More than half of London’s LGBTQ+ venues have closed in the past 20 years, according to data from the Greater London Authority (GLA).
The GLA’s statistics show more than half of London’s LGBTQ+ venues closed between 2006 and 2022, and performers are feeling this the most, with unions such as Equity campaigning to reduce these closures.
Factors such as the cost of living crisis and rent increases, along with a rising population of young people who don’t drink alcohol have been cited as reasons behind the rate of closure.
Co-owner and managing director of Dalston LGBTQ+ bar, club and performance space The Divine, John Nolan, said: “At one point, Islington had, I think, 14 queer venues in it, or gay pubs as we used to call them, so it’s been quite alarming to see it all shrink over time.”
Nolan, who is also known as John Sizzle, citing gentrification, financial pressures and societal shifts over the years as some of the various contributing factors.
He said: “If you look at areas like Soho, which used to be the centre of everything, all club culture and pub culture that’s kind of reduced down now, is probably because of rent hikes to areas such as east London springing up.
“There has also been a difference in how people drink generally, and drink culture has shifted hugely since the 1980s.
“Now people are more aware of health and how and how they want to live their lives, and that has an effect on how many pubs stay open.”
Nolan noted that post-pandemic, LGBTQ+ venues have become more sophisticated, focusing on diverse programming and professional management to survive.
He vowed The Divine would be here to stay for the next 10 years at least and highlighted the importance of community spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, and the need for government support such as VAT relief.
Nolan said: “You can’t just have a queer pub that you just go for a pint in and that’s sustainable.
“Now, people want more bang for their buck. They want more experiences.
“There is a real need for these venues as they are how we nurture our queer youngsters, and this is how we create and provide a space for them to learn how to navigate their lives and build their confidence.”
Drag queen Lust, also known as Tylee Jones, has been performing professionally in London for the past three and a half years.
She described this time as a period of recession for the entertainment industry.
She said: “The past year has been a very difficult time, not only for drag performers but bar and venue owners too.
“I have noticed a lot of venues closing so it’s important for people to come to shows and be there for these artists and these venues.
“The sad reality is that we live in a very scary world right now. These spaces are where we have our community and lift each-other up.”
Tylee/Lust encouraged people to get out and support live art, especially drag as an art form which brings together so many factors of the wider entertainment industry.
Equity variety organiser Nick Keegan believes local authorities could be doing more to help save LGBTQ+ venues from closing, but acknowledge that they are short on resources.
Speaking in light of recent campaigns to save cultural venue Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club from being sold for housing development, Keegan explained that there is a lot of competition for funds in councils and a big need for housing.
Keegan said: “Local councils don’t have the kind of spare money necessarily to support or to save cultural venues, which is really sad.
“Absolutely essential, iconic and vital cultural venues are competing against housing development. Financially, they can’t really compete with that.
“It makes you worried about what different areas of London are going to be like to live in if there aren’t any cultural venues left that can financially survive.”
Tylee/Lust added: “Recently I have seen new venues pop up, which is encouraging, and this is so important as these are safe spaces for queer people.”
Picture credit: Henri T
Join the discussion