Indie gay bars london

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Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner london. Beats billiards in your local. Once upon a time, having a gay old time in London meant hotfooting it straight to Soho. So whether you're indie a drag bruncha burlesque show or just a quiet pint, here's a comprehensive list of the capital's gay and queer-friendly bars and pubs, from the legendary G-A-Y to lesbian-centric She Soho to sing-yer-heart-out special The Karaoke Hole.

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend. It is certainly a refreshing change from the posey Soho scene. Ku is a little classier and pricier than local rival G-A-Y, but attracts a broadly similar crowd and the young, up-for-it vibe is just as much fun. The ground floor offers a bright and modern bar space with video screens playing chart hits; downstairs is a indie room where fresh-faced types of all genders dance to pop and dance remixes.

A second Ku Bar on nearby Frith Street offers a more sedate spin on the same experience. The downstairs alfresco area boasts sedate lighting, wooden banquettes and a fair bit of flora, giving things an almost bucolic feel. The Yard gets especially busy during warm summer evenings, when its airy ambience makes it a queer space you could comfortably bring gay mum to.

This traditional gay boozer is situated halfway between Soho and Heavenhence the name. The upstairs bar is great for a midweek catch-up, while the basement is a fishbowl-like cabaret space where drag queens take to the bar london nights a week. It can get pretty raucous down there, especially when Friday night resident Marsha Mallow belts out signature her club classics medley.

Run by the team behind Ku Bar, She Soho has a similarly convivial ambience and flair for getting the party started. It's open late at the weekends, and bars quizzes and drag karaoke seshes to get the weekday crowds in. Fancy looking beyond gay old Soho? It's far from cutting edge but it's got a down-to-earth, welcoming feel that makes it a fun spot for a night out.

Timeline of London Bars and Clubs

If you fancy dancing to Donna Summer while sipping relatively inexpensive prosecco, this place is an essential pitstop. T he vibe is definitely more in keeping with your typical east London small plates spot than your average gay bar: think white-washed walls, and tasteful, hand-painted tiles decorating a bar stocked with neatly-arranged bottles of Campari and biodynamic wine.

The little sister of nearby Dalston Superstore, The Karaoke Hole is the UK's first drag queen karaoke bar, and a place where you can let your inner diva out. Between pm, things are pretty formal: you can pre-book tables, sip on cocktails and sing to your heart's content.