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Gay
Guide to London's West End / Soho District
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Despite that, this is where its at. If you enjoy a pint, a flirt or just being among other gay men then this is where you want to head. A good time is to be had by all. Old Compton Street is the heart of gay Soho and is where most of the gay pubs/bars are located in the vicinity of. The place runs round the clock although most queens don't surface before midday. Early afternoon will see guys sitting in the pavement cafes doing the three C's - coffee, chatting & cruising. Arrive around 10.30pm and seeing the blue rince set coming out of the Prince Edward theatre and "hitting" the gay crowd head on is worth every penny. At 4am in the morning there will still a large crowd sitting outside Comptions cafe sipping their capuccinos and relaxing after a hot and sweaty club before heading home or onto another late night one such as Action or Beyond. Anyway,
enough about that, here's my view of the local pubs and clubs. I hope
you find it interesting, useful or whatever. If anything is out of date,
then I'm sorry but the scene is constantly evolving with venues coming
and going. If you promote new venue and want to be mentioned click
here to add your listing or please email info@gayguide.co.uk
Top I Introduction
I Menu I Map I Pubs
& Bars I Soho Clubs I Accommodation
Top I Introduction I Menu I Map I Pubs & Bars I Soho Clubs I Accommodation
 Map of Soho
Top I Introduction
I Menu I Map I Pubs
& Bars I Soho Clubs I Accommodation
 After
the recent tragic bombing incident this popular gay bar is being rebuilt
and will hopefully open in time for Early July. The pub was always very
plesant inside with a relaxing atmosphere. Not quite as cruisy as some
of the other pubs. Certainly worth popping into.
For a long time one of the original "dives". However a recent refit may have improved things. Brief Encounter and Comptons use to be the only choice the West End. Thank God things have improved. I think its the clientele rather than the venue itself, but its one of those places you feel you need a bath after visiting. Give me one of the smarter venues anyday. However it's usually packed so there must be some reason why people go... Perhaps it's the drinks, which are fairly well made, perhaps it's the pop-dance tracks played in the heaving basement disco, or perhaps it's simply because it's the club with the least attitude in town. Some of my friends like it cos its easy to pick up in there!
Halfway to Heaven's northern cousin, King's Arms is yet another great traditional English pub. Located several streets away from the main Soho scene, it attracts a much smaller crowd than other venues. Located in Poland Street it is convenient to the Oxford Street shopping areas eg Marks and Spencers etc. Frequented by "older city gents" (clones in suits) during the day and clones (older city gents in civies) in the evening. Nothing wrong with it but a bit dull unless you like that sort of thing.
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Monday and Thursday nights are "Pink Pounder" nights, which means you can get in for only one pound (with a flyer) which is a bargin. Saturday the cover is a bit dearer, but coupons and flyers can also be had which reduce the price somewhat to around £6/£7 - and Saturday features a PR from one of the following categories - 1) Camp as tits - Bjorn Again/ Sonia 2) Yesterday's stars/past Eurovision winners - Brotherhood of Man, Bucks Fizz, Boney M, 3) an artist after some gay street credibility" - that bloke with the six pack / no talent. Expect to see Robbie Williams soon. 4) former Eastenders cast members who thinks they can sing - Sean (waste of space) Mcguire, Michelle Gayle (not bad), 5) The odd exception - Boyzone (good), etc have all recently graced the stage. The music is unabashedly pop, and is the most mainstream of the gay nightclubs. Website www.g-a-y.co.uk
Heaven has over three levels of bars and dance floors. The music tends to be harder than that at G.A.Y, tending towards the garage side of the techno/house style. Different themed nights througout the week with Tuesdays called "Bang" and a very popular Wednesday night called "The Powder Room" with a drag bar. Friday night's club is "Garage", while Saturday's is the more mainstream and crowded of the two nights. Arrive early. If you've come far then you must go to Heaven.
6pm-2am £6, £2 b4 8 / £3 after. Website: www.sound-on-sunday.com
For ten years the weekend highlight has been the Trade party. It rages
every Sunday morning from 4 am until around 1pm Sunday. Muscle
Mary's, were made for this club and will be found congregating in
"Muscle Alley" by the bar or on the dance floor. This place redefines
Hedonism. Dance your tits off and enjoy. Brilliant! Website
www.tradeuk.net
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If
there is any part of London that contains more gays bars, clubs and bars
than the average queen could swing a handbag at then it has got to be
London's West End and Soho district. The local currency is the pink pound
and most of the following pubs and clubs enjoy nothing more than relieving
the average of their hard earned "handbag". Just as well that the average
London gay guy has plenty to go around but if you are use to provincial
pubs prices then be prepared to dig into the gas bill money.
A
large busy downstairs bar (rather dark) with overlooking balcony and
second bar upstairs. Reasonably priced drinks are a big plus. Double
gin and tonic for £2.50 gets my vote even if its not Gordon's. Mainly
gay male crowd, wide age range. A good place to meet friends. Combination
of cheap booze and good music means its busy most nights and packed
at weekends. Thanks to the late license it provides a good place to
go 'after hours' ie after 11pm although you have to pay a small door
charge. Well worth a visit.
Relatively
new bar with stylish design. It’s location in Archer Street just off
Rupert Street means it is in easy reach of Old Compton Street. Popular
with a slightly older crowd similar to Comptons. The upstairs bar is
often very busy, with good music but a slighlty more hardcore atmosphere.
Worth a visit.
Very
popular and trendy bar with a mixed/gay young crowd. Designer beers
and spirits and designer prices (you have to spend your money on something!).
Located on the corner of Soho Square with a late licence makes it popular
after some of the other bars have closed. Handy for 
Right
in the centre of "gaydom" with the new Prowler store and Rupert Street
Bar just opposite, Escape (formally the Back Bar) has just reopened
under new management. Already well established on the Soho scene, particularly
popular in summer, it has a late license, and serves pretty good food
in the afternoons. Clientele are mixed gay/straight male/female, mainly
under 40. Good place to stop for a drink if on a pub crawl. It's on
the smaller side, which makes it a good hang-out if you want to avoid
places that are 'chock-a-block' with blokes. (Why would you want to
do that?)
Being
halfway between The Brief Encounter and Heaven hence the name. Fine
if your fancy a change from the yuppie crowd and inflated prices of
Rupert Street. Halfway to Heaven isn't a bad little pub with the clientele
similiar to the Admiral Duncan ie slighty older and more relaxed.
We popped in just before Easter and although it didn't personally
"grab me" it was certainly fine for a quick drink. Being central its
a good place to meet friends before going clubbing. Close to 
Very
popular with "city boys" (ie queens who work) Kudos is normally very
crowded. Good decor and location help. Often too crowded which means
spilt drinks as you try to navigate from one of the bar to the other.
Filled with Young and energetic crowd and given its closeness to 
Trendy
bar opened by Bass directly opposite 
Sister-pub
of 
One
of the bars responsible for the rebirth of Old Compton Street and surrounding
area as London's new gay village. (Thank you). Basically it was new,
smart and trendy and, put other gay pubs at that time to shame. Modern
decor and a bang up-to-date jukebox make it a favourite for the younger
crowd. Good food served during the day combined with friendly bar staff
make this a fab venue. L-shaped layout with main bar and coffee bar,
small upstairs bar. Crowded most evenings, nice place to drop-in during
the day (especially upstairs)