Another iconic Soho venue is shutting its doors…
By Will Stroude
Soho has suffered another casualty in the ongoing battle against the gentrification currently engulfing the historic London borough.
Reports have been emerging today (November 27) that The Stockpot on Old Compton Street will close its doors for good on Sunday, after decades as a popular staple of the capital’s gay scene.
The news of The Stockpot’s closure comes as campaigners continue to fight to preserve Soho and London’s LGBT heritage from developers. Activists scored a small victory back in September with the news that The Royal Vauxhall Tavern has been granted Grade II listed status, but many more venues still face a struggle for survival.
Another bit of old Soho is dying: Stockpot in Old Compton St closes on Sunday. Sad news. https://t.co/4B9saxXqrZ pic.twitter.com/qviuDvLeft
— Time Out Food & Drink (@TimeOutEatDrink) November 27, 2015
Just heard The Stockpot in Soho is closing! Heartbreaking. The unstoppable greed of landlords has ripped the heart out of London. Shameful.
— Andy Nyman (@andynyman) November 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/neilcodling/status/670226265878700032
London devours more history as The Stockpot finally goes. I used to eat lunch here with the late Derek Jarman 🙁 https://t.co/Va8udmQlBh
— Robin Rimbaud – Scanner (@robinrimbaud) November 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/MrMatthewTodd/status/670029477674688513
Chariots sauna in Shoreditch and Soho’s The Yard Bar are the latest popular LGBT venues to come under threat in the capital, after a devastating 18-month period that’s already seen the closure of Barcode, Manbar, Madame Jojo’s, The Green Carnation, The Black Cap, and more.
In the wake of closures, Stephen Fry has since backed the ‘Save Soho’ campaign to preserve the area’s heritage.
With more and more venues under threat, we recently took an in-depth look at the problems they’re currently facing, asking: is it the end of the capital’s gay scene as we know it?
#RIPTheStockpot
More stories:Neighbours star Matt Wilson strips off on the red carpetWatch | 10 amazing facts you probably didn’t know about the penis