THEGAYUK

Tag: London News

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

  • Woman in Niqab seen shouting “SHAME” at LGBT+ people at Pride event

    Woman in Niqab seen shouting “SHAME” at LGBT+ people at Pride event

    A woman dressed in a full-face veil seen shouting “shame” and other homophobic slurs at participants of a pride event in London.

    Police are investigating after footage emerged purportedly showing a woman in a niqab shouting homophobic abuse at a pride parade in Waltham Forest, London over the weekend.

    The woman in the traditional strict Islamic niqab can be heard screaming “shame on you” and “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”, before yelling “shame” repeatedly and calling the attendees “despicable”.

    The attendee was being protected by a pride volunteer.

    The identity of the alleged abuser is obscured by the full-face veil. Police are investigating the incident. The footage has now been watched over 3.6 million times.

    A police spokesperson told The Independent: “We are aware of footage circulating on social media of abuse directed at those taking part in the Waltham Forest Pride event and enquiries are taking place.

    “Abusing someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is a hate crime and we would encourage victims and those who were there when this took place to come forward.

    “If you have been verbally or physically abused, harassed or attacked in any way by someone because you are or they think you are LGBT+ please report these crimes to the police.”

    The footage was captured by Twitter used, Yusuf Patel

    Police have responded by tweeting that they are aware of the footage and ‘enquiries are underway”.

     

  • The View Upstairs Review: A show that is very uplifting and inspiring

    The View Upstairs Review: A show that is very uplifting and inspiring

    ★★★★★| The View Upstairs

    (C) Darren Bell

    If you plan to see any show this summer, make sure it is The View Upstairs.

    The View Upstairs is a musical that’s full of very talented actors and singers; it’s a show that is based on a very tragic event; and it’s a show that is very uplifting and inspiring.

    Max Vernon, who wrote the book, music and lyrics, has based this story on the Upstairs Lounge bar in New Orleans which was set fire in a catastrophic arson attack in 1973 where 32 men lost their lives in the raging inferno. It’s a true story that not many people know about, probably because at that time gays dying was just not big news. But from tragedy we get this great show – it’s a very simple story that has a big heart and an even bigger voice.

    Wes (Tyrne Huntley) wants to buy an old attic that’s a wreck, and once he signs the contract we go back in time, where he meets the people (ghosts?) there who are in the ‘Life’ (a name they call themselves). He doesn’t quite know it yet but he’s in 1973, and those people there have no idea about that device he has in his hand that he calls a cellphone. He is instantly smitten with Patrick (a very good Andy Mientus) and tells Patrick abut the most important evens over the last 45 years. The bar manager is sassy and wonderful Henri (Carly Mercedes Dyer – who has an amazing voice) while Willie (Cedric Neal) has wisdom beyond his years. Other barflies include Buddy (John Partridge – who has a wife and 2 kids), the troubled Dale (Declan Bennett), and Freddy (Garry Lee) who likes to dress up in drag, which his mom (Victoria Hamilton Barritt) is been  with.

    The View Upstairs takes us on a journey to get to knew each character (Willie was supposed to be a dancer, while Patrick and Dale are male prostitutes), through music and song. Tension builds when the local police don’t like it that Freddy is seen in the street in drag. But it’s not only in the storytelling but also the songs that make this show stand out – songs that soar like anthems that pay tribute to the men who died in the real fire. Mientus is in fine vice when he sings ‘What I did say’ while the whole cast brings down the house at the end in the theme song ‘The View Upstairs.’ And once the show is finished, you feel that you’ve just attended a gospel choir performance; you’ll feel uplifted, full of joy, a tinge of sadness, but also a feeling that you’ve experienced something very unique.

    https://sohotheatre.com/shows/the-view-upstairs/

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Uli, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Uli, London

    ★★★★ | Uli, London

    One of the most beautiful restaurants in Notting Hill is serving up Pan Asian food at very good prices.

    Uli, just 2 minutes walk from Notting Hill tube station, is very recognisable by its glass-enclosed front where once you walk in you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another world. Dishes such as Triple-cooked Dover Sole with asparagus, garlic and spring onion; Crispy shredded chilli beef, Moo Shu pork, chicken or tofu, among others, give you food choices that are much better quality than what you would find in Chinatown. The night me and a friend went for dinner on a late July evening it was raining, so unfortunately the rooftop was closed – but that was fine because we felt cozy and warm and were well taken care of by the very friendly staff and manager, and treated like VIPs.

    For starters we had Peppercorn salted prawns (very good but for six a bit pricey at £12), Asparagus with black bean, chilli and ginger (fresh and wonderful – £9), and Chicken Gyoza (good – 4 for £7). The starters are a bit pricey – so choose carefully.

    The Sweet and Sour Chicken (£13) with Egg Fried Rice (£5.50) was nothing exceptional and was just as you would expect. We also had a bowl of delicious green beans (not on the menu!), crunchy, and just like the asparagus, a bit spicey, but very very good.

    The Crispy Aromatic Duck was the star dish of the evening. Nicely well-cooked, and served with pancakes, scallions, cucumber, and an amazing-tasting Housin duck sauce. The duck was well done – a bit crunchy, and tasteful, and it comes in three different price levels (£16 – 1/4; £29 – 1/2; and £48 – whole). Highly recommended.

    If you chose to have a cocktail, please go for the Lychee Martini – vodka, vermouth, lychee – and is sweet and delicious. Their Expresso Martini, however, did not have the flavour or kick that I’m accustomed to. If you are not a cocktail lover, try one of their many beers or Sakes, or wines which come from a variety of European countries.

    Desserts are in abundance but after all the food you’ve eaten you will want to something not too heavy. The Mochi Ice Cream (£3 per piece) is light, delicious, and is wrapped in a rice coating over the ice cream – just perfection.

    Uli, which is the Chinese word for tranquility, is just that. Soft music, sleek tables and warm-looking plates, great international staff, an upper middle class clientele the night we were there, all adds up to a dining experience, that while not a destination place, is a perfect place for the local area. And when you do go there, pick a seat along the windows in the atrium, so cozy and nice you’ll never want to leave. I didn’t.

    https://ulilondon.com

  • The Night of the Iguana REVIEW: What happens in the 2 hours and 35 minutes of this show? Not a whole lot!

    The Night of the Iguana REVIEW: What happens in the 2 hours and 35 minutes of this show? Not a whole lot!

    ★★★☆☆ | The Night of the Iguana

    (c) Brinkhoff.Moegenburg

    The Night of the Iguana was never really Tennessee Williams’ best work, and a new theatre production in London adds very little to it.

    Now playing at the Noel Coward Theatre, movie star Clive Owen plays defrocked priest Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon (Richard Burton in the film) who escapes to a Mexican lodge deep in the forest to while away his time. Others in the lodge include the owner Maxine (Breaking Bad’s Anna Gunn playing Ava Gardner’s role in the film), Hannah- a middle-aged single woman (Lia Williams), with her very old grandfather Nonno (Daniel Glover), and a German family who keeps on going back and forth from the lodge to the beach who in their quirky way liven up this production.

    So what happens in the 2 hours and 35 minutes of this show? Not a whole lot! The most dramatic moment comes when a thunderstorm literally starts dripping buckets of rain onto the stage, leaving the cast scrambling for cover.

    It’s a fantastic effect that you would think would set the mood for an even more exciting second half, but it’s all dialogue between Shannon and Hannah that leads to a bit of sexual tension but not enough to make this show sexy and exciting. Director James MacDonald limits the actors to a very small confined space on stage (though there is a cleverly designed staircase that goes down to an unseen beach), and while the rest of the cast are quite good, Owen is just OK, but there is really nothing spectacular about this production.

    Perhaps it’s one for hardcore Williams, Owens, or Breaking Bad fans.

    The Night of the Iguana plays at the Noel Coward Theatre until 28th September 2019, Book tickets here.

  • ‘Homophobic machete attack’ on the streets of London

    Police have reported that they responded to a suspected homophobic attack by a knifeman brandishing a machete.

    A victim has been left with a leg wound after an alleged attack on the streets of London. Police responded to an incident in south-east London this afternoon, where it was reported that a man was attacked on Surrey Quays Road in Southwark, with a machete.

    The Metropolitan police say they believe that the attack was motivated by homophobia. The victim was transported to hospital in an ambulance and is being treated for his injuries.

    A spokeswoman for the Met added: ‘Police are dealing with a suspected homophobic attack in Southwark.

    “Officers were called at 3.12pm on Tuesday, July 23, to Surrey Quays Road.

    “It was reported a man had been attacked with a machete.

    “Officers attended and found a man with a wound to his leg.

    “He was taken by London Ambulance Service to a south London hospital.

    “The suspect is believed to have left the scene on a motorbike.

    “At this time police believe there may be a homophobic motive for the attack.”

     

     

  • Homophobes vandalise anti-stigma HIV adverts

    Homophobes vandalise anti-stigma HIV adverts

    An advert which depicts two men in a romantic embrace has been vandalised in London, the campaign aims to reduce the stigma faced by men who live with HIV.

    The HIV charity, Terrence Higgins Trust has revealed that an advert it has placed on a phone box in the nation’s capital has been targeted by vandals and defaced. The campaign is promoting the message that people living with HIV and on effective treatment can’t pass it on, if they are on medically prescribed treatment.

    The targeted phoneboxes were located in the London borough of Hackney.

    The poster campaign comes off the back of a nationwide survey commissioned by the charity which revealed that knowledge of HIV remains stuck in the 1980s. It found that just under one in five (19%) Brits are aware that people on effective HIV treatment can’t pass it on – which is the focus of the vandalised posters.

    The charity’s YouGov survey also revealed almost half (48%) of Brits would feel uncomfortable kissing someone living with HIV – even though there is zero risk of transmission through kissing or other day-to-day contact.

    For the past 20 years, evidence has been building to show that the likelihood of passing on HIV is linked to the amount of virus in the blood, also known as viral load. Treatment is deemed effective when it reduces this to undetectable levels. This can take up to six months from starting treatment.

    The landmark PARTNER and PARTNER 2 studies provide the medical evidence that people with an undetectable viral load definitively cannot pass on HIV.

    Can’t Pass It On has been the focus of Terrence Higgins Trust’s messaging during Pride season, including at Pride in London and Black Pride earlier this month.

    Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said, “This vandalism is so sad to see. Whether our posters have been targeted because it features two men in an affectionate embrace or because it’s about HIV, we will not be silenced. In fact, it makes us even more determined to get the message out there that people on effective HIV treatment can’t pass it on.

    “Despite this medical progress, public attitudes towards HIV are firmly stuck in the past. That’s exactly why it’s so important to remove the fear and misinformation about HIV by celebrating the fact that thanks to effective treatment people like Sadiq who is featured in our poster, are living normal and healthy lives and cannot pass the virus on.

    “We have been heartened to see supporters offsetting the damage caused to the posters by sharing information about our Can’t Pass It On campaign. If everyone knew the facts on HIV we could not only end HIV stigma, we could end new HIV transmissions.’

  • Man left needing hospital treatment after homophobic attack in London

    Man left needing hospital treatment after homophobic attack in London

    Police say that a man has been left with head injuries after an attack in London over the weekend.

    geralt / Pixabay

    A man in his late twenties was hopsitalised after an attack which police are calling a homophobic hate crime, just a week after Pride in London.

    The victim was allegedly verbally abused and then assaulted at around 3 AM in the morning on Camberwell Road in South London in what police have described as a hate crime.

    The 29-year-old victim was taken to hospital for treatment to a head injury. This has been assessed as not life-changing or life-threatening, and the man has been discharged from hospital.

    19-year-old arrested at the scene

    A 19-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of GBH. He has since been released under investigation.

    The incident is being investigated as a homophobic hate crime due to comments made prior to the assault. Enquiries into the circumstances continue.

    Detectives from the Safeguarding Unit based at Brixton are investigating. Anyone with information or footage is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 1376/14Jul or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Joseph And the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Review: A camp classic and this version puts it over the top

    Joseph And the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Review: A camp classic and this version puts it over the top

    ★★★★☆ | Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

    (C) Tristram Kenton

    49 years after it originally debuted, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is back and is as good as ever!

    Now playing at the fabulous (and best venue in London) The Palladium, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat boasts a cast that is first rate and leaves the audience wanting more. The show, based on the ‘Coat of many colours’ story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis, begins with Joseph (Jac Yarrow) being given a colourful coat by his dad. He’s then sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and then climbs back to the top. The show is considered a camp classic and this version puts it over the top!

    Sheridan Smith is very good as the narrator – she guides us through the show effortlessly, and cheekily – it looks like she is having as good a time as we are. Jason Donovan makes an all too very brief appearance as the Pharaoh (with an excellent Elvis Presley-like imitation), in his gold harness-style outfit dutifully displaying most of his upper torso and legs – Jason has still got it. Yarrow, making his West End debut, is absolute perfection as the main character Joseph. Currently training at the Arts Educational School, Yarrow is the strongest voice in the show, and his rendition of ‘Close Every Door’ right before the end of the first half literally brings down the house. It’s a stunning West End debut by someone so young and very talented (he is only 21). And Donovan, who played Joseph in a 1991 version (also at the Palladium, has come full circle and weathered it very very well.

    The show does not rely on razzle-dazzle sets and special effects – it’s all about the actors and talent on stage – and they more than deliver. The sets are effortlessly perfect, and the cast of children, most of them playing adult characters (a few with fake beards) make the show charming and enduring. But the show, on the technical side on the night I saw it, had sound problems. The audience could not quite understand Donovans’ lyrics, while, in a show that is mostly sung and not spoken, makes a big impact on the storytelling for those of us seeing it for the first time. But’s it a minor quibble – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (written by a very young Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice) is lively and fun and should continue to bring this to audiences to come, probably for the next 49 years.

    Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat plays at The Palladium until September 2019, book tickets here

  • Tom Tries It: Pedicure

    Tom Tries It: Pedicure

    The world of male grooming can be a daunting place. With a myriad of product types and treatments available, it’s hard to know what products you need to be using and what treatments are right for you. This is why at THEGAYUK, we have sent our beauty expert Thomas Swallow to try them out and decode the enigma of male grooming.

    Carry on reading below, to hear about Tom’s experience getting a pedicure. Missed the other instalments of this series? Click here to find out about Tom’s previous adventures, where he tried intimate waxing, a dermalux facial and tinting/threading.

    With summer well and truly here, along with a few comments from the girls in my office. This week I decided to jump into the world of pedicures and get my feet ‘summer ready’. To be fair, it really needed to happen, they weren’t looking cute! Now if you’re like me one of the reasons I don’t usually get pedicures, is because of the way they are typically marketed as a women’s beauty treatment. Well, newsflash to the world, men have feet too and let’s face it, fellas, all our feet could probably use a bit more TLC. This is where Aldwyn & Sons come in. A men’s pedicure and manicure parlour based in London, that not only will leave you feeling fabulous but give you vibes of Victorian gentleman’s club decadence on the journey.

    So what is a pedicure?

    A pedicure is simply the maintenance and general upkeep of your feet. It’s not to be confused as a treatment for foot conditions but as a preventive measure of them. For the treatment of any foot conditions, please consult your chiropodist. Your pedicurist will not be able to help in these situations. Generally, a pedicure will involve the removal of hard skin, the clipping/shaping of nails and maintenance of the nail bed/cuticle. Nothing inherently ‘girly’ about it, eh?

    Treatment:

    So first of all, I would just like to say thank you to Aldwyn & Sons for helping with this feature. I genuinely couldn’t recommend them enough if you are in London definitely give them a visit. By the end of this feature, it’ll be clear why you should. They truly go above and beyond.

    When entering Aldwyn & Sons, you are greeted by the aroma of fresh coffee (one of my favourite things) and a very helpful barista, that will guide you to the treatment room. Now I know this sounds a bit bizarre, but this is because the parlour is located at a hub of male grooming. You have Sharps the barbers on-site and their artisan coffee shop, in case you need that extra pick me up. All in all, I could be quite content spending my entire day here.

    Once you get to the treatment room though, you’ll be greeted by the very dapper Aldwyn, and he will get you settled in for the pedicure. Offering you your choice of hot drink from the coffee shop, as he prepares the foot bath to soak your feet and take all your cares away. Especially great after the morning run, I’d just done!

    As you sit there, letting your feet soak and enjoying your caffeinated beverage of choice. One thing you instantly notice is the relaxing aesthetic of the treatment room. It truly does remind me of a Victorian gentleman’s club, and I’m more than ok with that. It’s masculine and refined but without the toxic stereotypes of masculinity today. A place men can go, feel relaxed and enjoy the experience of taking care of themselves.

    After your feet have been thoroughly soaked, Aldwyn will go on to start clipping your nails and shaping them. The advantage of this is the control this gives over the direction of nail growth. Especially useful in the avoidance of ingrown toenails, which trust me, are best to be avoided!

    Following this, he will go on to add cuticle remover to soften your cuticles and then proceed to push them back, clip them and tidy up your nail bed. By doing this, we avoid any build up of bacteria and ensure healthy nail regrowth. To finish this step of the manicure, Aldwyn went on to apply cuticle oil to my nail beds before letting my feet soak some more. This process conditions the cuticles and nail bed. Leaving a perfect canvas for nail regrowth in the future.

    Once my nails had been suitably pampered, it was then time to focus on removing the hard skin on my feet. Which were now in a prime position to have the hard skin removed, following the foot bath. To do this, Aldwyn used a foot file and gently removed the top layers of hard skin, following up with a foot scrub and moisturiser combo to condition and soften the feet. He explained to me during this step that it is never a good idea to entirely remove all hard skin from our feet. As it acts as a protective barrier, during our day to day lives. Instead, it’s best to manage the hard skin, removing only the top layers and in doing so, maintaining the overall appearance of our feet.

    The next and final step of the pedicure was probably the most relaxing thing I’d done this year. It was time for the foot massage, and honestly, this man is magic with his hands! Based upon the reflexology points in your feet, you will honestly just melt into your chair at this point. Definitely take the extra time and go for ‘The Modern Footman’ treatment, you won’t be disappointed.

    With this final step done, my feet were now ‘summer ready’, and I have to be honest, they felt pretty damn amazing. So it’s definitely a part of my grooming routine, that I’m going to upkeep in the future.

    After-care:

    As usual, I think it’s essential to advise you of any of after-care for the treatments I try out, and in this case, there really isn’t any. Just make sure to keep on top of the moisturiser and nail care in between appointments, to keep your feet looking fresh all summer long!

    Pricing:

    As always we can’t speak for every clinician in the country, but for Aldwyn and his team, the pricing is as follows:

    The Modern Footman: £50.00

    A pedicure consisting of nail and cuticle work, foot filing, exfoliation and moisturising, followed by a foot massage.

    The Quick March: £40.00

    A pedicure consisting of nail and cuticle work, foot filing, exfoliation and moisturising.

     

    Follow on Aldwyn & Sons  Instagram

  • No police officer to face discipline over the investigation of the Stephen Port serial killings

    No police officer to face discipline over the investigation of the Stephen Port serial killings

    The Independent Office for Police Conduct has confirmed that none of the 17 police officers who were being investigated, working the Stephen Port serial killings will be disciplined.

    Stephen Port
    CREDIT: met police

    The IOPC has confirmed that none of the 17 officers it investigated over the Stephen Port murder investigation will be disciplined.

    In March 2017 the IOPC announced it had launched an investigation of 17 officers into the service’s response to the deaths of 4 men, Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor murdered by Stephen Port.

    Port was convicted at the Old Bailey in London in 2019 where the judge said that Port had carried out the murders to “satisfy his lust” for sex with men who were rendered unconscious.

    According to the Barking And Dagenham Post, an IOPC spokesman said, “While we agreed none of the officers involved in these investigations may have breached professional standards justifying disciplinary proceedings, we will be making a number of recommendations to the Metropolitan Police to address some of the systemic failings our investigation identified.

    “We have advised the families of Port’s victims and the officers involved that the performance of nine officers fell below the standard required. They will now be required to improve their performance.”

    None of the families of the victims have commented on the announcement.

  • Bitter Wheat Review: Downward spiral that becomes shockingly dumb

    Bitter Wheat Review: Downward spiral that becomes shockingly dumb

    ★ | Bitter Wheat

    (C) PR SUPPLIED

    John Malkovich and David Mamet attempt to tell a story about a Hollywood mogul and his downfall but it falls completely flat in the new West End Show Bitter Wheat.

    Malkovich, star of screen and stage (70 films in total including Empire of the Sun and Burn After Reading), and playwright David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross, Speed the Plow) are where the blames lie in a show that tries to deal with an issue that is very timely but in this stage production is poorly executed. Malkovich is super-rich movie mogul Barney Fein who thinks and makes decisions with his nether regions. All likeliness to Harvey Weinstein is purely coincidental (!!).

    In this satire that is far from funny, Fein’s life is managed by his loyal assistant (Doon Mackichan).

    He even relies on her to get a gift for his mother’s birthday (his mother owns the company) – strangely the same scarf she got her the year before. And then there is another assistant (Alexander Arnold) who has no other function then just to walk in from time to time (including at the end where he announces that there is a man with a gun in the lobby – the same man who kills Feins’ mother in the second half – not shown) – all very silly and unbelievable. But before we get to this we are witness to an attempt by Fein to get young British-Korean actress and Cambridge grad Yung Kim Li (Ioanna Kimbook), who’s flown in to meet him, into a sexual liaison (all she wants is to eat after a long flight).

    Fein first asks her for a massage, and then finally asks her if she would watch him take a shower.

    It’s all very creepy and weird. And the show, at only 110 minutes long, (it also has an interval,) continues on a downward spiral that becomes shockingly dumb and just as quick as Weinteins’ downfall. Malkovich is just not convincing enough and delivers his lines like he’s reading them, while Mamet, who wrote and directed, knows better than to stage a show this bad.

    Avoid at all costs.

    Bitter Wheat plays at the Garrick Theatre until 14th September, book tickets here