UK Gay Club Scene:
The first queer spaces in the UK were evident from around the 1600's, but they weren't well known or exposed because of the laws at the time. It was in the 18th century the first well documented queer spaces sprouted, with 'Molly Houses' the place to head to if you were looking for a big gay day. These were places where people could have queer encounters in a country where homosexual acts were punishable by death. Most were brothels, but others were simply places for female mimicry, mock marriages, births, singing and sex; house in coffee houses and pubs, but sometimes tucked away in private residences. The first "gay bar" opened its doors to the UK 1912, The cave of the golden calf may have only served a few customers for two short years, but grew a notorious reputation with the capitols aristocrats and bohemians. The law stated being gay was punishable by death, which was apparently wavered for a certain level of aristocracy.
In the past decade, queer spaces have started diminishing, not due to laws or perception. Rather because of skyrocketing rents, stagnating wages and the proliferation of hook up apps like Grindr the doors to some of the most famous queer spaces are closing their doors.
Why is the club scene important to queer culture:
A queer space should be a safe haven and sanctuary again aggression. This is how and why they were made, they are spaces where the queer community can be themselves; an unfiltered environment without judgement. Although these places are fading away where will there be for the queer community to be around like-minded unjudgmental people. Access to queer-focused social media may be opening up connections with new people in ways never before able, but the basis of that sense of communication in a safe place is sourced from the gay club scene.
Unfortunately, this ethos isn't always respected, evident from the recent Pulse attack in Orlando on June 12th 2016. Not only was this a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community but also the deadliest mass shooting in USA history. All this does is make the community come together and show the importance of the role of the LGBTQ+ community still, that will not change.
Queens 'Dahling':
The 90's were the era of the super-models, now is the era of the drag queen. Previously drag was a seen as the eccentric part of the LGBTQ+ community, who sidelined at gay clubs with DJ sets and the occasional pantomime. But thanks to the commercial success of shows such as Ru Pauls Drag Race, drag has become mainstream in popular culture. Mixed with a generation of creative boundary-pushing, experimental millennials, drag is an art form explored, enjoyed and embraced by all. Drag is not only a male presenting themselves as a female, they are expressing themselves in an art form they wish to create.
Drag offers a family and a home for many who have been rejected by their families because of their LGBTQ+ nature. Queens are sharp-tongued, shade throwing, beautiful people; almost the ice breakers of 'The Scene'. This is evident in the legendary documentary 'Paris is Burning', which follows the lives of queens back in 80s Manhattan, where the scene provided a home for many; rejected by their families, subject to abuse and attacks on the streets. In one notorious scene, two 14-year-old boys are out on the streets alone at night, telling the camera they've nowhere to be, they have no parents.
Rodent Decay describes herself as a "millennium Myspace brat, born and raised in the sewers", unlike Benedict Douglas Stewardson, raised in the suburbs of Birmingham. "I don't want her to be too obviously feminine – she has a punk aesthetic, not one gender but androgynous". Rodent lets Benedict explore his female personality, not defining as a specific gender all the time.
By rejecting the distinction of dressing like a boy or girl, you are fighting one of the most profoundly violent things in modern human history: the social distinction between men and women.
Best gay clubs in the UK:
1. Awful
Where: Dalston Superstore, London
Café-cum-club Dalston Superstore remains a hub for LGBT nightlife on the East London strip, with great parties nightly Wednesday through to Sunday. Amongst the must-attends: eccentric electronics and pornstar martinis at Uncontrollable Urge (Wednesdays); brand new latex-friendly fetish night Creeps (kicking off the last Thursday in August); and particularly Jimmy Johnson’s outrageous Friday night party Awful, mixing up bad taste pop upstairs with house and techno down in the basement. (PW)
2. BBZ
Where: Various venues, London
BBZ is very much at the new wave of gay clubbing. The brainchild of photographer Tia Simon Campbell and cinematographer Nadine Davis, it came into being to provide a space for QTIPOC (Queer, Trans, Intersexed People of Colour). What this means is a fantastic mix of radical music – from X-Ray Spex to Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest to So Solid Crew – and some incredible events, including takeovers at the V&A and Tate Britain and a Corsica Studios shakedown featuring Ikonika, Throwing Shade and Shy One. (PW)
3. Chapter 10
Where: Various venues, London
Take someone to their very first Chapter 10 and watch their eyes widen with disbelief that a large “gay rave” playing something other than tech-house exists. A slice of paradise for gay men in the capital; the always unannounced programming is as paramount as the freedom to express exuberant homosexuality. (RW)
4. Eat Sleep Drag Repeat
Where: Various venues, Bristol
The home of RuPaul's Drag Race artists in Bristol, ESDR was set up by the team behind the all-conquering “underground homo disco” Horseplay, and boundary-pushing non-binary arts festival Submerge. Hosted by ‘drag prince’ Alfie Ordinary, it's a queer playground for fabulous misfits everywhere. (GTDC)
5. G-A-Y At Heaven
Where: Charing Cross, London
G-A-Y remains the pre-eminent LGTBQ party in the UK, and its flagship nights at Heaven, a storied nightclub tucked under Charing Cross Station, are a rite of passage for many. Monday night’s Popcorn mixes up hip-hop, R&B and the deep house across four rooms. Meanwhile, Friday night’s Camp Attack dials up the cheese, with a drag queen show kicking off the far side of midnight. If you can’t make it over to Charing Cross, check out G-A-Y’s two Soho venues, G-A-Y Bar and G-A-Y Late.
6. Gbar
Where: Eberle St, Liverpool
Turning 21 with a massive street party this September, the three-room Gbar is still the undisputed daddy of Liverpool’s LGBTQ scene. It’s famed for its after-hours parties in the underground basement, where you’ll hear the likes of Greco, Jody Harsh and CDC playing house music on a powerful sound system right through till 7am. (PW)
7. Gorge
Where: Berkley Suite, Glasgow
Dressing up is a must at Gorge, a new irregular night thrown by Jon Pleased Wimmin, Lady Munter, Pearl Necklace and Bonzai Bonner where drag, glam fashion and avant-garde style collide. Munter was the “boss bitch” behind Scottish drag queen disco Menergy, so they’ve got form in this area – dress to impress and express. (PW)
Where: The Nightingale Club, Birmingham
“Some queer people, unfortunately, haven't got the confidence to venture outside of Birmingham's LGBTQ+ spaces,” say Glitter Shit. “We wanted to create places for them to perform, party and express their creativity.” Founded by drag queen Lacey Lou, promoter Daniel Brown and designer/photographer Antony Collins, Glitter Shit – currently approaching its second birthday – is a community-spirited party with an emphasis on the queer, outrageous and artistic. Extravagant dress-up mingles with experimental artwork, and a portion of the event proceeds goes to local homeless, mental health and LGTBQ+ charities. (PW)
9. Hey Mary
Where: Ten Feet Tall, Cardiff
Visit alt-drag hotspot Hey Mary and you may see Medusa drenched in oil and toxic waste, or the belly-dancing Egyptian refugee Dancing Queer. It's the surrealist brainchild of Christobel and Neufunkaum AKA Sissy Boy Tears, a DJ duo with a penchant for dirty melancholy on the dancefloor.
10. Homoelectric
Where: Various venues, Manchester
Even before Queer As Folk was airing on British telly, Manchester institution Homoelectric was throwing parties at the now-defunct Follies way back in 1998. Despite celebrating almost two decades, the good-natured and loyal crowd combined with a commitment to diversity in their DJs ensures this grand dame of northern clubbing will not be relevant. (RW)
11. Horse Meat Disco
Where: Various venues, London and beyond
Horse Meat Disco started in 2003 as a Sunday night disco for London’s alternative LGBT+ crowd. Nowadays The Eagle in Vauxhall still hosts London’s ‘queer party for all’, while HMD’s James Hillard, Jim Stanton, Luke Howard and Severino Panzetta travel the world. They’ve also just released a killer debut single.
12. Hot Mess
Luckily for the queer citizens of both Glasgow and Edinburgh, they don’t need to travel far to find a great LGBT night as Hot Mess takes place in both cities. With regular guest spots from Optimo and unannounced appearances from the likes of Midland and Rory Phillips alongside resident Simonotron, it’s a friendly and welcoming place to dance whatever your sexuality. (RW)
13. Kiss Me Again
Where: Soup Kitchen, Manchester
Another relatively young party, but Kiss Me Again – which takes place on the first Saturday of every month at Manchester’s Soup Kitchen – has already distinguished itself with its discerning mix of house and techno and a cool, inclusive crowd. For a glimpse of what they do, dip your toe into their monthly show on NTS Manchester. (PW)
14. Pink Fringe
Where: The Marlborough Theatre, Brighton
Brighton thrives with LGBTQ activity, but it’s worth highlighting the activities of Pink Fringe. Run out of the welcoming Marlborough Theatre just a stone’s throw from the Royal Pavilion, Pink Fringe isn’t just a club, but a hub, mixing up DJ sessions and street parties with queer history quizzes, drag king open mics, theatre nights, and even a science festival (the upcoming Out Thinkers, which highlights the talent of LGBT+ researchers). (PW)
15. Pussy Palace
Where: Various venues, London
Being a safe space doesn’t mean you have to shut out the party animals – and Pussy Palace is the proof. Founded by Glaswegian ex-pats Nadine Artois and Skye Barr, this London party presents banging hip-hop with an emphasis on inclusivity and body positivity. As Artois told Dazed & Confused: “Our female and queer guests come down so they can dress how they want and twerk as hard as they like because the atmosphere is fully charged with acceptance and sexual freedom.” (PW)
16. Resis’dance
Where: Various venues, London
Resis’dance are a group of badass London based women “smashing the patriarchy and supporting underfunded radical grassroots organisations.” In between throwing parties that function as a safe space for QTIPOC (that’s Queer Trans and Intersex People Of Colour) they also host DJ and tech workshops for marginalised folk and help support their sisters getting into nightlife. (RW)
17. Savage
Where: Metropolis, London
Savage is the Sink The Pink-affiliated LGBT+ rave which takes Hackney’s Metropolis club captive every Saturday night. House, techno and disco vibes come from residents Hi-Fi Sean, Luke Solomon, Guy Wiliams and Jonjo Jury, plus talented newcomer Joshua James. Expect drag queen dancers, Vegas strip club vibes and unrestrained joy.
18. XXL London
Where: Pulse Nightclub, London
XXL certainly knows its niche. This is home to the Bear – gay men of generous proportions – although of course, their many admirers are equally welcome. Located in Pulse on London’s South Bank, XXL promises a zero attitude door policy, while themed nights – Rugby, Lumberjack, Construction and Leather – offer a variety of ways to show off those physiques. XXL is also looking further afield, with events in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Birmingham.
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