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22 March 2018

New gay club to open in London on the bank of the River Thames

Finally some good news for the capital's gay scene.

By Will Stroude

A major new LGBT venue is coming to central London.

Baby Bull, the owners of Soho gay bar Circa, announced on Wednesday (March 21) that they have signed a deal to turn Hungerford House on Victoria Embankment into a brand new LGBT-friendly space *cheers*.

Housed in a former Victorian power station overlooking the River Thames, the 750-capactiy venue previously operated under the name Opal Bar, and is just a stone’s throw from iconic London nightclub Heaven.

The current premises will now be transformed to include a nightclub in the basement and all-day dining and drinking space on the ground floor. 

Owner and founder of Circa Alan Winter said in a statement: “After working on the London gay scene for over a decade and witnessing its slow decline I am very proud and excited that Circa is here to say that the London LGBTQ+ scene is far from over!

Hungerford House on Victoria Embankment, London

“We look forward to giving our community a sparkling new space that’s safe, stylish and most importantly fun!”

The news comes after shocking figures published last year revealed that more than half of the capital’s LGBT+ venues have shut down over the last decade.

Venues that have closed since 2014 alone include The Black Cap in Camden, The Joiner’s Arms in Hackney, Vauxhall’s Barcode, The George and Dragon in Shoredtich, and Soho hotspots Shadow Lounge, Manbar, Madame Jojo’s and The Green Carnation.

It’s not all bad news though, as last year also seen the opening of a brand new LGBT venue, South Bloc, south of the river in Vauxhall.

Meanwhile, developers building flats where now-defunct gay pub The Joiner’s Arms once stood have been told told they must include an LGBT venue as part of the site’s redevelopment.

London’s Night Czar Amy Lamé welcomed the news of a new LGBT+ venue in the heart of the capital.

“The Mayor and I are clear that LGBT+ venues are a fundamental part of London’s vibrant nightlife and culture,” she said.

“Over the past decade the capital has lost more than half of its LGBT+ venues, which is why I’ve been tasked with stemming the flow of closures across the city.”

“I’m delighted that Hungerford House will soon be throwing open its doors as London’s newest LGBT+ venue. I can’t wait to visit!”

Hungerford House is expected to throw open it’s doors for the first time later this spring.

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