LISTINGS GAY & LESBIAN Gay & Lesbian: Out and about Bored with clubbing and want to try something different? Jo Gardner finds out what’s on offer While there are no shortage of gay and lesbian bars and clubs in the capital, those looking to shake their tailfeather should check out the season’s events. From comedy to musicals, cricket to drag, the summer looks set to sizzle. Kicking off proceedings is Pride London (20 June-5 July), a two-week event celebrating what it is to be gay, lesbian or bisexual and culminating in Parade Day, which last year attracted a whopping 825,000 revellers. Colourful fl oats make their way down Baker, Oxford and Regent Streets to Trafalgar Square. This year’s theme is fairytales, myths and legends, so expect plenty of pink, fairy dust and wands. If your visit is later, try the Royal Vauxhall Tavern for Hot August Fringe, a full month of theatre, stand-up, music, drag and cabaret starting on 27 July. Or if you prefer to work up more of a sweat — or you simply look good in white
— try one of the Grace Cricket Club weekly meetings taking place each Sunday
until September at Peter May Sports Centre near Walthamstow. Enjoy a knock-about, watch a match or take part in competitive play. Either way, make sure you
protect your lunchbox! www.pridelondon.org www.rvt.org.uk www.gaycricket.org GAY & LESBIAN
BARS ADMIRAL DUNCAN 54 Old Compton Street, W1D 4UD. Piccadilly Circus T: 020 7437 5300. One of London’s most famous and best-loved
gay bars, the Admiral Duncan is a great place
to drop in and have a pint. BAR CODE 3-4 Archers Street, W1D 7AP. T: 020 7734 3342. EDGE 11 Soho Square, W1D 3QE. Tottenham Court Road T: 020 7439 1313. www.edgesoho.net
London’s largest gay bar is packed from early
evening to the small hours. A good place to
start the night before heading on to a club. ESCAPE 8 Brewer Street, W1F 0SE. Leicester Square/Piccadilly Circus T: 020 7734 2626. One of London’s smallest gay bars, Escape
is extremely popular with friendly regulars,
mainly in the 20s-30s age category. FIRST OUT 52 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LH. Tottenham Court Road T: 020 7240 8042. www.fi rstoutcafebar.com
A relaxed vegetarian cafe by day, First Out
becomes a pre-club watering hole at
sundown. Friday night is the busiest, when the
bar plays host to Girl Friday with female DJs. FREEDOM 60-66 Wardour Street, W1D 6QB. T: 020 7437 3490. www.freedombarsoho.com
Freedom hosts a variety of art exhibitions, fi lm
premieres and after-show parties. The ground
fl oor is a popular venue during the day, while
in the evenings the basement bar buzzes. G-A-Y BAR 30 Old Compton Street, W1D 4UR. Leicester Square T: 020 7494 2756. www.g-a-y.co.uk KUDOS CAFE BAR 10 Adelaide Street, WC2N 4HZ. Leicester Square/Charing Cross T: 020 7379 4573. Gay bar with regular DJ nights and strong
links with local gay clubs, including Heaven. ROYAL VAUXHALL TAVERN 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY. T: 020 7820 1222. www.rvt.org.uk Revellers at Pride London CENTRAL STATION 37 Wharfedale Road, N1 9SD. King’s Cross COMPTONS 51-53 Old Compton Street, W1D 6HN. T: 020 7479 7961. This venue has lots of history. If you like 56 W2L SUMMER 2009 |