Southwark’s thriving LGBTQ+ businesses are a source of great pride for our borough

Last year, the very first ‘Southwark Pride’ event was held. As a proud member of the Southwark LGBTQ+ community, I was thrilled to be part of this amazing event to celebrate our wonderful diverse LGBTQ+ communities. Southwark was long overdue its own pride event because of the thriving, vibrant and diverse LGBTQ+ community that calls this borough home. It’s one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in the country and has given rise to countless organisations, centres and business. The London LGBTQ+ community centre, located in Bankside, provides a safe, welcoming space for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. It also serves excellent coffee and snacks and provides a perfect place to work and socialise right by the River.

More LGBTQ+ networks are being created every year - last year Better Bankside Business Improvement District launched their own LGBTQ+ network for the Bankside community.

Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ venues have been closing across London. GLA research shows over half have closed since 2006. However, Southwark is bucking that trend. We have just welcomed a brand new, dedicated LGBTQ+ venue – The Rising SE1. Opened by Southwark resident (and my boyfriend) Simon Burke and his business partner Piers Greenlees. The Rising is SE1's only queer-focused Pub. With a packed schedule of live entertainment, drag shows and music it’s always a lively and welcoming space for all (dogs included), with zero judgement. The Rising serves a rotating selection of beers, cocktails and plant based bar snacks and supports other Southwark business like FourPure.

Other venues, like the Prince of Peckham and John the Unicorn, host excellent regular drag shows and LGBTQ+ special nights adding to the bustling nightlife for the community.

Southwark also has a thriving LGBTQ+ arts scene, helping support local theatres. The Union Theatre and the Southwark Playhouse both stage regular LGBTQ+ productions and provide a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ actors and audiences.

We’re spoilt for places to eat too in places run by LGBTQ+ folks. Paladar on London Road is offers delicious food and cocktails inspired by Central and South America – and not to be missed. Toad Bakery is an independent bakery in Camberwell offering seasonal fresh ingredients, their croissants and sweet treats are top notch!

There’s so many more LGBTQ+ businesses I could mention (and many still to discover!).

I must give a special shout out the wonderful team at Hair of the Doggy on East Street who take exceptional care of my little pooches! Your dogs will certainly love a bit of pampering there too. The businesses, community organisations and venues that have been created and supported by Southwark’s diverse LGBTQ+ residents should be a source of enormous pride for our borough. However, with businesses and venues under threat across the city, it is vital that the council provides the support necessary to nurture the LGBTQ+ businesses and organisations that make up an important part of Southwark’s communities and local economy. I have long called for the creation of a Southwark LGBTQ+ strategy that sets out how the council will serve the needs of the community and allow it to thrive with council support – hopefully this is the year we see that strategy.

We have a wonderful community to be proud of here in Southwark that has flourished against the odds and I hope you will all join me to celebrate that community for the bigger and better Southwark Pride 2024 on 22 June. We’ll be in Borough Yards from 15.00.