £300,000 rent a year. The landlord is trying to get it up to £700,000, so we’re in a rent review.

    “A rent review alone costs thousands of pounds.

    “It’s taken six months for us to get to a point of arbitration, and I only found out a couple of weeks ago that the arbitrator will now decide how much we have to pay.

    “Once they decide how much, there will be no appeal whatsoever.

    “Whatever that rent is – and it could be double – we have no say in it.”

    If the rent review finds that £750,000 is an appropriate price for the central London venue, it could force the closure of G-A-Y Late. Jeremy told Vanessa that the bar was “completely under threat”.

    Rent reviews are a process which compares the average rents in a particular area. Landlords can drive up the rents if other properties are in a higher price bracket.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com about rent increases in 2016 Jeremy said,

    “It’s so hard to know, because one of the biggest fears at the moment is it’s not just the gay scene that is in trouble at the moment, it’s established shops in Soho for the last 30 years.

    “Rent increases, the way it kind of works is whenever you have a rent renewal, they can increase the rent.

    “When they increase rent, it’s based upon what other places are paying around your area. Anytime a new shop comes along and it may be a new restaurant all that, they agree with huge rent increase.

    Recently THEGAYUK.com found that over 115 venues across London had closed since the year 2000. A new project called the Lost LGBT Scene project was created to create an online archive of photos and memories of the various venues that have been lost in the UK’s capital.

     

  • Jeremy Joseph | “I Couldn’t Enjoy Madonna For THREE Days!”

    Nightclub and G-A-Y owner Jeremy Joseph has opened up about why he couldn’t enjoy Madonna’s performance at G-A-Y because he wanted it to be perfect for the Queen of Pop.

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  • G-A-Y Club To Hold One Minute Silence For Paris Victims Before Show Tonight

    One of the UK’s biggest gay clubs, G-A-Y at Heaven will hold a one minute’s silence before its show tonight.

    G-A-Y boss, Jeremy Joseph tweeted that a decision had been made to show “respect” to victims of a terror attack in Paris yesterday by holding a minute’s silence before tonight’s show starring Fleur East and Seann Miley Moore.

    The French capital of Paris was the scene of chaos last night as 8 reported terrorist members of ISIS killed scores of people and injuring at least 100.
    In a chilling statement where the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the atrocity, the Bataclan concert hall, where nearly 90 people were killed, was chosen specifically because “hundreds of idolaters were together in a party of perversity”.
    Islamic State have stepped up their executions of gay men, or men accused of being gay in 2015 in the regions in which they are in control. In the past ISIS has branded gay people ‘the worst of all creatures’.
    In a flash poll 43% of our readers said that the terror attacks on Paris made them worried about going out socially, raising questions about whether LGBT venues are safe from terror attacks both in Europe and in the UK.
    THEGAYUK reached out for comment from Mr Joseph on whether extra security measures would be taken.
    Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for counter terrorism, said:

    “We have been strengthening policing on the street. People may notice some changes at events at big cities across the country.

    “We will constantly keep that under review in the forthcoming days and weeks but we can’t let the terrorists defeat us by becoming fearful and withdrawing from the streets.

    “The term I would use is ‘to be alert, not alarmed’.

  • Dannii Minogue To Make UK Return To Music Scene

    Darlings… we are officially excited and usually that takes a lot. Dannii, yes of the Minogues is making a return to the UK.

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