RESEARCH
REPORT
GAY MEN AND GAY SPACES SPACE SYNTAX ANALYSIS OF ‘GAY SOHO’ - THE PHYSICAL EMBODIMENT OF IT'S GAY SPACE.
REPORT SUBMITTED BY,
ADITYA VINOD TERM II - PROJECT
SUPERVISOR
SAM GRIFFITHS MASTERS OF RESEARCH: SPACE SYNTAX: ARCHITECTURE AND CITIES 2017-2018 THE BARTLETT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON, LONDON
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS FRONT MATTER
4
Keywords 4 Abstract 4 Terminology 4
INTRODUCTION
6
Map of Soho
8
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
9
LITERATURE REVIEW
10
Gay Spaces: The Physical and Cultural Space 10 Spatial Theories and Gay Practises 12
METHODOLOGY
13
Formulating a Methodology 10 Land-use Analysis 15 Alleys, Courts and Broad Streets 17 Step Depth Analysis 20 Choice and Integration Analysis 23 Historical Evolution of Old Compton Street 27
DISCUSSION 28 CONCLUSION 29 REFERENCES 30 Reference Images List Of Gay Establishments
31 32
3
FRONT MATTER
KEYWORDS Gay men, appropriation, gay space, space syntax, urban segregation
ABSTRACT The paper reports a three-month research
spaces. How are they positioned in the network?
on the evolution of gay spaces in Soho, City of
The research also explores gay practices and
Westminster - an area popularly dubbed as
identifies the spatiality of these practices. A
the ‘Gay Village of London’ (Collins, 2004). It
reference is made with space syntax theories
1
investigates how ideas such as ‘gay villages’
on segregation of cultures in urban areas and
represent the physical embodiment of gay
builds on studying gay community clustering
cultural identity and through spatial analysis
as a spatial phenomenon. In conclusion, shift
explores whether this identity emerged from
in attitude of gay men since the 19672 and the
space or was it imposed onto space. The
effect it has on shaping gay/queer spaces are
investigation begins by identifying spaces which
extrapolated from the findings of the research.
are/were gay spaces through three historical
An attempt is made to examine the role of space
periods selected upon certain principles and
in enabling appropriation by the sub-culture of
understanding on the study area and culture of
Gay men.
gay men. The exploratory phase of the research delves into literature on cultural identity and the ‘placeness’ of gay men to identify these gay/queer 1 Gay villages in cities are areas inhabited and/ or frequented and popular among non-heteronormative individuals. These areas are LGBT+ friendly and have high residential and/or commercial establishments for these individuals. 4
2 Year of partial decriminalization of Homosexuality in Britain.
TERMINOLOGY Due to the ambiguity regarding this topic, terms as interpreted in this study are explicitly stated here.
Gay
Gay meaning ‘homosexual’ which became established in the 1960s as the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves.
Gay Space
In this study, Gay space is the material/ physical space appropriated by gay males referring to spaces where gay men are present, engage with their ‘community’ and/ or socialize. These constitute gay bars, café’s, pubs, or even neighbourhoods, such as Gay Villages etc.
Queer
An umbrella term for individuals who are non-heteronormative.
5
INTRODUCTION
Soho is an area in the City of Westminster, towards the west end of Central London. It is approximately 2.6 square kilometre in area and is bounded by high streets such as Oxford Street, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue and Charring Cross Road. This area is popularly dubbed as the ‘Gay Village of London’ (Collins, 2004). It has a large concentration of amenities advertised as gay friendly and/or for gay individuals and Queer community (LGBTQ+) specifically for Gay Men. This research explores the history to understand what made Soho and how it evolved. Throughout history the area has undergone a dynamic transformation since its occupation by the early immigrants mainly the French, but also Russians, Jews, Turkish and others from as early as 18th century. They appropriated various streets of Soho such as Poland Street, Greek street, Meard Street, and so on, spatially distributing but also in parts converging their use of space. Soho later became the music hub where young artists lived, worked and performed along Denmark street. Following the arrival of early British youth fashion in the 1950’s along Carnaby Street, Soho become the symbol of modern fashion. (Speiser, 2017) When mapping the different cultures and sub-cultures of Soho, it reveals a spatial organisation where each group seem to have followed a certain spatial clustering. Before its cherished popularity as in the modern day, Soho was home to the immigrants, the discriminated and the poor. Their presence, although faint, are visible through the numerous businesses and shops that were established by them earlier. In brief the ‘anomalies’ that lived in Soho. A common place for the mischievous, the misfits and the irregulars. The transformation of its identity and the ability of space in enabling affordance for multi-cultural manifestation throughout history is the theme of this research in its broad context. In this study, however, gay spaces and appropriation by gay men on Soho will be investigated. 6
Image top
Map of Soho highlighting important streets. Image centre
Map indicating Census Data on the percentage of Same-Sex Couple cohabiting or living as a couple in Soho area. Image bottom
Collage showing adverts of Gay facilities - sweatbox gym(left), village pub (entertainment), Madame JoJo's (an establishment for gay community which recently shut down)
low
high
7
2018 Map of Soho obtained from Ordanance SurveryDigimaps/Edina accessed on 02.02.2018.
Study boundary of soho
Figure: The map of Soho highligting the study boundary. It is to be noted that the statistical boundary of Soho and the study boundary are not the same. 8
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study investigates to what extend do ideas like gay villages represent the material (physical) embodiment of the gay (Queer) cultural identity. Did identity emerge from the space or was it imposed on the space? The research draws on three main questions: •
What can Soho, the famous Gay Village of London, tell us about Gay spaces? Do ‘Gay
spaces’ have a distinct spatial morphology? •
What, if anything, can configurational analysis tell us about the relationship between
material world and gay pr actices? •
Why does Old-Compton Street have large concentration of amenities for Gay Men?
What is the role of Old Compton Street in changing identity of Soho to the Gay Village of London?
9
LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1
Gay spaces: The physical and cultural space
This section is divided into two parts: ‘Gay spaces as physical and cultural spaces’ and a reflection of ‘Spatial theories and gay practises’. At first, it is attempted to identify gay spaces. So where are these gay/queer spaces? Gay (queer)1 spaces by definition are spaces appropriated by gay men. As cited in (Amaury and Ramirez, 2016), Aaron Betsky in Queer Space writes ‘The queer spaces of the modern era were the dark alleys, unlit corners and hidden rooms that queers found in the city. These spaces appeared where they were least expected. The interaction between people needn’t be made or encouraged but they just appeared exactly at the moment they were least expected.’ In the case of physical, urban spaces for gay men to congregate, such as gay bars, their physical locations would sometimes be difficult to find unless the visitor knew exactly where to look. Finding another man to have a sexual encounter with was often an act contained and limited to these—as Michel de Certeau would label them in The Practice of Everyday Life (1988)- strategic spaces, through the sexual practice of ‘cottaging’—the British term for having casual gay sex in public toilets (de Certeau,.M. (1988) cited in Amaury and Ramirez, 2016). As opposed to cottaging- which is linked to toilets- ‘cruising’ offers men the ability to engage in sporadic, intimate encounters with different men in the area, in multiple spaces in the city such as bars, alleys and parks. Both practices rely on the gaze and surveillance of other men located in the same strategic spaces (Amaury and Ramirez, 2016).
1 In this context, the author mentions queer or gay as in the literature in consideration (Amaury and Ramirez, 2016) the term queer denotes gay men 10
LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1
Gay spaces: The physical and cultural space Conversation with a 'Sohoite'1
Upon interviewing a gay man living in Soho: Interviewer
Why did you move to London?
Interviewee
Girl, Brazil is too ‘closed’ for me, you know what I mean. I need something more free and open. I like Brazil but I like here better.
Interviewer
Why Soho?
Interviewee
Where else would I be? Its Soho!
In conclusion it is understood that queer spaces are/were: The dark alleys, unlit corners, and hidden rooms that queers found in the city were the queer spaces. These spaces were strategic locations to find men to have sexual encounter. Their physical locations would sometimes be difficult to find unless the visitor knew exactly where to look. Bars, alleys and parks were possible Cruising spots. Practices rely on location of other men in these spaces. 1 People living and/or working in Soho who have a sense of pride in being associated with Soho 11
LITERATURE REVIEW 1.2
Spatial theories and gay practises
From space syntax theories, we know space has an effect on clustering of individuals. Hillier (1984) demonstrates how that space influences society. But other scholars (Jerram, 2013) have opposing views about space-society relationship. ‘The city has a large collection of buildings linked by physical space, and a complex system of human activity linked by interaction- social space’ (Vaughan, 2007) ‘The patterning of physical space affects the patterning of social space’ (Hiller et al., 1984) ‘Some areas cluster or segregate certain cultures and sub-cultures making segregation a spatial urban phenomenon.’ (Vaughan, 2007) ‘The idea, though, that “space” can have a meaning in the sense we often use it is not helpful to effective spatial analysis. We talk of gay space, male space, sacred space, and so on; but a space cannot possess the quality of being gay, male, or sacred.’ (Jerram, 2013). As Leif Jerram says ‘space cannot possess the quality of being gay male or sacred’ (Jerram, 2013). Exploring gay practices such as Cruising-the practice of searching about a public place for partners to have a sexual encounter, Cottaging- sexual activity between men in places such as public toilets, PRIDE demonstrations raises the question whether aren’t these practises spatial in many senses? Spatial configuration and spatial affordance enables these encounters and co-presence or coavoidance and it seems that the gays and the queers have found a way to manoeuvre in the cities and its built environment. 12
METHODOLOGY 2.1
Formulating a methodology
Further, a methodology is derivied in congruence with the findings from literature review.
Upon this understanding of queer spaces, a methodology was derived focusing on these spaces as the main area of investigation. See Figure1: The diagram represents the methodology accepted . The devised methodology tested the area of investigation against three parameters of spatial analysis•
2 Step Principle of Hillier and Hanson (Hiller et al., 2013)
•
Configurational Analysis
•
Spatial Analysis
13
METHODOLOGY
AREAS OF INVESTIGATION
TWO STEP PRINCIPLE OF HILLIER AND HANSON
CONFIGURATIONAL ANALYSIS
SPATIAL ANALYSIS
ALLEYS, OPEN SPACES BROAD STREETS
STEP DEPTH ANALYSIS YEAR:1970, 2018
CHOICE AND INTEGRATION YEAR:1970, 2018
LANDUSE DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS
BARS, CAFES, CLUBS
FROM HIGH STREETS
AGENT BASED MODELLING YEAR:1970, 2018
DISTRIBUTION OF BARS FOR GAY MEN YEAR: 2018
STREET NETWORK AND CONNECTIVITY
FROM OLD COMPTON STREET
VISUAL GRAPH ANALYSIS
EVOLUTION OF OLD COMPTON STREET YEAR: 1763, 2018
Figure1: Representation of methodology followed. The maps of years 1870, 1970 and 2018 were used to investigate spatial changes over time. 14
METHODOLOGY 2.2
Landuse Analysis:
Landuse across the whole area is diverse but dominant uses are restaurants and retail spaces followed by offices.
The area has a large concentration of amenities for gay individuals especially gay men. In this study, a total of 41 different uses advertising as for gay community or gay friendly have been noted in Soho area. (Also refer Campkin and Marshall, 2017. This data set though not complete did support the study in validating the findings from field survey.) For details on the name, type and location of these establishment. It is to be noted that some of these establishments are not just for gay men and were advertised as for the LGBT+ community. These, nevertheless, were popularly known as ‘for gay men’. This accumulative data set has multiple sources such as Gay London Guide, (Campkin and Marshall, 2017), survey by the author and by interviewing gay men in Soho. Refer Table 1 List of establishments advertising as gay-friendly or for gay men in Soho area*.
15
Figure top
Landuse Map of Soho
Figure bottom
Landuse map of Soho highlighting Gay establishments
Parking Undefined Education Community Under Construction Parking Hotels Undefined Leisure
Education
Residential
Community
Services
Under Construction
Office
Hotels Retail Catering Leisure
Residential
Establishments catering to gay community are cncentrated along Old Compton Street. In the map Services Office above, the pink polygons indicate these establishments. Retail
Catering
16
METHODOLOGY 2.3
Alleys, Courts and Broad Streets
The gay spaces, as classified upon literature review, were mapped for three different timeline- 1890, 1970 and 2018 These specific timelines were chosen as they were important with respect to the evolution of Old Compton Street and gay culture in London. Identified upon background study on the evolution and transformation in morphology of this area and other literature references. Between 1880-1890 Shaftesbury Avenue Road was constructed, and in 1967 homosexuality was partially decriminalised. 2018 maps were used as it is the latest and depicts the current scenario. This analysis helped reveal changes in space that were earlier appropriated by gays. The selection criteria as to which are alleys, courts and broad streets were upon definition, location and spatial character. Alleys were small and narrow lanes and usually just pedestrian paths. Some small yards and enclosed spaces that had plots/units opening into them with a single entry or in some cases multiple entry/exit points were also considered as alleys. Courts were the large open spaces such as parks, church yard, etc with unrestrict access for public. Broad streets were streets are wider than the others and usually many streets open on to a broad street. Street markets, street shops, streets with communal pump (famous Broad Street Pump from John Snow’s investigations) all render these streets a wider piazza sort of character. Alleys
Courts
Broad Streets
A typical example is as shown in the figure above. 17
Figure top
1890 ALLEYS, COURTS AND BROAD STREETS Figure bottom
1970 ALLEYS, COURTS AND BROAD STREETS
Although numerically there are differences in the total number of gay spaces, important for this study is how these spaces earlier appropriated by gays have shifted from segregated, known only if you need to know basis, to more integrated spaces. This will be further discussed in later chapters.
18
Figure top
2018 ALLEYS, COURTS AND BROAD STREETS Photo top left
GRAPHICAL COMPARISON OF TOTAL NO. OF ALLEYS, COURTS AND BROAD STREETS 5
242
4
5 4
3
3
123
56 1890
•
1970
Alleys reduced
2018
1890
•
1970
2018
Courts reduced and shifted
1890
•
1970
2018
Broad streets reduced and shifted
This analysis shows that although in number courts and a broad streets have remainded constant, there has been a shift in location. Some courts are inaccessibile while others have opened up to the public. In Broad streets - Berwick Street has lost its initial role as an open market and gathering space. Alleys have reduced in number significantly over the years. 19
METHODOLOGY 2.4
Step Depth Analysis:
Step depth analysis to identify the ease with which one can reach the streets in Soho from any high street in the surrounding. can one reach these gay spaces from streets with high The Hiller and Hanson, (1984) Two-step principle was applied to in analysis of the step depth of these gay spaces from high streets. The minimum step depth was measured based on the axial map. Old Compton street is one step away from any high street in the surrounding. The alleys and broad streets were one and two steps away from any high streets as well (Refer Figure ). These measures were then compared with the Integration values INT R800 to identify the hierarchy of such gay spaces within itselft. Highstreets have high values in both Choice and Integration analysis at global and local scale. The position of Old Compton Street is shown in the figure below.
Figure top
2018 Hierarchy of streets upon their Integration values for Radii 800m Figure bottom
2018 Hierarchy of streets upon their Integration values for Radii 2000m
20
Figure top
1970 Step Depth Analysis from all highstreets in the surrounding Photo top left
2018 Step Depth Analysis from all highstreets in the surrounding
Alleys, Courts and Broad Streets were within two steps from any high street, although not easily visible or identifiable from any high streets its exact location.
21
Figure top
1970 Step Depth Analysis from Old Compton Street Figure bottom
2018 Step Depth Analysis from Old Compton Street
Alleys, Courts and Broad Streets were mostly within one to three steps from old compton street.
22
METHODOLOGY 2.5
Choice and integration Analysis
A comparison of Choice and Integration analysis for year 1970 and 2018 were carried out. It was noted that between the year 1970 and 2018, the Old Compton Street experienced a massive change that divided the street into Old and New Compton Street by the construction of a building which absorbed part of the street. This abruption has had an impact in the position and connectivity of Old Compton Street within the street network. Upon further investigation on the historical evolution of Old Compton Street since the 1768, it was noted that before the construction of Shaftesbury avenue road, Old Compton street had a much superior position in terms of its potential as a highly accessibile street. When the Italians inhabited this street in the early 1800’s it was an equivalent to any other high street in the surrounding (Oxford Street, Picadilly Road, etc). This thoroughfare effectively connected High Holborn to Bond Street which is now fulfilled by Shaftesbury Avenue Road.
23
New Compton Street
Streets connected
Old Compton Street
Figure top
1970 NACH R800
Figure bottom
1970 NAIN R800
24
New Compton Street
Streets disconnected
Old Compton Street
Figure top
2018 NACH R800
Figure bottom
2018 NAIN R800
Choice (to-movement) and Integration (through-movement) analysis reveal that the streets of Soho has higher value along North South direction and East West streets were lesser
25
New Compton Street
Old Compton Street
Image top Aerial View of Old and New Compton Street and the building that split this street
Image bottom View of building from Old Compton Street
When Old and New Compton streets were still connected, there was a link until High Holborn. This building split Compton Street in to two. Area behind this building is barren, disconnected and a spot for anti-social activity. Street life and the liveliness that is present in its surrounding is absent on the other side of the building.
26
METHODOLOGY 2.6
Historical evolution of Old Compton Street
This map of City of London shows how old Compton street as a main street connecting High Holborn to Pall Mall street. But after the construction of Shaftesbury Avenue Road, Old Compton resided to its secondary position as Shaftebury Avenue road now fulfilled this role of connectivity.
Shaftesbury Avenue road old compton street connecting High holborn and Pall Mall which was the only through connection before shaftesbury avenue Photo top left
Map of London - 1763
Photo top left
Clearance map showing demolition for construction of Shaftesbury avenue road 27
DISCUSSION A documentation of gay practices over the years
spaces such as bars, cafÊ’s, etc. Further pattern
revealed a pattern about its spatial culture. This
of movement of gay men was not possible to
study attempted to trace this sub-culture and
trace within the short duration of this project as
its pattern of appropriation which revealed a
this would require significant time to assemble a
physical manifestation. A shift in position of gay
sample or conduct an interview. Other limitation
spaces from less integrated (alleys, courts and
is in identifying gay men. Queer identities are
broad streets) to high integrated spaces where
vast. Identifying individuals as gay, bisexual, etc
more people were present (Old compton streets)
has a sensitivity and often is not an approachable
was observed in Soho over time. These patterns
question to ask individuals.
reinforce that idea that gay sub-culture like any other culture has a spatial manifestation. This study narrates how this shift can be mapped through spatial studies. The gay spaces of yester years were a secret of this sub-culture. A good example of such a bar is the famous 'City of Quebec' a little off Soho. It is one of the early gay bars which is located one angular step away from the Oxford Street but its visibility from the high street is very low and impossible to identify if one did not know where to look for. Limitations of this research: A method to trace movement of Gay men could not be developed. Though census data appeals to provide information on registered same-sex couple living in London it does not necessarily reveal the actual pattern on ground as most gay couple do not necessarily register their relationship. Study is reliant on information from advertisements of establishments and a rather small sample of individuals to identify gay 28
CONCLUSION ‘What is really going on, is that the gay scene is adapting to meet the needs of a generation who are more ‘out’ than their predecessors—an increasingly confident generation of lesbians and gay men whose sense of Pride means that they want to be visible and not ignored.’ Short 1993:16 as cited in Bell and Valentine (1995) Space is not regarded as meaningful and
development of Gay villages are also required
relative to identities of individuals by some
to effectively analyse if such a phenomenon is in
scholars (Jerram, 2013). There have also been
actual an aspect of social clustering enabled by
other research on 'gay villages' and its physical
spatial patterning.
embodiment (Sibalis:2004, Mcneil et al.,(2018). But not, as described in this paper, as a spatial phenomena. This study opens a opportunity for future work to explore spatial culture of queer identities as also an aspect of space and its configuration. The shift in queer spaces from less integrated spaces like alleys to more integrated areas such as old Compton street shows the evolution and shift in attitude of Gay men. It also reflects how an identity sub-culture have acquired space and a relationship between space and gay men was observed. The answer to 'Why Soho' although has become more clear, much research on Soho and its surroundings are required to provide a definitive answer. Parallel investigations on socio-economic factors, policies in place and their effect on 29
REFERENCES Amaury, R., Ramirez, R., 2016. Spatial Practices / Digital Traces : University College London, London. Bell, D., Valentine, G. (Eds.), 1995. Mapping
Sibalis, M., 2004. Urban space and homosexuality: The example of the Marais, Paris’ “Gay ghetto.” Urban
Routledge, London.
Studies 41, 1739–1758. Short, B., 1993. ‘Up Queer Street’, in Lesbian
sex Desire. New York: William Morrow,
and Gay Pride—Official Souvenir
1997. 141
Programme: 16–19.
Campkin, B., Marshall, L., 2017. LGBTQ+ Cultural Infrastructure in London: Night Venues, 2006–present. Collins, A., 2004. Sexual dissidence, enterprise and assimilation: Bedfellows in urban regeneration. In: Urban Studies. pp. 1789–1806. Gay London Guide [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.gaybuddy.net/ (accessed 2.2.18). Hillier, B., Hanson, J., 1984. The Social Logic of Space, Cambridge University Press. Hillier. B., Vaughan, L., 2007. The spatial syntax of urban segregation. Progress in Planning. 67, 205–294. Jerram, L., 2013. Space: A useless category for historical analysis? Hist. Theory 52, 400–419. Ordanance Survey, 2018. Digimap. URL https:// digimap.edina.ac.uk/roam/os (accessed 1.23.17). Mcneil, E., E. Wermers, J., O. Lunn, J., 2018. 30
Palgrave Macmillian.
Desire: Geographies of Sexualities. Betsky, A., Queer Space: Architecture and Same-
MAPPING QUEER SPACE ( S ) OF PRAXIS.
Speiser, P., 2017. Soho: The Heart of Bohemian London. British Library Publishing, London., 192
SITE IMAGES
Images in order from left to right and top to bottom:
Example of an Alley Tisbury Court
An alley on Brewer Street Walkers Court
The Yard - Gay Bar on Rupert Street
Soho Square - Considered as a cruising spot of the past.
St. James Church Yard
Meard Street - A pedestrian walkway connecting Wardour and Dean Street vandalised Park on New Compton Street a site for anti-social acitivity. Synringes were found discarded on the street. Alleyways connecting Soho to St. James Church
31
ADDITIONAL INFORMTATION
ID
VENUE NAME
ADDRESS
AREA
CLOSED/ NO LONGER AN LGBTQI+ VENUE
1
79CXR
79 Charing Cross Road
Soho
1
2
Admiral Duncan
54 Old Compton Street
Soho
3
Bar Aquda
13-14 Maiden Lane
Covent Garden
1
4
Bar Titania
75 Charing Cross Road
Soho
1
Bar
5
Barcode
3-4 Archer Street
Soho
1
Bar
6
Candy Bar
4 Carlisle Street
Soho
1
Bar
7
Circa
62 Frith Street
Soho
1
Bar
8
City of Quebec, The
12 Old Quebec Street
Marylebone
1
Bar
9
Comptons of Soho
51-53 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Bar
10
Duke of Wellington
77 Wardour Street
Soho
1
Bar
11
Edge, The
11 Soho Square
Soho
1
Bar
12
Enclave
25-27 Brewer Street
Soho
1
Bar
13
Escape
10 Brewer Street
Soho
1
14
Eve Club, The
3 New Burlington Street
15
Free Willy
62 Frith Street
Soho
16
Freedom
60-66 Wardour Street
Soho
1
Bar
17
G-A-Y Bar
30 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Bar
18
G-A-Y Late
5 Goslett Yard
Soho
1
Bar
19
Ghetto
5-6 Falconberg Court; (58 Old Street, London, EC1V 9AJ)
Soho
20
The Green Carnation
4-5 Greek Street
Soho
1
Bar
21
Halfway to Heaven
7 Duncannon Street
Trafalgar Square
1
Bar
22
Heaven
11 The Arches
Embankment
1
Bar
23
King’s Arms, The
23 Poland Street
Soho
1
Bar
24
Ku Bar
75 Charing Cross Road
Soho
25
Ku Leicester Sq/ Klub
30 Lisle Street
Soho
REMAINS OPEN IN 2018
Bar 1
Bar
1
Bar
1
Bar
1
Bar
1
Bar
1
Bar
1
Bar 1
TABLE 1: LIST OF ESTABLISHMENTS ADVERTISING AS GAY FRIENDLY OR FOR GAY COMMUNITY
32
TYPE
Bar
CLOSED/ NO LONGER AN LGBTQI+ VENUE
REMAINS OPEN IN 2018
TYPE
1
Bar
ID
VENUE NAME
ADDRESS
AREA
26
Ku Soho
25 Frith Street
Soho
27
Kudos
10 Adelaide Street
Charing Cross
1
Bar
28
Lo Profile
84-86 Wardour Street
Soho
1
Bar
29
Madame JoJos
8-10 Brewer Street
Soho
1
Bar
30
Manbar (Man Bar)
79 Charing Cross Road
Tottenham Court Road
1
Bar
31
Molly Moggs/Comptons of Soho
2 Old Compton Street
Soho
32
Muse Soho
23 Frith Street
Soho
33
Pheonix, The
37 Cavendish Square
Oxford Circus
1
Bar
34
Profile
56-57 Frith Street
Soho
1
Bar
35
Retro Bar
2 George Court
Strand
1
Bar
36
Rupert Street
50 Rupert Street
Soho
1
Bar
37
Shadow Lounge
5 Brewer Street
Soho
38
She Bar
23a Old Compton Street
Soho
39
Soho Revue Bar
11-12 Walkers Court
40
The Stag
15 Bressenden Place
41
Star at Night (London Gin Club)
22 Great Chapel Street
42
Too2Much
11 Walkers Court
43
Trash Palace
11 Wardour Street (Also 58 Old Street, London, EC1V 9AJ)
1
Bar
1
Bar
1
Bar 1
Bar
1
Bar
Victoria
1
Bar
Soho
1
Bar
1 Soho/Old Street
1
1
Bar Bar
44
Village
81 Wardour Street
Soho
45
West Central
30 Lisle Street
Soho
46
The Yard
57 Rupert Street
Soho
1
Bar
47
Ku Club
23 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Bar
48
Friendly Society
79 Wardour St
Soho
1
Bar
49
Café Nero
43 Frifth Street
Soho
1
Bar
50
Balans Society Soho café
34 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Café
51
Balans Soho
60-62 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Café
1 1
Bar Bar
TABLE 1: LIST OF ESTABLISHMENTS ADVERTISING AS GAY FRIENDLY OR FOR GAY COMMUNITY
33
CLOSED/ NO LONGER AN LGBTQI+ VENUE
REMAINS OPEN IN 2018
TYPE
Soho
1
HairDresser
23-25 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Bar
Sweat Box
1-2 Ramilies Street
Soho
1
Gym
55
The Light Lounge
New Port Place
Soho
1
Lounge
56
Fifty & Dean
50 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Mens Wear
57
The O Bar
80-85 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Bar
58
The Stable
22 Endell Street
Covent Garden
1
Sauna
ID
VENUE NAME
ADDRESS
AREA
52
Blade
26 Frifth Street
53
Bar Soho
54
59
Prowler
5-7 Brewer Street
Soho
1
Adult Entertainment Store
60
Village
Brewer Street
Soho
1
Bar
61
Clonezone
35 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Adult Entertainment Store
62
The Vault
3 Greek Court
Soho
1
Cruising Bar-Undeground
63
Club Room Service
49 Greek Street
Soho
1
Cruising Bar-Undeground
64
The Shadow Lounge
5 Brewer Street
Soho
1
Lounge
65
Compton Cross
2 Old Compton Street
Soho
1
Bar
66
Solar Station
10-11 Archer Street
Soho
1
Grooming Salon
68
Boyzilians
5a Carlisle St
Soho
1
HairDresser
TOTAL
25
45
TABLE 1: LIST OF ESTABLISHMENTS ADVERTISING AS GAY FRIENDLY OR FOR GAY COMMUNITY
34
Thank You
