Barcode, the 24/7 dance party in the heart of Vauxhall, closed its doors forever on the 30th of May, 2015. Hosting legendary DJs and club nights, it welcomed bears, twinks and everyone in between with open arms. Kind of like a few people we know, actually. The club has since been replaced with an M & S, yes, they had a Pride sandwich, and no, it’s not the same.

Remembering Barcode 

Barcode

Occupying its own corner of Mile End, Benjy’s had a knack of making Sundays in E3 simply more enjoyable. Memories often revolve around its 1980’s heyday, but the club only closed its doors for good in 2017, leaving the once packed out dancefloor gathering dust.

Following its closure, plans for its demolition and a high-rise block on its site were fortunately rejected. You can still catch a rare glimpse inside by watching the late Derek Jarman’s filmic tribute to the London club scene, Will You Dance with Me?

Remembering Benjy’s 2000

Benjy's 2000

Like many theatre productions bearing the same title, Brief Encounter could be found in London’s West End. And, mirroring the rest of the neighbourhood, it attracted classy, discerning folks.

Unlike the rest of the neighbourhood, it was also a well known warm-up spot for those on their way to Heaven (the club, just to clarify). Despite community efforts to keep it queer, by 2014 the venue was lost to the creeping tide of gentrification.

Remembering Brief Encounter

Brief Encounter

The "100% full-time lesbian bar" was an iconic institution in Soho. Opening its doors in 1996, it quickly became a place of pilgrimage for lesbians across the UK.

If those bubblegum pink walls could talk. There were so many dates, breakups and makeups at this bar, it inspired its own fly-on-the-wall documentary ‘Candy Bar Girls’ (albeit it on Channel 5). Sadly, after a major rent hike, the venue had to be sold off.

Remembering Candy Bar

Candy Bar

London has been home to some incredible gay venues, but few were as historically significant as the Coleherne. Opening in 1866, fate would have it that by 1965 it was known worldwide as a leather bar. No small feat at the time, as you can imagine.

Its clientele is rumoured to have included Freddie Mercury, Ian McKellen and Princess Diana. Before becoming a gastropub in 2008, it had survived constant persecution from police, vandalism, attacks on its patrons and patronage of three serial killers. Ultimately, it was crushed by London's unfeasible operating costs.

Remembering The Coleherne

The Coleherne

East Bloc knew how to strike the perfect balance. It was trendy without being pretentious. Kinky without being seedy. Quite frankly, we wouldn’t expect anything less from east London.

Keith Haring-inspired walls framed two dance floors that were populated with a semi-nude crowd on any given weekend. East Bloc was loved by all who ventured there, but especially the 4 a.m., post-Dalston crowd. In 2021, the building still rages on into the early hours, but this time as a 24-hour supermarket.

Remembering East Bloc

East Bloc

First Out was a much-cherished gay café and London’s first-ever gay daytime venue. With its relaxed atmosphere and daylight hours, it became a safe haven for those who didn’t vibe with a big night out. After 25 years of being a LGBT+ institution on Tottenham Court Road, it fell victim to the elusive Crossrail project.

Remembering First Out Cafe Bar

First Out Cafe Bar

In 2017, a trip to Clapham on a balmy summer’s night (or early morning) might have had you wondering if there were any straight people left in London. The shirts were tight. The shorts were short. The fishnets were in abundance.

This south eastern oasis was, in part, credited to Kazbar, an essential member of the ‘holy trinity’ of gay bars within the area. After 20 years, it was taken out by a whopping 170% rent hike in 2017. And with nothing at all put in its place, we’re left feeling a little ghosted.

Remembering Kazbar

Kazbar

Madame Jojo's, beloved by many, was the jewel in Soho's crown. Beginning as a burlesque and cabaret bar in the 1950s, it remained a club throughout its history. And, while the music of each decade may have changed, the glitzy costumes were evergreen.

In its most recent past, as cabaret came back into fashion, punters flocked to Jojo's to see performers in their natural habitat. That was until 2014, when the club lost its license and had to close its doors. Currently, the children of Paul Raymond are trying to make good on their promise to reopen Jojo's. The neighbouring residents don't want to see their hard work gentrifying Soho undone. Can you guess whose side we're on?

Remembering Madame Jojo’s

Madame Jojo's

The name alone told you everything you needed to know about Manbar. It was on a main road. It played mainstream music. It was a bar for men. Opening in 2012, it was known as a no-pretences good time among the gay community across London.

In its later years, it was beset with noise complaints. And, as the amount of apartments surrounding the venue grew, so did the complaints. Until it lost its licence in 2014. After protracted legal battles, it regained its license that same year, but the damage was done. Manbar closed its doors in 2015 and, like its surrounding areas, has become apartments. Begging the question, now that everyone has an overpriced flat, where will they party?

Remembering Manbar

Manbar

Stokey Stop. Loved by women and women alike. For many of us, this east London staple transformed from day to night - a welcoming, no-fuss eatery during the afternoon, the backdrop for iconic queer parties after sundown. We can still almost hear the Carly Rae.

Closing its doors for good in 2014, the bar that lit up the streets of Stoke Newington is now, well, you can see for yourself. No shade, but we don’t think any amount of sourdough pizza can fill the void of lost open mics, poetry nights and chaotic dance parties.

Remembering Stokey Stop

Stokey Stop

According to legend, (otherwise known as public records), The Black Cap held its name as early as 1751. But it was the winter of 1965 when it really started poppin’. By 1976 it was known far and wide  as ‘The Palladium of Drag’. Despite an illustrious history, it closed its doors in 2015. Though malevolent forces are trying to turn it into (what else but) luxury apartments, there are fervent ongoing efforts to save it.

Remembering The Black Cap

The Black Cap

The Edge was named after its location on the edge of Soho Square. For a time, it was considered one of London's leading gay bars, with four floors catering to any type of mood. Hyped up and ready to party? You could at The Edge! Fancied a quiet drink with friends? The Edge had you covered.

Many memorable events were held here and its immense popularity sometimes meant booking a spot months in advance. All this however, didn't stop the owners from turning it into an 'exquisite' restaurant called Six Storeys, leaving many of us feeling it had lost it’s... edge.

Remembering The Edge

The Edge

Despite its small size and inconspicuous exterior, the George grew from a humble bar in 2002 to become the epicentre of East London’s gay scene. With it’s consciously incongruent decor and gallery of toilets, the George was a bonafide local gay bar, in the heart of Shoreditch. It was open to all, and thought of by many as a guaranteed good time. Unfortunately for life-enjoyers, a dramatic rent hike in 2015 caused the George and Dragon to close and like it’s namesake, become the stuff of legend.

Remembering The George and Dragon

The George and the Dragon

Everyone's got an experimental side waiting to be unleashed. That's exactly what The Hoist specialised in. The venue ran for 20 years under the railway arches of South Lambert Road, catering to lovers of leather and all things kink. And we mean all things.

Despite soaring costs of rent in the area, when asked why they closed in 2017, the owners said after 21 years they'd simply 'had enough.' All we can do now is keep our rubber fingers crossed that whatever takes its place makes a new home for kinky kings.

Remembering The Hoist

The Hoist

As soon as The Joiners Arms opened in 1997, it was considered a central part of the East London scene. Once described by Gay Times as "Britain's trendiest gay dive", it became a regular for public figures such as Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane and Patrick Wolf.

The pub was a bastion of gay culture, catering to all facets of the community. Despite repeated attempts to turn the venue into a block of flats, hard campaigning managed to give it recognition as an Asset of Community Value. In human-speak, that means any development on the site has to include a queer pub.

Remembering the Joiner’s Arms

The Joiner's Arms

In no way affiliated with Lord Sugar, The London Apprentice was the heart of Shoreditch’s gay scene from the 70s to the early oughts. The venue was a community staple. It hosted the first-ever Terrence Higgins Trust meeting to spread awareness and education around HIV.

On any given night, you could find celebrities like Jean-Paul Gautier, Freddie Mercury, Lily Savage and Sir Ian Mckellen enjoying a drink within its walls, or perhaps even a secret party in its dungeon-esque basement. Sadly, the only paddles you’ll see there now are more suited to ping-pong, as the legendary pub has been replaced with a table tennis venue.

Remembering The London Apprentice

The London Apprentice

The Shadow Lounge began life in 2001 after being converted from a porn cinema in the heart of Soho. Dark and sensual, this bar had an intimate yet spacious lounge-feel, catering to a stylish and premium clientele. The owners say they took the decision to close the bar in 2016 to 'focus their efforts’ on their neighbouring businesses.

Thankfully, they also assured us the cute guys behind the bar were distributed to other venues. Despite its new status as a 'gentlemen's club' we don't think you can find the kind of gentlemen you would in The Shadow Lounge's glory days.

Remembering The Shadow Lounge

The Shadow Lounge

Influential. Iconic. Whichever way you slice it, Trade created the mould that others went on to break. It took partying so seriously, in fact, it became the first ever legal all night dance club in England, pioneering the post-club Sunday morning scene.

Despite its phenomenal impact (did we mention it spawned its own musical?), Trade bid farewell in 2008 and is now a distinctly uninspiring office building. Its spirit, however, lives on in every reveller who refuses to go to bed at 3am.