Admiral Duncan

Following a devastating bomb blast in 1999, The Admiral Duncan has become one of London’s best known gay institutions, representing the Soho gay scene’s defiance in the face of adversity. Sadly, however, the pub’s current state falls some distance short of its admirable reputation.

The Venue
With its gaudy pink and black frontage sitting proudly on Old Compton Street, passers-by can be in no doubt that The Admiral Duncan is right at the heart of the capital’s gay village.

Essentially, the venue is composed of one smallish bar area, with very little seating and is desperately in need of a good overhaul. Exposed brickwork and dark-stained wood that may have looked good in the glow of Millennium fireworks seems grubby and dated almost a decade later, while the lack of proper seating makes it difficult to relax while juggling your belongings with your white wine spritzer. Soho’s obligatory video jukebox system is pretty fun, though, and on warmer nights the entire front of the venue is thrown open to the street outside, which does give the pub a welcoming edge on some of its snootier neighbours.

The Atmosphere
The Admiral Duncan tends to pull in a fairly mixed crowd of scene queens and passing trade (emphasis on the trade), who can give the place quite a cruisy atmosphere, particularly when they congregate around the main doors. Because of its location, the bar is always busy and you may find it difficult to get served when the room fills up on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The crowd is generally friendly enough, and the bar staff don’t have as much attitude as you usually get in this part of town. The music is fun, too, (although you’d sometimes be forgiven for believing that the jukebox got stuck on Atomic Kitten back in 2002 and they just never got around to fixing it), making this a good place to meet friends if you’re warming up for a big gay night out.

54 Old Compton St
London

W1D - 0207 437 5300

The Venue
Located on Archer Street, Barcode Soho is a short walk from Piccadilly Circus tube station and close to the capital’s heaving gay epicentre, Old Compton Street. Its big blue frontage makes it easy to find, and inside you’ll be met with an open stainless steel and pale wood interior, with tall stools and deep comfy sofas divided over the two floors. With the bar upstairs and a dancefloor downstairs, there’s space for everyone, whether you’re in the mood for a boogie or chatting the night away with pals.

The Atmosphere
This branch of Barcode brings a taste of its Vauxhall cousin to Soho, with cool dance music and a butch, fit mid-30’s gay crowd in Abercrombie and Fitch t-shirts. The crowd is mainly gay males and their straight female friends, blended with the odd group visiting to see a DJ or check out the cool Comedy Camp night. The bar staff are a bit of a letdown, they seem to serve punters in the order they fancy them and display an appallingly snooty attitude at times.

The Music
Barcode Soho attracts great London scene DJs such as Kris di Angelis, who has made a name for himself with residencies at exclusive gay hotspots such as the Soho Revue Bar and the Shadow Lounge. Spinning the full range of house music from funky and electro to lounge tunes, the small dancefloor gets packed every night except Tuesdays when it’s given over to the comedy contingent.

3-4 Archer Street,
Soho
London

W1D 7AP - 0872 148 3541

Small modern and popular cafe/bar in Covent Garden. Mixed crowd, muscle Mary's.

Cafe and lunch in the afternoon, bar in the evening with lots of muscled pre-clubbing crowd. With its large glass frontage a popular place to see and be seen.

Home to Tuesday nights Comedy Camp, which has rapidly established itself as the hot midweek night. The beer is cool, the food delicious, the venue stylish, and the staff all of the above.
32-34 Monmouth Street
London

WC2H 9HA - 0207 240 5828

This is the most popular lesbian bar in London at the moment.

It has an extremely mixed clientele, ranging from butch to femme and from young to old. There are a bar and a club downstairs.

Design is simple, with bright colors and lots of mirrors upstairs and darker, more flirtatious decor downstairs.

Men are welcome as long as a woman escorts them. Open Monday to Thursday 5 to 11:30pm, Friday and Saturday 5pm to 2am, and Sunday 5 to 11pm.


4 Carlisle St
London

W1D 3BJ - 0207 494 4041

Charlies Bar

Admittedly there is a quietness about Charlie's Bar on a Tuesday evening (when the last review was posted) but the bar is alive at the weekends. Me and some friends were there on Thursday for a new quiz they host with their resident dragster, Rita. The atmosphere was great and really lively.


The fact that the bar was still serving until 3am in a really quiet residential neighbourhood, away from the West End is really refreshing for those who don't want to travel just for a late night drink. Apparently there is Karaoke with Rita again on Saturday nights. I'm gonna be at Charlie’s Bar for sure.

124 Globe Road
London

E1 4DZ - 0207 790 1007

Comptons was another vitally important bar in the developing London gay scene twenty years ago and continues to thrive today. Top sporting events in football and rugby are often shown here too - although results aren't often the management's top priority.

51 - 53 Old Compton Street
London

W1D 6HN - 0207 479 7961

Duke Of Wellington, The

Lurking behind the Queens Theatre, this Soho pub is an evolving entity in this diverse district.

The Venue
The Duke of Wellington or ‘The Welly’ as it reads on the barman’s skin-tight vest, is a lounge-style pub at the start of Wardour Street. You’ll notice straight away that this isn’t just a normal pub. It may have a classic name over the door but the high stalls gathered around ledges pinned to pillars suggests more of a bar environment that encourages mingling; plus, the hasty creation of a dancefloor with the minimum of furniture removal.

The wallpaper is modern and colourful and the distressed wooden look that goes with it is very en vogue - there has certainly been effort and thought put into the design of the place. There is little in the way of seating except a sofa at the back and two large armchairs propped next to a small table at the entrance - only the early birds will catch the… chair. The lounge bar upstairs is closed during the day but offers seating at night and therefore an alternative to wondering what to do with your arms whilst standing.

The Atmosphere
The Welly has a mixture of identities. A visit is nothing short of weird as Balearic house and Justin Timberlake style sounds are blurted out of the speakers, over the heads of a largely disinterested clientele. The night comes alive as people ditch the ledges and corners and head inward to the dancefloor nucleus. The plasma screens flash music videos, the volume goes up and the cocktails come out. The Duke of Wellington is welcoming to all and particularly gay friendly. The clientele is largely male but the age ranges between young and old.

77 Wardour St
London

W1D 6QA - 0207 439 1274

First Out is London's first lesbian and gay cafe-bar. Everyone loves First Out for its blend of friendly cafe' life and relaxed bar atmosphere in the heart of the West End.

The cafe's innovative international vegetarian menu offers a wide range of tasty meals at very low prices. They also have a fine range of gateaux, pastries and excellent coffee all so reasonably priced that you can afford to come every day.
52 St. Giles High St
London

WC2H 8LH - 0207 240 8042

G.A.Y bar is a bar version of the once extremely popular gay club, G.A.Y.
The club has shut down recently but the bar continues to pull in massive crowds of the younger type.

Stylish pop queens and twinks fill the two floors of this pop-tastic bar, with a video duke box blasting images from well-known classic past.

Not a place for those that like it harder.

30 Old Compton Street,
Soho
London

W1D 4UR - 020 7494 2756

halfway to heaven

This pub is conveniently located right next to Charing Cross, which makes it a tempting last ditch before the inevitable journey home.

It's a more older crowed with odds and sods from all over.

On the edge of Soho it's a good starting or end point to your night.

Duncannon Street
London

Hope and Anchor, The

Hours‎: Open Mon-Sat 12pm-11pm; Sun 12pm-10:30pm
Payment Accepted‎: Cash
Ambiance‎: Friendly
Parking‎: Street Parking Free after 6.30
Description‎: A new gay bar in the heart of West London. Floral suntrapped private beer garden, Regular entertainment,fantastic Bingo every Wed, mixed bars, close to major tube statios
Public Transportation‎: Hammersmith & City Line, Piccadilly & District
20 Macbeth Street


London

W6 9JJ - 020 8748 8256

Jimmies Wine Bar

Jimmies is hidden away in a basement at the end of Kensington Church Street, but there's nothing dingy about the interior of the bar since its recent makeover. The candlelit tables, kitsch features and eclectic music attract a diverse crowd. The drinks menu is good, with a reasonable cocktail selection on offer in addition to the usual beers and wines, but it is rather overpriced. However, in an area where most drinking establishments are traditional pubs, Jimmies is a welcome alternative. Admission costs £5 on Fri & Sat.

18 Kensington Church St
London

W8 - 0207 937 9988

Kazbar

Hours‎: Open Mon-Thu 4pm-12am; Fri 4pm-1am; Sat 12pm-1am; Sun 12pm-11:30pm
Payment Accepted‎: American Express, Cash, Connect, Delta, Electron, Maestro, MasterCard, Solo, Switch, Visa
Description‎: South London's premier gay bar. Featuring top DJ and Video Jock's and daily drinks promotions. Home to Clapham's biggest street party each June.

The Venue
Located equidistant between Clapham North and Clapham Common, Kazbar is easy to find and is a popular addition to an area swamped with bars. After a total refurbishment in 2008, Kazbar has been transformed from just another bar into a hi tech, unique space. With two huge video walls, a dancefloor, comfy mezzanine area and a massive, well stocked bar this is one of the only video bars to be found in London.

The Atmosphere
There is a large gay contingent who frequent Kazbar but it is in no means exclusive, and lots of straight couples and groups also visit regularly. The age group is fairly young, and the music reflects this. A VJ plays on Wednesday and Thursday with a DJ at the weekends. It’s certainly a welcome addition to the Clapham party scene.

50 Clapham High Street
London

SW4 7UL - 0207 622 0070

The Venue
Set in the midst of Hampstead High Street sits this lively retreat from the hustle and bustle outside. Inside, King William IV has colourful cushioned chairs and plenty of tables for eating, as well as a bar area. The mix of purple and pink with Jacobean style woodwork in the interior creates an unusual but comfortable atmosphere, although it’s not to average taste.

The pub also has a seated paved area at the back, which is screened off from the main high street; this area becomes very popular on summer afternoons. There are also benches outside the pub for those who want to be closer to the action.

The Atmosphere
King William IV used to attract a predominantly gay community but now pulls in a range of locals and visitors to the area as well as retaining this emphasis - the striped rainbow colours at the bottom of the pub sign subtly suggesting its orientation. On Sunday afternoons, the pub fills with couples dining to a background of indie music. The bar staff are friendly and helpful with a handy table service utilised.

77 Hampstead High St
London

NW3 1RE - 0207 435 5747

Kings Arms, The

Friday night is when the local bear group, Bear Hug, meets. While this pub caters mainly to bears all week, it is PACKED on Friday night both upstairs and down. I didn't notice the decor of the place as much as I did the patrons....WOOF! Lots of great bears and cubs, all pretty friendly. This is a pub, so by law it closes at 11PM. Plan on heading out early (like by 8PM) to get in before the crowd.
23 Poland St
London

W1F 8QJ - 0207 734 5907

Our stylish new bar sits on the corner of Frith Street/Old compton Street in the hart of Soho and the gay village.

With three floors, great music and tons of drinks offers, you can drink in style with more of the hottest boys and girls in town. Party on after closing with free entry to Ku Klub!

Cheak out our trendy subterrane lounge bar and powder room...
25 Frith Street,
Soho
London

WC2H 7BA - 0207 437 4303

Macbeth, The

Although a bit hard to find, the long walk in heels was well worth it for the atmosphere in the macbeth..... For anyone from south wales I can only say that this is London's answer to the Monkey Bar in Swansea - same laid back vibe and layout with a well dressed and rather cute crowd !

70 Hoxton St

London

N1 6LP - 0207 749 0600

The Oak Bar is a laid back, effortlessly hip venue with a huge gay (mostly lesbian) following; the loyal clientele favouring its cheap drinks and pub-like aesthetic.

The Venue
Oak Bar is located at the Newington Green end of Green Lanes. Just a fifteen minute bus ride from Angel or a nine minute walk from Canonbury Railway Station, the exterior is painted black with an iconic gay rainbow flag flying proudly outside.

This well lit, mock-Tudor style bar is L-shaped inside and fits about 250 people in total, with a pool table close to the entrance and a generous lounge area nearby. To the side of the lounge is a spacious dancefloor complete with DJ booth, a full sound system complete with lighting and plasma screens. Small (cramped might be a better word) toilets are situated behind the dancefloor with an all-wooden large bar nearby.

The Atmosphere
The Oak Bar has a relaxed, unpretentious feel that appeals to its diverse range of customers. Predominantly marketed as a lesbian bar, there are several gay and women-only nights whilst the rest are mixed and include old school, hip hop, rock and disco parties. These parties are also designed to appeal to the dominant Turkish and Cypriot community residing on Green Lanes. Occasional live bands appear at The Oak too, and the venue can be hired out for private parties with the option to extend the 3am licence on an ad-hoc application.

The bar staff are friendly, attentive and mostly female, in keeping with the dressed-down, casual cool vibe of the place.
79 Green Lanes
London

N16 - 0207 354 2791

Propaganda is the freshest and most exciting addition to the
Nottingham gay scene!

This plush new venue, situated in the city's trendy Lace Market, has
the friendliest of atmospheres, irresistible drinks offers and a
whole host of entertainment throughout the week! Without doubt, the
hottest hangout for Nottingham’s gay party people.

OPEN
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
8pm - 2am
Sunday 8pm - 12:30am

Propaganda Nottingham
8 Broadway
The Lace Market

Nottingham

The Venue
The Railway Tavern is nothing to write home about. There’s a motley assortment of stools, chairs, leather armchairs and what looks like a school bench. It’s a small, low-ceilinged room on busy Commercial Road in Limehouse just a stone’s throw from the DLR station.

On the plus side, it does have nice stained glass in the windows and the inside hasn't been made over into some interior decorator’s wet dream. It is what it is - a proper Limehouse local.

The Atmosphere
"My fuckin' second husband only lasted six months," slurs the woman on the bar stool before taking a slug from her glass of cider. The barmaid doesn't hand over the beer until money crosses her palm. They mean business here. The Railway Tavern is a rough ‘n’ tumble pub lying incongruously next to a gay sauna. It could only be the East End.

576 Commercial Rd
London

E14 7JD - 0207 790 2360

Retro Bar

Retro Bar stands out by being just a little bit different. Tucked down a little alleyway, its certainly more Camden than Charing Cross.

An intimate arrangements of seats, a smattering of neon-lit knickknacks, photos of rock-stars and a great jukebox all add up to a place suited for a both a swift weekday pint or a longer Saturday night.

There was gay-friendly crowd but it was still pretty mixed, interspersed with only a smattering of suited office workers.

Certainly, Retro Bar is worth seeking out if you’re in the area and tired of the usual drinking places.

2 George Ct
London

WC2N 6HH - 020 7925 2637

Richmond Arms

The Richmond Arms, a small tradional gay/straight friendly pub. One of the best in London.
Recently had a refurb, and the staff and Manager Freddie make the place welcoming to everyone. The clientel and regulars are all nice, and charming. You don't get any trouble, as the pub has great links with the community and the police safety team. Definately worth checking out, you will definately make new friends
20 The Square,
Richmond
London

TW9 1DZ - 0208 940 2118

The pub used in location filming for Series 1 of "Goodnight Sweetheart". After Series 1 it was re-created on a stage, along with the passage that brings Gary Sparrow back to the 1940s
73 Columbia Rd
London

E2 7RG - 0207 729 2220

The Venue
The rotund, red-painted Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Kennington Lane is just over the road from Vauxhall tube station. It’s easy to find, standing proud and alone at the end of the road in a patch of grassland on the corner of the South Lambeth Road, looking like a pub from a bygone era. The venue that gave birth to Lily Savage has refreshed and revitalised in recent years, with a paint job and new sound and lighting systems breathing life into the place.

The Atmosphere
Attracting mainly thirtysomething beardy alternative gays and their straight friends, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern is consciously uncool. The crowd is here for pure, unadulterated fun, whether they want to boogie to the eclectic tunes, see a live music act or catch the hysterical cabaret, with stars throughout the week such as Amy Lame and the Dame Edna Experience hosting different evenings such as the infamous Saturday night shindig, Duckie. The staff follow the approachable lead of the management, keen to chat and keep the punters coming back to the bar for more.

The Music
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is nothing if not diverse, with a fine selection of indie, glam rock, '80s pop and electro pop dominating the club nights, and jazz and live music alongside comedy and drag acts making up the cabaret. This attitude free, fun-loving venue always has something different going on, and it’s worth a visit to the website to see what’s coming up. Expect to see brilliant chart-bothering DJs Readers Wives every weekend.

The Drink
This venue has a well-stocked bar, so long as you’re not expecting anything too glamorous. It offers up everything you might expect at very reasonable prices, especially compared to some of the Vauxhall superclubs nearby, and the bar staff are friendly, efficient and eager to spark up conversation.

372 Kennington Ln
London

SE11 - 0207 820 1222

Rupert Street Bar packs in a trendy crowd of gay men, keen to enjoy the eye-candy and fantastic atmosphere. Rumoured to be the highest earning gay bar in Soho, it must be doing something right.

The Venue
Located on a corner of Rupert Street close to London gay mecca Old Compton Street, Rupert Street Bar is ideally placed to capture the pink pound, at just a five minutes’ walk from Piccadilly Circus station.

The large venue has long, tall windows out onto the street in a gesture of defiance at the gay bar tradition of darkened windows, and the crowd pick up on the sense of pride by spilling out onto the pavement on warmer evenings. Inside, the decor is modern but nondescript, and the venue is usually too packed for it to matter much.

The Atmosphere
It really can’t be stressed enough how busy Rupert Street Bar gets, with crowds at the bar at peak times making it a battle to get as far as ordering a drink. That said, once you reach the bar the staff will be ready with a grin and some friendly banter, and you won’t find yourself waiting as long as you might expect given the hordes of customers.

The punters are a nice bunch to be squeezed in with, expect media type in their twenties-to-thirties wearing anything from funky skinny jeans and Converse high tops to the suits they wore earlier at the office. Any gay bar that gets this crowded can feel somewhat cruisy, and there’s a definite element who are here to pick up some romantic action.

50 Rupert St

London

W1D 6DR - 0207 292 7141

Not a terrificly exciting sauna BUT the only one where you can buy a beer during licensed hours.
29 Endell St
London

WC2H 9BA - 0207 836 2236

Stag, The

They have good karaoke on Thursdays at The Stag and also cabaret acts. The crowds are mixed with cabaret lovers, suits and regulars. The food is good and the portions generous. The Stag is a nice pub and the entertainment is great.

15 Bressenden Pl
London

SW1E 5DD - 0207 828 7287

This is a stylish bar on 3 and sometimes 4 floors.

It's got state of the art lighting with regular DJ's and entertainment in it's small levels. It's on Soho Sq too so easy to top up your cocktails when your dossing in the squar.
11 Soho Sq
London

W1D 3QE - 0207 439 1313

The Enclave, Brewer Street, is one of the few late night (3am) premises in Soho to offer both a lounge-bar and club atmosphere with all the benefits and ambience of a private member’s bar, whilst also remaining affordable and accessible to mainstream Soho regulars.

Appealing to a mixed, metropolitan crowd, The Enclave sets itself further apart from its competitors by providing table service, extensive wine and cocktail lists, and well spaced tables combined with low lighting and music, designed to create an atmosphere that compliments, rather than inhibits, conversation. The downstairs space (The Subterane) offers a stylish club atmosphere, gearing towards playing commercial music with a progressive twist.

The Enclave also offers an Enchanted Shrine area, hidden at the back of the lounge bar, for those who crave a little luxury and privacy. Both the Subterane and the Shrine are available for private hire with max capacities of 100 and 15 respectively.

Free entry before 9pm
£5 Happy hour drinks / 5pm - 9pm

25-27 Brewer st
London

w1f0rr - 02074342911

Hours‎: Open Mon-Tue,Thu-Fri 8pm-11pm; Wed,Sat 2pm-11pm; Sun 2pm-10:30pm
Payment Accepted‎: Cash
Nearest Stations‎: Elephant & Castle (Northern/Bakerloo lines), London Bridge (Northern/Jubilee lines), Bermondsey (Jubilee line)
Description‎: South London's Most Popular Gay Cruise Bar. Open 7 days a week
Car Parking‎: Alscot Road, Henley Drive
In Business Since‎: 1997
Public Transportation‎: Buses 1, 78 & N1 stop outside
Grange Rd,
Southwark
London

SE1 - 0207 237 7742

Angel’s chilled out and sophisticated gay bar The Green keeps you entertained every night of the week, but it’s lacking in both space and pace.

The Venue
The Green can be found on Upper Street in Islington, a short walk from Angel tube station. A discreet signage and its narrow plot make it easy to wander past, and once you go inside the thin space it can feel like you’re in a very long corridor.

As you make your way towards the bar on the right hand side, a mirrored wall helps give a feeling of space, and beyond the bar the room opens up a little to offer bench seating, comfy chairs, and tables. It's cramped but they make the most of the space with bright lights, reflective surfaces, and contemporary interior design.

The Atmosphere
Although it's a gay bar, The Green welcomes a mixed crowd of Upper Street after-work professionals, locals and trendy hipsters. The small space means it gets packed early in the evening and you can often end up sharing a table. This makes the overall vibe open and sociable, with new conversations sparking up easily.

There are regular quiz nights, comedy and drag acts, which encourages the crowd to get lively and interact. The staff are friendly and chatty, but all too often with each other rather than with their customers.

The Food
The Green offers a full menu of modern European starters and main courses, alongside a range of bar snacks and sandwiches. They also have an exceptional modern weekend brunch menu earlier in the day. A three course meal will cost £20-£25 and bar snacks start at just £3.

The Drink
The bar is very small at The Green but it's adequately stocked to offer an unusual range of cocktails, a lengthy wine and Champagne list, and some unusual world beers such as Cruzcampo and Paulaner. Prices are expensive - even for its Upper Street setting - and you may need to fight your way past customers sitting on the bar stools to gain the attention of the slow bar staff.

74 Upper St
London

N1 0NY - 0207 226 8895

The Little Apple

Gay pub, but also serves as a regular for locals.
Does a fantastic Sunday roast and tucked away treasure of a beer garden.
98 Kennington Ln
London

SE11 - 0207 582 7911

The Load Of Hay

Gay pub in Watford ---
207 Pinner Road
Watford,
London

WD194ET - 01923 441 113

The Queens Head

The Queens Head is about the nearest thing to a "traditional" pub in London's gay scene. The staff are really friendly - especially the friendly little lesbian behind the bar. The only drawback with the Queens Head is that it appeals to a slightly older crowd.

25 Tryon St
London

SW3 3LG - 0207 589 0262

The West Green Tavern

Gay bar in North London
68 West Green Rd
London

N15 5NR - 0208 800 3317

The Village is a 3 story gay bar in Soho. Always busy of a weekend this place has a very young vibe to it with the latest hits and mixes blasting out loudly. One of the upper floors (cant remember which!) can be hired out for parties. The space is good and you get 1 or 2 dedicated staff for the evening. Also, there are sometime sexy gogo dancers on the bar.


81 Wardour St
London

W1D 6QD - 0207 434 2124

The Venue
Behind a discrete entrance with a blacked out door lies the White Swan. Part pub, part nightclub, inside is a decent sized space with a laminate bar in prime position. A small stage runs from one corner into the centre of the room (this must be where the amateur strip competition every Wednesday night takes place!) with a DJ booth behind. A VLT machine blinks along in the background. Thursday is Karaoke night; perhaps that pulls the punters in? Or their Sunday afternoon tea dance?

The Atmosphere
On a Tuesday evening at 10pm in the White Swan, don’t be surprised if you’re the only one in the pub. You'd think the bar staff would be happy to see you... Still, you can always watch TV together. It’s too dark to read and there are no windows to look out of so the choices are limited.

556 Commercial Rd
London

E14 7JD - 0207 780 9870

Friendly unpretentious mixed gay bar set out over two floors with a courtyard. DJ's at weekends

It is so refreshing to walk into a bar like Yard right in the centre of the sticky and bustling Soho surroundings on a hot summer's day and be able to just breathe.

57 Rupert Street
London

W1D 7PL - 0207 437 2652

Ye Old Rose and Crown

The rose and crown is Greenwich's only gay bar. Others have come and gone, like the famous Glouster featured in 'Beautiful thing' which is sadly is long gone.
The rose and crown is still going strong, which has a friendly but relaxed vide to it.

It's great to sit outside and sun yourself while chatting to the local's about life and do a bit of people watching.

Each night usually has something different on except Saturdays when it’s just unadulterated drinking.


1 Croom's Hill
London

SE10 8ER - 020 8293 1898