01 cover_JULY.indd - Out In The City

WORDS BY LOREM DELOREM | PHOTOGRAPH BY MAET IPSUM

EDITORIAL//
ADVERTISING
Editor
David Hudson
hudson@outmag.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7258 1943
Contributing Editor
Adrian Gillan
adrian@outmag.co.uk
Design Concept
Splicer Design
www.splicerdesign.com
Art Director
Markus Scheef
design@outmag.co.uk
Designer
Siv Nilsen
Sub Editor
Kathryn Fox
Contributors
Marc Andrews, Dan Browne,
Paul Burston, Charlotte
Dingle, Adrian Foster, Knight
Hooson, Cary James, Gary
Ryan, Richard Tonks, Michael
Turnbull, Justin Varney, Iwan
Watson, Steve Watson
Photographers
Chris Jepson, Dick Goose
Publisher
Sarah Garrett//Linda Riley
ISDN: 1473-6039
Head of Business Development
Rob Harkavy
rob@g3magazine.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7258 1936
Sales Executive
Dan Goodban
dan@g3mag.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7258 1832
Sales Executive
Faye Hodge
faye@g3mag.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7258 1991
Sales Executive
Maz Ogden
maz@g3mag.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7258 1777
Square Peg Media Ltd.
27 Harewood Avenue
London NW1 6LE
Phone +44 (0)20 7258 1777
Fax +44 (0)20 7258 1787
Cover photo: William Baker
The content of this publication,
either in whole or in part may not
be reproduced, stored in a data
retrieval system or trasºmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or
otherwise, without prior permission
from the publishers. Opinions
expressed in Out In The City are not
neccessarily those of the publishers.
© Square Peg Media Ltd 2000 - 2008.
Square Peg Media Ltd t/a Out In
The City magazine will not take any
responsibility for any loss/claim
resulting from a transaction with one
of our advertisers/ Media Partners.
HUDSON’S LETTER
Walking on the Pride
London parade last
year, I was struck by the
huge number of gay faces
I recognised lining the
route… compared to the
rather depleted numbers
walking on the actual
parade. I know it was
raining on and off, and
that it was tempting to
just snuggle beneath an
umbrella or porchway, but I
couldn’t help thinking: Why
do you just want to stand
on the sidelines? If you’ve
taken the trouble of coming
into town, why do you not
want to take part in the
actual parade?
It occurred to me that
perhaps some people
thought that unless they
were affiliated with a
particular float or walking
group, they could only
stand on the side and
watch. It might be obvious
to some, but maybe
others need reminding
that the pride parade is for
absolutely everyone. You
can join the walk as an
individual or with mates
– you don’t have to be with
a group.
I think I’ve been on every
Pride march in London
since 1989, and the
numbers taking part on
the parade have dwindled
over the years. If they
continue to dwindle, Pride
London runs the risk of
disappearing. Of course,
if it’s not what Londoners
want any more, there’s
no point flogging a dead
horse. I, for one, hope it’s
not a dead horse though.
It was really heartening to
see the diverse range of
groups, clubs, organisations
and individuals on last
year’s march, and I’m
looking forward this year to
seeing all three divisions of
the armed forces marching
in uniform for the first time
ever - following a historic
decision by the Ministry
Of Defence. Pride London
remains a great day out,
and deserves are support.
Check pages 18-19 for full
details on this year’s Pride
London festival, which
takes place on Saturday
5 July – while later on
(pg84) we’ve got details on
August’s Brighton Pride.
hudson@outmag.co.uk
CONTENTS
PAGE 04
LETTERS
Send your
correspondence to
letters@outmag.co.uk
PAGE 06
MY LONDON
Gaydar radio and
Classic FM’s Jamie Crick
PAGE 08
SHOPPING
Speedo’s 80th birthday
and the new Liberty Of
London store
PAGE 11
DIARY
July’s cultural
highlights in and
around London
PAGE 20
KYLIE
Ahead of her dates at
the 02 Arena, we catch
up with our favourite
Australian pop princess
PAGE 24
COLUMNIST
Gary Ryan on the joys
of speedy sex
PAGE 26
MUSIC
New albums from
Temposhark and Mêlée
PAGE 28
ANNIE
The return of Norway’s
electro pop queen
PAGE 20
KYLIE
PAGE 30
FILM
The Mist, Hancock,
Kung Fu Panda and
Savage Grace reviewed
PAGE 34
THEATRE
Never Forget reviewed
plus theatre news
PAGE 36
POLARI
Behind the scenes at
London’s gay literary
salon
PAGE 38
FOOD
PAGE 44
COLUMNIST
PAGE 46
CHICAGO IML
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON
Knight Hooson has an
immigrant’s view of
the British
PAGE 46
INTERNATIONAL MR
LEATHER
Chris Jepson reports
from the annual
International Mr
Leather contest in
Chicago
PAGE 51
OUT THERE
Upcoming scene
highlights for July, plus
coverage of Hustlaball,
XXL Bear Pride and
Circus
PAGE 81
OUTREACH
Dr Justin Varney on
making your protests
heard
PAGE 54
BEAR PRIDE
PAGE 86
OUTNEWS
Gay stories from home
and abroad, plus Yves
St Laurent
PAGE 96
PROPERTY
Living in Marylebone,
plus the latest homeownership
schemes
PAGE 118
MOTORING
We test drive the new
Fiat 500
PAGE 120
TRAVEL
Vancouver and new
New York
PAGE 126
HOROSCOPES
PHOTO © DICK GOOSE
PAGE 129
HEALTH
Sauna safety and
15-minute HIV testing
in Soho

ON FIRE
ON ICE
MONTT MARDIÉ
A foppish Swedish dandy
with a Prefab Sprout
infatuation - releases
gorgeous, summery debut
single ‘Set Sail Tomorrow’
this month.
PRIDE
It’s Pride season… the only
day of the year when it’s
acceptable to walk down
Oxford Street in chaps, a
harness and pink feather
boa.
POSH PICNICS
This year, it’s all about the
al fresco hampers that you
can order from your nearest
Carluccio’s (left). Pass the
olives please…
WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT
THIS MONTH’S RISE AND FALL
HANCOCK
Overlooking the uneven
plot... is it just us, or is Will
Smith’s unlikeable superhero
also a touch homophobic?
CRY BABY
Sadly not repeating the
success of Hairspray, the
Broadway version of John
Water’s Cry Baby has bombed,
and is set to close after just
than two months.
BIG BROTHER
The usual selection of famehungry
Heat readers being
made to jump through the
usual hoops. Suddenly, going
out for an evening seems a
much better idea.
TRANTASTIC
K, SW17
ROSE TINTED
TOP OF THE POST
STAR LETTER
EATING OUT
Thank you for carrying restaurant listings. Me and my
boyfriend are always looking for new places to go and
eat, and now we’ve got a guide that we can slowly work
our way through for the whole of London. We’ve done
Balans and First Out and the other usual suspects, but
using your guide, made a point of popping along to Royal
Teas when we were in Greenwich recently – what a camp
and lovely little establishment! We’re already planning our
next trip – to the amazing-looking Les Trois Garcons. Keep
up the good work. Your magazine is definitely the most
comprehensive gay read for London.
Jorge, N16
WIN!
The writer of
August’s Star
Letter will
win a copy
of the new
Fierce Angel
compilation,
Beach Angel
III. The
eleventh Fierce
Angel compilation to be compiled by Mark Doyle, this
triple CD package includes beach house classics such as ‘You
Make Me Feel Like’ by A:xus and ‘Nowhere’ by Santessa, plus
soulful and Latin-tinged numbers from the likes of Tom &
Joyce, Stephanie Cooke, Viola and Ananda Project. Fans of
the TV show Britain’s Next Top Model may also recognized
the front cover, as contestant Leanne from that show beat
the other girls in a competition to pose for the cover art.
The writer of the Star Letter will receive a copy of the album
signed by model Leanne and Mark Doyle himself. For the
full tracklisting, check www.thefutureisfierce.com
To be in with a chance of winning, please be sure to include
your full name and postal address with the letter you send
us. Send all comments, praise, complaints or queries to:
Email editorial@outmag.co.uk
John Newbury
GAY SHAME
Daniel, Stoke Newington
SUMMER LOVE
John, W4

MY LONDON

SHOPPING...
COCKTAIL COLOUR
A gay-friendly brand since its inception, Absolut has produced a limited-edition bottle to
commemorate the 30th anniversary since the invention of the rainbow flag as a symbol of gay
pride. The Absolut Colours bottle is available for £21.99 from Selfridges. From the end of
June, both the bottle and the book, the Absolut Colours Cocktail Collection (£8), will be on sale
from Vintage House on Old Compton Street, with proceeds from the sale of the book going to
Pride London!
www.absolut.com
SPEEDO BIRTHDAY
Happy birthday dear
Speedo, happy birthday
to you! Yes, one of the
world’s most famous
makers of swim
and sportswear
is celebrating its 80th
birthday this year. During that time
it has continued to innovate and
create revolutionary and cuttingedge
designs, most recently
the controversial Fastskin® LZR
Racer® – which has helped cut
speed swimming records. To
commemorate its birthday, the
brand has launched its 80:08
collection, which blends retro
prints with modern design.
Menswear items include
coloured aquashorts, classic
white trunks with yellow
drawstrings and a selection of
bright T-shirts.
Stockists: www.speedo.com and
0115 910 5267
MONEY BAGS
The new range of Timo wallets are somewhat pricey (starting at £45)
but each eco-friendly design has been created from recycled and
sustainable materials, and handsewn by New York-based artist Timo
Weillard. Each piece features bold graphics and images that are sure to
catch the eye when pulled from the pocket, and the design is slender
enough to slide easily into a pair of skinny jeans.
For more details, check www.timowallets.com
LIBERTY FOR MEN
Liberty Of London opens its new
flagship store this month, throwing
open the doors at 197 Sloane Street,
SW1. Spread over two floors, the
1,800 square foot space has been
designed by Creative Director
Tamara Salman with Paris-based
architects Pierre Beucler and Jean-
Christophe Poggioli. It will showcase
the store’s leather accessories,
scarves, swimwear, jewellery and
– most importantly for us – men’s
collections. The brand has launched
this new store as a step in its
development as a luxury retailer,
and it will act as a blueprint for
further stores across the globe.
www.libertyoflondon.com

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS//JULY 2008
SAT-SUN 05-06 JULY:
The divine Dolly Parton
returns to these shores for
two big dates at the O2 Arena.
Expect a selection of hits from
her extensive back catalogue
(having penned over 3,000
songs she has plenty to
choose from!) including the
likes of ‘I Will Always Love
You’, ‘9 To 5’ and ‘Jolene’, as
well as tracks from her new
album Backwoods Barbie.
Tickets £50-£75.
www.dollyparton.com and
www.livenation.co.uk
03-06 JULY
The annual O2 Wireless Festival takes over Hyde Park in central
London for four days. Acts confirmed for this year’s event
include Jay-Z, Morrissey (pictured), Mark Ronson, Fatboy Slim,
Underworld, Hot Chip, Counting Crowds, Roisin Murphy, Robyn,
Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Sam Sparro, The Whip and the Goo
Goo Dolls.
01-05 JULY :
THUR 03 JULY:
THUR 03:
FRI 04:
07 & 23 JULY:
01 JULY-31 AUG
High School Musical, the stage show, comes to London, with a
two-month run at the Hammersmith Apollo, starring former
Queen Vic landlady Letitia Dean (EastEnders) and Ben Nicholas
(Stingray from Neighbours). Tickets cost £10-£45. www.
HSMonstage.co.uk

23 JULY-31 AUG:
The first major London stage production of The Wizard Of Oz
for over 20 years comes to the South Bank. This much-loved,
camp classic has been directed by the Southbank’s own aritistic
director, Jude Kelly, who says of the story; “The Wizard of Oz
has left an indelible impression on over four generations. From
its beginning as an American folk-fairy tale, it has grown into
something that lies at the very heart of what we feel about
courage and homecoming. With its stunning visual iconography,
glorious music, and the unabashed vulnerability of its cast of
characters – be they lions, wizards or men of tin – it fulfils the
evergreen role of a true classic.”
This production will be the RSC version of the show, first
staged in 1987, which closely follows the plot of the famous
film. Tickets cost £10-£50, and for more details check www.
southbankcentre.co.uk
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS//JULY 2008
SAT 05
It’s that time of year again… Pride London will be
taking over central London, with a parade from Baker
Street to Westminster followed by a rally and main stage
entertainment in Trafalgar Square. This year’s event is
themed ‘Fairytales, Myths and Legends’, so expect a variety
of fairytale floats, Cinderellas, Prince Charmings and some
wicked witches. The main stage will be hosted by the likes
of Sir Ian McKellen, and performers include the like of Sandi
Thom. Once again, Soho will become one big street party,
so expect huge crowds along the length and breadth of Old
Compton Street… and let’s just pray for sunshine!
See pages 18-19 for full Pride details. www.pridelondon.org
TUE 08:
TUE 08:
WED 09:
WED&THUR 09-10:
FRI & SUN 11 & 13:
WED 16:
WED 16:
IMAGE ©JÜRG LEHNI
MON 14:
09 JULY-31 AUG
A Recent History of Writing and Drawing is a dynamic and
interactive exhibition at the ICA, conceived by designers
Jürg Lehni and Alex Rich, which will explores the creative
potential of graphic technologies. Both Lehni and Rich share
a fascination with the use and misuse of recent technology,
and are interested in creating new tools that exploit the
capabilities of such advances. For this unique exhibition they
have brought together a number of machines developed to
enable writing and drawing, presenting a range of techniques
from chalk on board, to holes punched in paper and images
projected on screen. www.ica.org.uk

HIGHLIGHT EVENTS//JULY 2008
PHOTO © MARIO TESTINO
03-26 JULY:
Photography genius Mario
Testino is the subject of an
exhibition at Phillips de
Pury & Company (Howick
Place, SW1). The show
– Obsessed By You – is a
carefully selected group of
32 exhibition prints from
Mario Testino’s body of work
for advertising clients, his
books and publications such
as Vanity Fair, Vogue, The Face
and Visionaire magazines,
that include iconic images of
Kate Moss, Amber Valetta and
Natalia Vodianova alongside
group shots of bathing
models and landscapes
– all displaying the high
voltage colour and energy
that is the inimitable style of
Testino’s work. All prints will
be available for sale. www.
phillipsdepury.com
FRI 11
Are you a fan of TV shows like Most Haunted? If so, you may
well be interested in joining a rather novel fundraiser for The
Food Chain. London Paranormal will be hosting a drag ghost
hunt at the London Dungeon! The event will take place on
Friday 11 July from 8pm till 3am, and event organizer Ian
Shillito tells us, “This is a totally unique way to raise awareness,
highlight a lesser known HIV charity, and a big excuse to
combine my passions of ghost hunting and being a self
confessed drag hag. The dungeon is frightening enough during
the day but turn off the lights, sprinkle in a few drag queens
amongst the mutilated dummies and alleged ghosts and
anything could happen!”
The cost to join this paranormal event is £59, but all profits will
go direct to Food Chain. www.londonparanormal.com - 0798
223 0208 (mobile rates)
FRI 18:
SAT-SUN 19-20:
MON 21:
TUE 22:
SAT-SUN 19-20
Head over to Victoria Park in East London for the annual
Lovebox Weekender. This medium-sized festival is one of the
country’s most gay friendly, and will feature ten arenas with
live performances, cabaret, circus acts and a fun fair. Headline
acts include Groove Armada, the Flaming Lips, Goldfrapp, the
Human League, Jack Peñate, Alphabeat, Dandy Warhols and
Stanton Warriors. Guest clubs include NYC Downlow (from
Vauxhall’s HorseMeatDisco team), plus a guest DJ appearance
from house legend Frankie Knuckles. Tickets £38.50 per day or
£65 for the weekend. www.loveboxweekender.com

HIGHLIGHT EVENTS//JULY 2008
14-19 JULY:
Following its debut at Bistrotheque earlier this
year, and ahead of a trip to Edinburgh for the
Fringe Festival, Jonny Woo will be bringing his
avant-garde drag performance International
Woman Of Mr E to the Soho Theatre. Expect
a touching, disturbing tale, created by Woo
before and after a near-death experience
prompted by two decades of partying hard.
Tickets £10-£17.50. www.sohotheatre.com
You can also catch Jonny bringing his famed
Gay Bingo to the ICA for one night only on
Saturday 12 July (show starts 8pm prompt).
www.ica.org.uk
FRI-SUN 18-20
One of our favourite festivals, Latitude returns this July to
Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk. Expect music from the
likes of Franz Ferdinand (pictured), Sigur Rós, Interpol,
Blondie, M.I.A and Elbow, and comedy from Simon Amstell,
Lucy Porter and Stewart Lee. There will also be book readings
and talks from the likes of Hanif Kureishi and Irvine Welsh,
activities for children, plus much more besides. London’s own
Vauxhallville will be bring some queer arts to the proceedings,
led by Nathaniel de Ville and those fabulous Bearlesque boys.
Latitude has properly established itself as distinct from other
summer festivals, and attendance is growing. At the time of
going to press Saturday and weekend tickets had sold out, but
tickets were still available for Friday and Sunday (£55).
www.latitudefestival.co.uk
23-31 JULY:
THUR 24:
SUN 27:
26 JULY-04 AUG:
22 JULY-31 AUG
A major new production of the classic West Side Story comes
to the Sadlers Wells this summer. Expect cutting-edge
choreography from the legendary Jerome Robbins, plus the
famous score and lyrics from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen
Sondheim. Fifty years after the show made its London debut,
Joey McKneely’s vibrant new production comes to the capital
after receiving critical acclaim in Tokyo, Paris and Beijing.
Tickets £10-£60. www.sadlerswells.com

RIDE LONDON 2008
PHOTOS © DAVID HUDSON

THE PARADE
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
THE PARTY
FOOTBALL
THE FESTIVAL
AHEAD OF THE BIG DAY
ITSELF, OUT CAUGHT UP WITH
CURRENT PRIDE CHAIRMAN
PAUL BIRRELL.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF - HOW,
WHEN AND WHY DID YOU GET
INVOLVED WITH PRIDE LONDON?
I’ve been involved in the parade and the
event in various guises for about a dozen
years. I first became involved because I
believed Pride genuinely had a chance to
make a difference, and I still do! In those
days there was a lack of equality and
while we have come far, there are still
some key areas where we shouldn’t just
settle for “nearly equal”.
IS THE POLITICAL ASPECT OF
PRIDE IMPORTANT TO YOU
PERSONALLY?
I think the politics in our event is massively
important. I came into Pride through a
passion for politics and a desire to make
a difference. The biggest challenge we
have nowadays is mixing in those political
messages with entertainment and making
an event everyone appreciates.
WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR THAT
PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR?
This year we have a new stage that will
highlight the best from black, Asian, and
minority ethnic scene – with clubs such as
Bootylicious and Long Yang Club involved.
This stage will be great as it adds another
kind of music as well as showcasing
another great area of our scene.
Also new will be PrideLondon.tv, which
will highlight all of our campaign and
entertainment videos. Everything you
can see on the Main Stage will now be
available to watch and enjoy after the
event. It will also, or course, be the first
time we’ve had a Conservative Mayor lead
the parade.
WHAT ABOUT THIS YEAR’S
EVENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD
OF?
I’m proud, as I am every year, that our
dedicated bands of volunteers have
managed to put on the event. This year
I’m most proud that we have managed
to create such a large event on tightened
sponsorship; the event costs over
£400,000 to put on so every penny really
does count.
PERSONALLY, WHAT’S YOUR
FAVOURITE PART OF PRIDE AND
WHY?
Obviously, it’s a fairly busy day for me,
but I do try and see all parts of the event.
I like the politics in Trafalgar Square and
the dance stages.
WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE TO ALL
THOSE ATTENDING PRIDE THIS
YEAR?
Come to Pride London. Remember how
far we’ve come. Remember we aren’t
there yet. Enjoy yourself and have fun.
And don’t forget to make a donation,
please!
www.pridelondon.org

THE ONE
AND ONLY

WORDS: MARC ANDREWS/PLANET SYNDICATION / PICTURES: WILLIAM BAKER

I STILL HAVE A LOT OF
SEARCHING TO DO. I
FEEL LIKE I AM IN FLUX
Kylie plays the 02 Arena on 26 July till 4 August. ‘The One’ is released
28 July. X is out now. www.kylie.com
CAMP, MOI?
With Kylie’s latest album being called X, we
asked her about the ten (or ‘X’) campest
moments from her career…
I) Playing the green fairy in Moulin
Rouge?
‘Yes.’
II) Chopping up a cucumber on Queer
Eye For The Straight Guy?
‘Yes, [laughs] okay. I never saw that, but I
remember doing it.’
III) Calling your perfume Darling?
‘Absolutely, and the next one was called
Showtime [laughs].’
IV) Playing a nasty white-trash daughter
in Australian comedy series Kath & Kim?
‘Oh, yes, yes, yes, yeah.’
V) Your photo spread in Australian
Vogue where you portrayed gay icon
Judy Garland?
‘Loved it!’
VI) Performing with Elton John in drag
in the UK?
‘Sisters, yes.’
VII) Getting on stage at London gay
nightclub institution G.A.Y. with sister
Dannii?
‘Yes.’
VIII) Performing at Sydney’s Mardi Gras
twice!
‘Amazing, amazing nights.’
XI) Performing ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’
at the Olympics in 2000?
‘Yes, definitely.’
X) 2003’s ‘Slow’ video which was full of
hunks in swimwear?
[Laughing hysterically] Yes. That has gone
down in history, I think. That’s a good selection.
I’m just raking my brains to think if there’s
anything else. There was descending from an
anchor on the On A Night Like This tour. What
else...[gives the matter a lot of thought]...
Charlene’s overalls in Neighbours? No, sorry,
that’s just been wiped out of the conversation
[laughs]. But the book I wrote, Showgirl
Princess, was pretty camp, so that’s 12 then!

KEEP IT QUICK
THERE’S NOTHING
WORSE THAN
INTERCOURSE
DRAGGING ITS HEELS

ALBUMS OUT IN JULY
PRIMAL SCREAM
Beautiful Future
(B-Unique)
Even diehard fans would have to admit that the quality of
Primal Scream’s output has been variable over the years.
Despite the top five success of ‘Country Girl’ from album
number eight, 2006’s Riot City Blues didn’t exactly set the
world alight and they subsequently parted ways with Sony.
Now they’re back on the B-Unique label, and as befits a
band with a fresh deal, they’re returned intent on sticking
two fingers up at those who may have doubted their hitmaking
potential.
With a title that’s perhaps an optimistic stab at cosmic
ordering, Beautiful Future is the Scream’s most
unashamedly pop offering. Psychedelic, blues-infused,
retro-flavoured pop, but pop nonetheless. This is perhaps
due to the fact that it was part recorded in Sweden with
producer Björn Yttling (of Peter, Björn and John fame),
at studios previously used by Abba. Gillespie has even
joked that the piano used on ‘Waterloo’ lurks somewhere
amongst these grooves!
Opening track, ‘Beautiful Future’, with its handclap beat,
chiming bells and shimmering chords, is a clear indication
that the Scream have decided to… well, let their hair
down, have some fun and even throw some shapes on the
dancefloor. It might well alienate fans of the band’s heavy
rock numbers, but let’s not forget that the Primals were one
of the first rock outfits to submerge themselves in dance
culture with 1990’s classic Screamadelica. First single, ‘Can’t
Go Back’, offers the more frenetic, amphetamine-charged
Scream of yore, while prime candidate for future single
must be ‘Zombie Man’, a Bolan-esque slab of foot-stomping
dance rock with a chorus so big it’s probably visible from
space.
The cosmic strut of Bolan is again summoned on the
sublime ‘The Glory Of Love’, while ‘Uptown’ is an amazing
marriage of Philly soul strings and predatory bass, with a
befuddled Gillespie seemingly mumbling through a haze of
narcotic oblivion as to the wonders of heading ‘uptown on
a Saturday night’.
And on the downside? Lovefoxx from CSS adds little to the
duet ‘I Love To Hurt (You Love To Be Hurt)’ and the tempo
baton is momentarily dropped on the album’s second duet;
an unnecessary cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Over & Over’
(with Brit-folk singer Linda Thompson). Thankfully, to keep
the rock fans happy, Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone
Age) contributes guitar to final track ‘Viva!’, ensuring the
album closes with all guns blazing.
Just when you may have been tempted to write them off,
Primal Scream convincingly prove that their future remains
unwritten.
Out: 21 July
HELOISE & THE
SAVOIR FAIRE
Trash, Rats &
Microphones
(Simian/Yep Roc)
Raid a dressing-up box and set your drum machine to ‘disco’,
and sooner or later people will begin to tout you as the
next Scissor Sisters. Given that Heloise & The Savoir Faire
herald from the same underground New York club scene,
the comparison is perhaps not quite so lazy or unwarranted.
Ahead of their first single, the outfit – led by flamboyant
chanteuse Heloise Williams – have already performed on
The Friday Night Project and Graham Norton Show. Such
prominent slots were possibly swung more by their signing
to actor Elijah Woods’ Simian record label than any talentspotting
credentials the shows’ producers might possess.
July finally sees the release of debut single ‘Illusions’,
followed by this, their debut album, and unfortunately,
behind the glitter, lies a messy, cacophony of funk bass,
80s keyboards and yelping vocals. Dubbed ‘Madonna-punk’
by one US commentator, it’s the punk of Lene Lovich and
Flying Lizards, but lacking the novelty appeal of either of
those acts. ‘Illusions’ may scrape the lower reaches of the
charts, but there’s little else here that’s likely transcend the
club circuit. Only on the ambitious and epic ‘Memorial Day’
do the band hint at something more deep and engaging.
Debbie Harry provides backing vocals on a couple of tracks,
but her contribution is minimal. Plinky-plonky keyboards
and amateurish fretwork dominate elsewhere on a
self-produced debut that may have benefited from a more
experienced hand behind the mixing desk. AG
Out: 7 July
MÊLÉE
Devils & Angels
(Warners/Hopeless)
When a band cites Coldplay
as one of their primary
influences, alarm bells might justifiably start ringing.
When the same group thanks ‘God’ first and foremost
on their album sleeve-notes, you could be forgiven for
contemplating the benefits of silence. And, sure enough, OC
pop-rock quartet Mêlée produce music so deathlessly dull
that, in the right concentration, could be weaponised. The
fact they’re signed to Hopeless Records somehow seems
apt.
It’s semi-legend that when the Sex Pistols played their Free
Trade Hall gig in Manchester, it inspired the likes of The
Buzzcocks, The Smiths and Joy Division. Similarly, did Mêlée
frontman Chris Cron have a Road-to-Damascus moment
when he heard Chris Martin’s esperanto-indie while
shopping for organic veg in Tesco: “Eureka! I have to pen a
collection of mid-tempo ballads as creatively bankrupt at
this!”?
The thing is, you can’t deny that Coldplay are accomplished
songwriters: Mêlée, on the other hand, have Van Gough’s
ear for a melody. As one portion of tepid 80s drive-time
rock seeps into the next – replete with nasal emo vocals
and Teflon choruses that refuse to stick in your head
– distinguishing one tune from another proves an arduous
task. In fact, what’s most telling is that a cover of MORpeddlers
Hall and Oates’ ‘You Make My Dreams’ emerges as
their best, shining moment. What a horrible thought. What
a truly horrible album. GR
Out: 21 July
TEMPOSHARK
The Invisible Line
(Paper and Glue)
Considering that their
demos were doing the
rounds as far back as 2004, you could hardly accuse London
synth-poppers Temposhark of rushing their debut. Indeed,
even Kate Bush might be tempted to snort, roll her eyes
and call them “slackers”. Fortunately, The Invisible Line is
an assured strut of an album: in a Venn Diagram covering
the dark industrial tunes of Nine Inch Nails and the fizzy
pop hooks of McFly, Temposhark would represent the
intersection. ‘Joy’ rides a sleazy, contorting beat worthy of
Goldfrapp at their most tail-feather-shaking; while the
gleaming ‘Knock Me Out’ sounds like a Richard X-helmed
Spandau Ballet comeback.
Frontman Rob Diament’s emollient, boy-band vocals mask
a tar-black heart. On the egomaniacal ‘Don’t Mess With
Me’, he kills time with a ‘quick fuck’ before dismissing his
conquest: ‘I’ve come/It’s been fun/But won’t you please
disappear/You can’t further my career’, while on ‘Little White
Lie’, he admires how a married man ‘swallows me whole’.
Sonically, The Invisible Line is uniformly exquisite:
shimmering synths that pairs beeps and blips with soaring
strings and textured soundscapes. One-time Madonna
collaborator Guy Sigsworth lends his touch to a few tracks,
while fellow Frou Frou alumni, oddball singer-songwriter
Imogen Heap duets on the brooding ‘Not That Big’.
Camp, theatrical, and with hooks aplenty: remember, each
time you listen to it, a Pigeon Detectives fan dies. GR
Out: 7 July
REVIEWS: DAVID HUDSON, ANTHONY GORDON AND GARY RYAN

NO STOPPING HER
BUT I’M NOT THE SORT
OF PERSON TO PREFER
GAY OR STRAIGHT
BECAUSE TO ME IT’S
THE SAME THING
Annie’s new single, ‘I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me’ is out
7th July and the album, Don’t Stop, is out in September.

FILMS OUT IN JULY
ANGUS, THONGS AND
PERFECT SNOGGING
THE MIST
CD
DH
THE BEST DVDS
JULY ’08
FOUR MINUTES
Despite scooping a clutch of
awards at a variety of European
film festivals, this excellent
German drama went largely
overlooked at the UK box
office. A elderly piano teacher
working in a women’s prison
tutors a young, rebellious new
inmate. She’s the most gifted
pupil the elder woman’s ever taught – and one
who rekindles in her memories of a love she had for
another woman many years earlier. It builds to a
moving, dramatic climax.
OUT: 28 JULY
THERE WILL BE BLOOD
Daniel Day Lewis deservedly
won an Oscar for his
spellbinding performance as
turn-of-the-century oil man
Daniel Plainview, in director
Paul Thomas Anderson’s
adaptation of the novel Oil!
by Upton Sinclair. Plainview
will stop at nothing to build
his oil empire, but like so many megalomaniacs, becomes
increasingly isolated and unhinged by his quest for money
and power. ‘I driiiink your milkshake!’ indeed.
OUT: 07 JULY
THE ORPHANAGE
A genuinely creepy and
disquieting Spanish ghost
story from director Juan
Antonio Bayona. A woman
buys the orphanage building
in which she grew up and
plans to reopen it as a home
for handicapped children.
However, soon after moving
in, her own young son starts talking to invisible, imaginary
friends, and then mysteriously disappears. Was he
snatched, or are more supernatural forces at work?
OUT: 21 JULY
27 DRESSES
Katherine Heigl, who scored
such a hit with last year’s
Knocked Up, stars in this more
formulaic but still enjoyable
rom-com. She plays Jane,
a woman who’s been a
bridesmaid 27 times but who
has yet to meet her own Mr
Right. That is until she falls for
her own sister’s boyfriend. Will she reveal her feelings for
him, or instead endure having to plan her sister’s wedding
to the man she herself loves?
OUT: 28 JULY
REVIEWS: DAVID HUDSON AND CHARLOTTE DINGLE

REVIEWS: DAVID HUDSON AND STEVE WATSON
FILMS OUT IN JULY
SAVAGE GRACE
KUNG FU PANDA
DONKEY PUNCH

PHOTOS © TRISTRAM KENTON
COULD IT BE MAGIC?
Savoy Theatre Box Office: 0870 164 8787
www.neverforgetthemusical.com
BOOK NOW
STRITCH MARKS
Elaine Stritch returns to London at the end of July for a
limited run of her Tony-award winning, one-woman
show Elaine Stritch At Liberty. This veteran of
stage and screen will be bringing her amazing,
autobiographical show to the Shaw Theatre on Euston
Road between Thursday 31 July and Sunday 10 August.
Expect anecdotes and musical numbers as Ms Stritch
looks back upon her long and illustrious career.
Tickets cost £60 and for box office or more details, call 0870
033 2600.
LATIN PASSION
The latest classic tale
to receive the musical
treatment, swashbuckling
adventurer Zorro hits the
stage at the Garrick Theatre
this month. The score has
been penned by the Gipsy
Kings (and includes some of their past hits, such as
‘Bamaboleo’), while Spanish flamenco dancer Rafael
Amargo has contributed the choreography. Adam Rawle
takes the lead role amongst a cast of 30. Romantic,
sword-fighting here Zorro was created in 1919 by pulp
writer Johnston McCulley, and the tale has endured
several film and TV adaptations, and is now out to
become the next major West End hit.
Previews start 30 June, with tickets £25-£60. www.
zorrothemusical.com
SKIN TWO
So successful did the
production of Counterfeit
Skin prove at the
beginning of the year at
the relaunched Courtyard
Theatre in Shoreditch that
the production is set to
return for another four week run at the end of July. This
darkly comic, queer-themed thriller is written by Jason
Charles, and addresses the conflict between the desires
of the flesh and the needs of the heart, examining and
picking apart a variety of destructive, contemporary
relationships. This new production runs from 22 July till
10 August, at the Courtyard, 40 Pitfield Street, N1.
Tickets cost £12-£15. www.thecourtyard.org.uk

PEN FRIENDS
Paul Burston and Rupert Smith
PHOTO OF WILL SELF © EAMONN MCCABE / POLARI PHOTOGRAPHY © DOM AGIUS
I’VE ALWAYS MAINTAINED
THAT I’M A GAY WRITER WHO
HAPPENS TO BE A PRACTISING
HETEROSEXUAL
Polari, featuring special guest Will Self, is at The Green Carnation,
4-5 Greek Street, W1, on Tuesday 8 July from 7-11pm.
www.myspace.com/polarigaysalon
For more details about July’s London Literature Festival (5-19 July
2008), check www.londonlitfest.com

THE OTHER SIDE
DAVID HUDSON REVIEWS L’AUTRE PIED
5-7 Blandford Street, Marylebone Village, W1U 3DB.
020 7486 9696. www.lautrepied.co.uk
Pied A Terre on Charlotte Street has long had an enviable
reputation with the capital’s food lovers, and has been
rewarded with two Michelin stars for its culinary creations.
Its former head chef, 26-year-old Marcus Eaves, has now
opened his first restaurant – the aptly titled L’Autre Pied
– in conjunction with his former Pied mentors, Shane
Osborn and David Moore.
L’Autre Pied lies just off Marylebone High Street, in the
heart of the quaintly dubbed ‘Marylebone Village’. Like its
sister venue, it offers an imaginative selection of modern
European dishes. The interior is tastefully subdued yet
stylish, with dark wood furniture, a large red leather
banquette running along one of the walls, and handpainted
botanical murals of delicate vines.
The menu is small and simple, with five starters, mains
and desserts. We started with Cornish crab, avocado purée,
tzatziki mouse and crispy Parmesan tuille (£9.95) and panfried
foie gras with an apricot and vanilla purée with a bay
leaf foam (£14.95). Eaves seems keen on his foams, purées
and emulsions. The portion of foie gras was generous, and
the combination of apricot, vanilla and bay leaf a revelation.
The crab mousse was so sublimey subtle it risked being
bland, but the Parmesan tuille added some desired bite and
crunch. Thankfully, as much as we may have tried, it was
impossible to find any fault with our main courses. I enjoyed
a confit of organic salmon (£17.95), served with peas,
broad beans, and an amazing cauliflower and horseradish
cream. My dining partner went with pan-fried plaice with
Charlotte potatoes (served in Dolly Mixture-sized cubes)
and spring vegetables, served in a ladleful of herb broth.
Moving to London from Germany, he said it was the best
thing he’d ever eaten here. High praise indeed.
Business was quiet on the Tuesday lunchtime that
we visited, with only two other tables occupied by
businessmen. This is a shame, as if you choose from the
fixed lunch menu it’s only £16.50 for two courses or £19.95
for three courses. The choice might be limited but the
quality is outstanding.
The main dining area at L’Autre Pied

EATING OUT
OUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS AND
GAY-FRIENDLY DINING OPTIONS
CENTRAL
Amato, 14 Old Compton Street,
Soho, W1. 020-7734 5733. Busy
café and patisserie, offering
pasta dishes and a huge array
of cakes. Very popular with gay
Soho. www.amato.co.uk
Balans, 60 Old Compton Street,
W1. 020-7439 2183. The nearest
Soho has to a gay restaurant,
busy throughout the week and
open throughout the day and
night. Traditional British dishes
with Meditteranean and Asian
flourishes. Approx. £28 per head.
See also the nearby Balans Café
at 34 Old Compton Street. www.
balans.co.uk
Bodeans, 10 Poland Street,
W1. 020-7287 0506. Cheap and
cheerful barbecue restaurant,
with counter service upstairs and
restaurant down below. Popular
with visiting Americans, plus the
odd bear from the nearby Kings
Arms! Branches also in Clapham,
Fulham and Westbourne Grove.
www.bodeansbbq.com
Boulevard Bar & Dining
Room, 57-59 Old Compton
Street, W1. 020-7287 0770.
American brasserie-style
restaurant, offering a ‘modern
British menu with an Italian
influence’ in the heart of gay
Soho. www.boulevardbrasserie.
co.uk
Coffee, Cake & Kink, 61
Endell Street, Covent Garden,
WC2. 020-7149 2996. ‘The only
kinky café gallery in the UK’,
this small little café features
erotic art exhibitions, books,
prints, Fairtrade coffee, pastries
and cakes. Naughty, but nice.
Open 11am-8am Sun-Thur and
11am-11pm Fri-Sat. www.
coffeecakeandkink.com
First Out, 52 St Giles High
Street, WC2. 020-7240 8042.
Long-running, gay-run café
and bar, serving homemade
vegetarian dishes, coffee and
cakes. Lots of gay magazines,
community info and flyers.
www.firstoutcafebar.com
Floridita, 100 Wardour Street,
W1. 020-7314 4000. Large,
glamorous Cuban-themed
restaurant and bar, with regular
music acts and even occasional
drag. Great food and cocktails.
Approx. £36 per head. www.
floridita.co.uk
Ristorante Biagio, 189
Piccadilly, W1. 020-7434-1921.
Great, authentic Italian food
in contemporary and smart
surroundings, spread over four
floors. Approx. £32 per head.
www.ristorantebiagio.co.uk
Stef’s, 3 Berners Street, W1 020-
3073 1041. Huge, gay-friendly
Italian – formerly Linda’s Pasta
Bar on Poland Street – moved to
the other side of Oxford Street in
2007. Pizza and pasta heaven.
Steph’s, 39 Dean Street, Soho,
W1. 02-07734 5976. Longrunning,
gay-friendly restaurant
in Soho, presided over by hostess
Steph and offering classic British
comfort dishes. A favourite with
the theatre crowd.
Wagamama, 10a Lexington
Street, Soho, W1. 020-7292
0990. Our favourite branch
of the noodle chain, offering
cheap, healthy Japanese delights
– great gyoza and… well,
noodles! £16 per head. Check
website for other branches
- www.wagamama.com
NORTH
Gilgamesh, Camden View,
Camden Stables Market, Chalk
Farm Road, NW1. Huge, ornate
and lavish pan-Asian restaurant
with one of London’s most
stunning interiors. Food good
rather than outstanding, but
worth a visit for the décor.
Cheaper at lunchtime than the
evening. www.gilgameshbar.
com
La Porchetta, 141-142 Upper
Street, N1. 020-7288 2488.
Great value pizza and pasta
restaurant, with possibly some
of the biggest pizzas in London!
Sister branches in Finsbury Park
and Bloomsbury. Approx. £17
per head.
Little Bay, 228 Belsize Road,
NW6. Wonderfully down-toearth
and charming restaurant
serving Modern European
cuisine at very reasonable prices
(particularly at lunchtime).
Excellent value for money.
Pick More Daisies, 12 Crouch
End Hill, N8. Californian café bar
- great for a weekend brunch
or Sunday lunch – attracting
trendy-ish North London crowd.
www.pickmoredaisies.com
World Café, 130 Crouch Hill,
Haringey, N8. 020-8340 5635.
Trendy, chic, gay-friendly café
for Crouch Hill crowd, serving
snacks, main meals and fab
cappuccinos.
EAST
Bistrotheque, 23-27 Wadeson
Street, Bethnal Green, E2.
Modern, contemporary classy
restaurant with basement bar
and cabaret room, and fine
dining upstairs – modern British
cuisine and French bistro dishes
– approx. £35 per head. www.
bistrotheque.com
The Easton, 22 Easton Street,
WC1. 020-7278 7609. Cool
gastropub just off Exmouth
Market. Sunday lunch is pack
with Clerkenwell-istas and
the food is top notch. www.
theeaston.co.uk
Hanoi Café, 98 Kingsland Road,
E2. 020-7729 5610. Authentic
Vietnamese food for any budget
– sometimes a bit crammed
with Dalston’s club kids but you
won’t find better traditional
Vietnamese soup based dishes.
www.hanoicafe.co.uk
Kenza, 10a Devonshire Square,
EC2. 020-7929 5533. Delightful
and sumptuous subterranean
Middle Eastern restaurant a
stone’s throw from Liverpool
Street station. Arabic interior and
mezza menu – approx. £35 per
Saf in Shoreditch
head. www.kenza-restaurant.
co.uk
Les Trois Garcons, 1 Club Row,
Whitechapel, E1. 020-7613
1924. A former Victorian boozer,
stuffed with baroque decor
and antiques, creating a camp,
culinary haven near Old Street.
British/French menu. www.
loungelover.co.uk
Saf, 152-154 Curtain Road,
Shoreditch, EC2. 020 7613
0007. A stylish and upmarket
vegan and raw food restaurant
– popular with London’s healthconscious
and conscientious
diners. Approx. £24 per head.
www.safrestaurant.co.uk
Tinseltown, 44-46 St John
Street, Farringdon, EC1. Want a
double cheeseburger and Mars
Bar Milkshake at 5am? Then
24-hour, subterranean American
diner Tinseltown is the place
to head. Round the clock diner
(24/7) popular with late-night
clubbers – very near Fabric.
Cool when quiet but avoid if
there’s a queue for entry. www.
tinseltown.co.uk
SOUTH
Bonnington Café, 11 Vauxhall
Grove, SW8. Cheap, cheerful
and very gay-friendly cooperatively
run vegetarian café
in Bonnington Square. Pig out
on three courses for £10! http://
s208303316.websitehome.co.uk
El Panzon @ The Dogstar,
389 Coldharbour Lane, SW9.
Authentic Mexican and Tex-mex
restaurant and fantastic prices
in the trendy Dogstar bar. Don’t
miss the burritos or the taco
plate to share. Approx. £14 per
head. www.elpanzon.co.uk
The Hill, 89 Royal Hill, SE10.
020-8691 3626. Attentive
service and very gay-friendly. A
bit pricey for what’s essentially
an upmarket gastropub, but
worth it. Modern British/
European menu.
The Loft, 67 Clapham High
Street, SW4. 020-7627 0792.
Upmarket and stylish restaurant,
bar and late-night haunt.
Classic British dishes and lots of
cocktails. Approx. £40 per head.
www.theloft-clapham.co.uk
The Riverside, 5 Hamilton
House, 5 St George Wharf,
Vauxhall, SW8. Great pub food
in upmarket, riverside gastropub
that boasts terrific views of the
Thames.
Royal Teas, 76 Royal Hill,
Greenwich, SE10. 020-8691
7240. Delightfully charming café
offering tea, scones, cakes and
other delights for an eclectic
crowd. Brit camp fabulousness.
www.royalteascafe.co.uk
The Stonhouse, 165
Stonhouse Street, SW4. Lovely
Clapham gastropub with great
steaks, burgers, salads and
sandwiches. Approx. £22 a head.
www.renaissancepubs.co.uk/SH
Upstairs Bar and Restaurant,
89b Acre Lane, SW2. Hidden
gem and local secret. Critically
acclaimed, eclectic European
menu, with emphasis on French
cuisine. Limited choice each day,
but menu changes daily. Open
Tue-Sat. www.upstairslondon.
com
WEST
Balans Knightsbridge, 239
Old Brompton Road, SW5.
020-7244 8838. More Earls
Court than Knightsbridge! Very
gay-friendly restaurant, offering
British and Mediterranean
dishes. Approx. £28 per head.
www.balans.co.uk
The Fat Badger, 310
Portobello Road, W10. Upmarket
and classy gastropub, serving
fine British cuisine. Good Sunday
roast. www.thefatbadger.com
Gourmet Burger Kitchen,
131 Chiswick High Road, W4.
Delicious burgers, shakes and
onion rings at popular American
eatery – other branches across
London. www.gbkinfo.com
Italians style at Piccadilly’s Biagio
S&M Café Portobello, 268
Portobello Road, W10. 020-8968
8898. The sausage and mash
café (hence S&M!). Great British
grub in kitsch café surroundings.
There are also branches in
Islington (N1) and Spitalfields
(E1). www.sandmcafe.co.uk

MATCH MADE
For more information, call 020 3178 5206 or log on to www.
malaryandbrowne.com

INDEFINITE
LEAVE TO REMAIN
THE OLD CLASS
SYSTEM OF BRITAIN
STILL SEEMS TO
REAR ITS UGLY HEAD
WHEN IT COMES
TO THE SERVICE
INDUSTRIES

WORDS AND PHOTOS CHRIS JEPSON
MR MEN
Chicago

Gary Iriza from Palm Springs - International Mr Leather 2008

RUSS WOOLMORE,
A 38-YEAR-OLD
FROM EAST LONDON,
REPRESENTED THE
CAPITAL AT IML AS THE
WINNER OF THE MR
HOIST 2008 TITLE.
WAS IT YOUR FIRST
TIME AT IML AND WAS IT
WHAT YOU EXPECTED?
I have been to most of the
key fetish events in Europe
and New York but not to IML before. I had a good idea what
the actual event would consist of but I was so unprepared for
the experience that lay in wait for me!
HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF REPRESENTING
LONDON?
I was so nervous but only for the first day. After that there
just wasn’t time to even think about being nervous. There
were guys from all over North America, Canada, Europe and
Australia. And for the next four days we would be spending
almost every waking hour together, in photo shoots, press
calls, TV interviews, rehearsing our stage appearances,
preparing our speeches and the nightly stage shows -
speaking to an audience of 2,500 people with your stomach in
your throat - it was very full on. Everywhere I went in the hotel
I would be stopped by complete strangers with lots of offers of
support, even more offers of sex! I started getting messages on
Gaydar and Recon from all over the world wishing me well – it
was astounding – I really need to say thank you to them all.
WERE YOU GREATLY DISAPPOINTED NOT TO WIN?
It would have been fantastic to win but I was having such
an incredible adventure both in and out of the competition it
really didn’t matter! I feel very privileged to have been able to
go thanks to the generosity of The Hoist and everyone who
voted for me to become Mr Hoist 2008. After the final, we
all went to the House Of Blues where at one point I was
cornered by a queue of guys who all wanted to say hello and
console me! I spent some time with Andy Bell from Erasure,
who did a great PA that night, and the guys from Folsom
Europe who kindly invited me to Berlin in September as their
guests. There was a storm of very gorgeous men from Hot
House and Titan - one of whom spent the next day with me
at the beach in a glorious 87 degrees of sunshine teaching me
how to roller blade! I had already won ten times over; I didn’t
need to be IML as well!
WORDS AND PHOTOS CHRIS JEPSON

CLUBS>BARS>FASHION>GOSSIP>NEWS>TRENDS>SCENES>QUEENS>FACTS>
PAGE 54
XXL
London's biggest club
for bears and friends
threw its annual Bear
Pride party last month
PHOTOGRAPHY © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM
PAGE 64
HUSTLABALL
Chi Chi LaRue was just
one of the many guests
who turned up at
London's first Hustlaball
in Vauxhall
CIRCUS...
PAGE 66
GAY BINGO
Johnny Woo presides
over the madness that
is Gay Bingo at Profile
on Wardour Street
Jodie Harsh's ground-breaking and celebrity-heavy Friday nighter was rammed for its second birthday celebrations - and
plenty of the regulars dressed up for the occasion. Check our review of the party on pages 58-59...

XXL BEAR PRIDE
This year’s Bear Pride weekend
at The Arches was judged
another resounding success by
all those who attended, with the
Saturday night XXL party – as our
pictures show – proving a particular
highlight. Organiser Mark Ames had
events running over three nights at
the venue, with the Saturday night
party and Sunday night Fusion event
both attracting capacity crowds.
Fortunately, having an extra cloak
room and additional toilets ensured
that the venue easily coped with the
thousands that passed through the
doors over the course of the weekend.
XXL always goes to town for Bear
Pride, and this year’s event left us
wondering whether they actually
make any more at all from the whole
affair. After making charitable
donations, fully decorating the
club, paying for guest DJs and acts
(Angie Brown lifted the roof with a
late-night set on the evening of our
visit), and giving punters free CDs
and some very nicely-designed Bear
Pride commemorative t-shirts, noone
could argue about getting value
for money. In fact, if you brought a
£15 triple-whammy ticket, allowing
you entry to all three nights at the
Arches, it must have counted as one
of the year’s best bargains.
The club would like to thank
everyone who turned up to support
this year’s event, and promise that
it will be back – bigger and better
– in 2009. In the meantime, get
down to the Arches any Saturday or
Wednesday night for a hefty dose of
XXL hospitality.
XXL, The Arches, 51-53 Southwark
Street, London Bridge, SE1. www.
xxl-london.com

PHOTOS © DICK GOOSE

CIRCUS @
SOHO REVUE BAR
The Feeling's Richard Jones
and Jodie Harsh
Is it really two years since the Harsh Circus Train
pulled in to the Soho Revue Bar? Well, apparently so, as
last month the team celebrated their cotton anniversary…
but judging by the sparks flying from those man-made fibres,
they were wearing anything but cotton! When Jodie Harsh
started Circus she was an up and coming go-getter with
a penchant for PR and a knowledge of where to be to get
papped by the gossip column paparazzi. She has fallen in and
out of cabs with Kate Moss and Amy Winehouse and is now
named in nearly every glossy weekly and monthly across the
land. In the back biting world of nightclubs and hosting, she
is a success story, with Circus one of the products of her Midas
touch. Packed with celebs, sexy boys and fashionistas, the
queue outside is always around the block, and not all those
who want to enter are successful – thanks to the discerning
door whores and security. Plate spinning for the birthday bash
came courtesy of Sophie Ellis Bextor, while The Feeling’s Dan
Gillespie Sells grooved around in the DJ box and a couple of
queens had a fist fight outside cause they both turned up in
the same waistcoat. A circus indeed. Happy birthday little’un.
The Circus, every Friday night from 10.30pm till 3am at Soho Revue
Bar, 11-12 Walkers Court, W1. www.sohorevuebar.co.uk

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM
Dan Gillespie Sells and
Sophie Ellis Bextor

WORK @ HEAVEN
The organisers of this year’s UK
Black Pride (www.ukblackpride.
org.uk) have announced that
the event will again be taking
place at the prestigious Regent's
College on the Inner Circle of Regents
Park. The annual celebration to
promote unity among black people
of African, Asian, Middle Eastern,
and Latin American descent who
identify as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual
and transgender, the launch party
took place in the Departure Lounge
at Heaven during the club’s midweek
outing Work! The event was hosted by
the fabulous Miss Kimberley (pictured
right) and LB (who will also host on
the day), while the legendary Beverley
Knight (pictured centre above) was on
hand to offer her support and superb
R&B and urban music came from
Urban Desi.
Elsewhere in the club, Miss Kim also
hosted a Vogue competition where
casual passers by could have been
forgiven for thinking it was an Easter
event – such were the number of
religious themed entrants! The four
categories of the catwalk strut-off
were held in front of celebrity judges
including Queer Eye’s Julian Bennett,
songstress Beverley Knight and diva
Victoria Wilson James.
After what seemed like an age, the 50
or so contestants were whittled down
to 4 winners. But the choices didn’t
stop there. Oh no! Now we had to
decide whether to throw shapes with
Freddie Thomas in the Housey main
room or shuck our jeans two inches
lower and groove to the R&B with
Jeffrey Hinton. So many decisions, and
it’s only a Wednesday! That must be
why they call it Work!
Work! at Heaven - Wednesday
11pm-4am. Under The Arches,
Villiers Street, WC2.
WORDS AND PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM

MUCKING ABOUT
OUTDOOR GAY
EVENTS IN THE
CAPITAL ALWAYS
LEAVE ME SLIGHTLY
DISAPPOINTED
GET ON THE
GUEST LIST
The Fire crew will be
hosting a huge post-Pride
bonanza bringing on
those Juicy Pride tunes
and production on
Saturday 5 July. Expect
huge tunes laid down by
the likes of Steve Pitron,
Rob Sykes, David Jimenez
and Stevie B and the
crew across four rooms of
hi-octane madness with
Brazilian go-go action
a-plenty. The doors are
open from 10pm till 8am
and advance tickets are
£13 from Prowler, Clone
Zone and The Box
Fire, South Lambeth Road,
Vauxhall.
www.allthingsorange.
com
A welcome respite from all
things kitsch, camp and
cuddly, the Duckie crew’s
annual Gay Shame event
is on Saturday 12 July
and this year’s theme is
‘Masculinity’. Heels and
skirts are strictly forbidden
– aim for builder, cabbie
or wife-beating chic as
performances and stalls
take on a masculine
and macho bent.
Soundtracked by Duckie
weekly residents the
London Readers Wifes and
hosted by Amy Lamé,
Duckie’s Gay Shame is at
The Coronet, Elephant and
Castle from 9pm till 4am.
Tickets are £15 in advance
from the Retro Bar or on
the door.
www.duckie.co.uk

GEISHA
Is Geisha gay London’s pinkest bar? We certainly
can’t think of anywhere that stands out quite so
loudly and proudly. The super-stylish establishment lies
on Charing Cross Road. The two-floor venue features floorto-ceiling
windows allowing passers by to gaze in upon
the… well, pink punters, and those inside to look out. The
interior is dominated by bright pink walls at the front of
the venue, with delicate, Japanese-inspired murals adding
the obligatory Oriental touch. We’re also admirers of the
chrome lampshades above the bar, bunched together like a
collection of metallic bubbles.
The venue hosts a range of nightly events, and we
popped along on a Saturday evening for the new S.H.A.G
promotion. No, it’s nothing too saucy – it stands for
Saturday Highlight At Geisha! Your hostess is Tamsin, and
each week a different name DJ takes to the decks to spin the
sounds. Other attractions include the Sunday Meltdown
with DJ Devilish spinning the house and electro, and Uncut
each Friday with DJ Eduardo de la Torre working a
Spanish underground vibe.
Now that summer’s here, expect the venue to open its
concertina doors for additional al fresco drinking. In
fact, why not treat yourself to one of the bar’s refreshing
cocktails, such as its Lychee Mojito or the Limoncello?
Geisha, 75 Charing Cross Road, WC2.
www.geisha-bar.co.uk
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM

HUSTLABALL
London has never really taken off on the international
circuit party scene – somewhat surprising given our diverse
and thriving night culture. There have been occasional attempts
to launch circuit party style mega-events (the old Famous Five
parties at Bagley’s Warehouse spring to mind), but none have
returned year after year. Well, that could all change following the
huge success of Hustlaball in Vauxhall in June.
Circuit aficionados will already know about Hustlaball as it has an
enviable reputation for full-on, no-holds-barred, testosteronecharged
partying, with a history stretching back over the last
ten years and events across Europe. Hustlaball London was a
joint venture between rentboy.com and Alex Erfan, and it took
place on 14 June in the Vauxhall railway arches of both Area and
Depot – the first time that both arches have been open for a joint
venture. Fortunately, they didn’t have to worry about the filling
the space. The night was rammed. Suzie Krueger and her Hard
On crew took care of the Depot half (bringing with them a huge,
maze-like playroom), while DJs Jack Chang, David Hernandez and
Sammy Jo took care of the main floor, with Binomio and Hugh
Stevenson on the third dancefloor. Shows took place throughout
the night, courtesy of top porn producer Chi Chi La Rue and some
of her roster of famed porn stars, like the stunning Francois Sagat
(shorter in the flesh than you might expect but just as cute!).
The night was a huge success, and is guaranteed to return to the
capital again in 2009. Here’s hoping it perhaps kick-starts a trend
for more, big, annual special events.
For details of other Hustlaball events, check www.
hustlaball.com
PHOTOGRAPHY © CHRISJEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM

GAY BINGO @ LO PROFILE
If you like avant-garde cabaret
with its tongue planted firmly
in its cheek and pound shop
couture done up to look a million
dollars, then you’ll love Gay Bingo.
Originating way out east, it has
recently successfully transferred to
Gaydar’s subterranean hideaway,
Lo Profile, in the West End, and
is an unforgettable experience.
Like a whirling dervish on crack,
Johnny Woo swooped in, grabbed
the audience with both hands and
throttled it into submission. Having
repeatedly stamped on the head of
good taste and driven a battered
stiletto through its eye, he launched
into a fabulously kitsch rap ballad
about a sports kit tranny at 100 miles
an hour before casually gliding across
the dancefloor-cum-arena and calling
26 – 32 – 68, etc. This is no bingo for
the blue rinse brigade; this is hardcore,
guerrilla, subversive digit-calling where
the numbers are cunningly hidden in
an ad-libbed libretto that flies at you
faster than the bullets in the Matrix
and that no amount of bobbing and
weaving can avoid. It is all too easy
to get caught up in the story and
entirely miss the fact that 5 numbers
have just flown by… “Melissa, the
1 legged prostitute, left her flat at
number 28 Acacia Avenue and, after
avoiding 2 Bichon Frises in the street
proceeded past the gang of 5 hoodies
on the corner, 3 of whom were of
indeterminate gender.”
Stories are interspersed with songs, Ma
Butcher has her finger on the number
cruncher, lines are called and prizes
awarded, but pity the person in the
Woo’s sights when the number 69
comes up, as, like a lamb to slaughter,
they won’t stand a chance. Superb guest
cabaret filled the gaps between games
(on the night of our visit it was Amanda
Pett), ‘Chariots Of Fire’ was played out,
Woo-style, in slo-mo and the whole
shebang climaxed in a Rio poolside
finale of Baywatch bathing beauties and
chicken fillets. Sensational.
Lo Profile, The Basement, 84-85
Wardour Street, W1. www.
gaydarprofile.com

PHOTOS AND WORDS © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM

THE YARD
Given that it’s the only gay bar in central
London to possess its very own secluded
courtyard, the aptly titled Yard bar is very much
an Out In The City favourite during the summer
months. You can choose to drink outside in the
yard, inside the ground floor bar area or upstairs
in the stylish, woodbeamed Loft Bar, with its own
outdoor balcony for smokers. Both bar areas feature
video screens and offer a rotating soundtrack
throughout the week. The venue gets busiest at
weekends, and therefore lays on DJs, with the best
in classic disco and funk on Thursdays, followed by
DJ Small Sam spinning the anthems on Fridays.
Sam’s back at the decks again on Saturdays for the
‘Upfront’ session, while there’s more of a chilledout
vibe on offer on Sundays, with ambient grooves
and deep’n’sexy house from 4pm onwards. A light
lunch menu is served daily from 1pm (3pm on
Sundays) and there’s a happy hour on Mondays
to Wednesdays from 5 till 7pm, when glasses of
wine or bottles of Becks beer cost just £2. Fans of
cocktails will also want to know that the venue
boasts one of the best selections in all of Soho.
Whether you’re looking for post-work drinks, a preclub
rendezvous, or even a romantic spot for lunch,
The Yard and The Loft cover all bases… and if the
sun is shining, both are hard to beat!
The Yard and The Loft, 57 Rupert Street,
Soho, W1. 020-7437 2652.
www.yardbar.com
PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM

WALK LIKE A MAN?
Robin: It’s so rich
- we are all obsessed with
masculinity. But masculinity
today is in ruins. All the
strong positive notions
like loyalty, courage and
strength that were the
masculine ideal years ago
have become either corrupt
or cosmeticised. Now,
masculinity stands primarily
for violence and brutality
and a body you buy down
the gym.
Amy: In the realm of the
homosexual male, it seems
masculinity is ever more
prized and exalted. Gone
are the days when gay
men could be effeminate;
now they have to have
hairy bellies, big muscles,
deep voices and a distinct
disregard for anything
vaguely feminine. It seemed
like the right
time to
explore
this,
probe
the
Performer
Laura Bridgeman
hyper-masculinised anus
of the gay man and bust
it apart. Metaphorically
speaking, of course.
Robin: We live in a
heterosexually-dominated
society where we are not
the norm. We have to do all
that coming-out business
and it’s nearly always a big
issue and it’s something
we have to keep on doing.
That makes us very selfconscious.
Straight men
don’t have to question and
defend their sexuality like
we do. I think we yearn for
that sense of ease. We envy
it and are attracted to it.
We try to copy it by acting
straight, but of course that
never really works.
Amy: It’s about
representing and desiring
something you can’t
have and will never
be. Now we have
– nearly – full
equality in the eyes
of the law, it seems
like everyone’s
rushing to get back
in the closet.
Robin: I love seeing
straight men with their
kids – the way kids
bring out a tender,
patient side. We
as gay men tend
to be far too
self-obsessed. Straight
men should learn all the
obvious things from us
– like not being afraid of
their emotions or of shaving
their balls.
Amy: From straight blokes,
gay men can learn to like
women and confront the
cunt. From gay blokes,
straight men can learn
better grooming.
Robin: A night full of sex,
violence and adventure and
the knowledge that you
will go home a betterdeconstructed
man.
Amy: They can expect a
masculinity mash-up this
year! Traditionally the event
is set up like a marketplace,
with lots of interactive
performance stalls run by
artists – this year over 30
stalls and 50 artists! When
you arrive you’ll be issued
with Duckie money, which
you then spend and/or
barter at the stalls of your
choice. We have stage
shows, a soundtrack by the
Readers Wifes and I’ll be
hosting the whole shebang.
Robin: A horse race in the
middle of a disco. Our very
own brand of ‘essence of
man’ perfume extracted
and distilled from punter’s
piss. Menswear makeover.
Having your cock chopped
off. Male chauvinist pig
roast. Over 30 ridiculously
macho stalls.
Amy: I can’t wait to see
what the Bearlesque guys
come up with! I’ve heard
they’ve ordered a lot of
scaffolding and they’re
Amy Lamé
having some fantastic
reversible dungarees made.
Robin: Dress code: Straight
blokes, butch lesbians, fat
darts players, plumbers.
Amy: No designer gear,
no nice shoes, no fashion
statements. Just dress like
Compo and you’ll be fine.
Robin: Yes, of course it
serves a function – if only
for that surge of pleasure
you get when hundreds
of you are wolfwhistling
at a gang of blokes on a
building site.
Amy: We started Gay
Shame as an antidote to all
that rainbow flag-waving,
Kylie-impersonating
nonsense. But, oh, it’s
great that Pride still exists.
It’s important that gay
men and lesbians from
places that may not be as
progressive as London or
the UK have the platform
to make a statement about
their sexuality, even if it
is while wearing satin
hot-pants and a sequin
boob tube. I think it’s
important that Pride retains
a political edge and we
remember our gay brothers
and sisters in places like
Poland and Jamaica and
Nigeria and Iran, who face
a huge struggle to just be
themselves and stay alive.
Gay
Shame
will take place
Saturday 5 July from
9pm till 4am at 2,000-
capacity Coronet,
28 New Kent Road,
Elephant & Castle, SE1.
It will feature 60 artists
and 30 stalls, including
Justin Bond,
Marisa Carnesky,
Scottee, Helen
Plewis, Bearlesque,
Timberlina, Jack,
Laura Bridgeman,
Hannah Eaton,
Russell Harries,
Charlie Pulford, Miss
High Leg Kick and
many others. Tickets
£15 in advance in
person from The Retro
Bar or on the door on
the night. Info 020
7737 4043. www.
duckie.co.uk
PHOTOS © MANUEL VASON

HIGHLIGHTS
XXL
The well-endowed XXL has another great month planned
this July, kicking off with its Super-Sized Pride Party
on Saturday 5 July. This huge London Bridge institution for
bears, hunks, rugger buggers and lads of all shapes and
sizes, will be throwing a Pride party with DJs Christian
M, Kamishake, Mark Ames, Joe Egg and Alex Logan.
“Expect super-sized drink specials, larger than normal tunes
on the dancefloor and the biggest beef in the capital,” with
doors open from 9pm through till 6am.
The Saturday night club recently launched extended
opening hours. “We’re opening the doors an extra hour early
from 9pm. As a special incentive to get through the doors,
we’re offering the ‘Happy On Happy In Door Discounts’. What
does that mean? Well, between 9pm and 10pm you’ll get in
got £6 if you are a member and £10 if you are a guest.
Now that you’ve saved a couple of quid though the door,
you can take advantage of the Double Whammy Happy
Hour from 9–11pm. What’s on offer? £2 pints on super
chilled cold beer and £3 for house doubles and mixer.”
Also, look out for the relaunched www.xxl-london.com
website. The guys have been working on a major redesign,
promising a new, improved, interactive site.
G-A-Y JUST
WANTS TO
HAVE FUN!
POST-PRIDE PARTYING
G-A-Y may be winding down its 15-year
residency at the Astoria, but that doesn’t
mean that there will be any lowering of
quality control over the final few weeks.
The G-A-Y Porn Idol on Mondays and the
G-A-Y Thursday night session have now
come to an end, but you’ll still find the
G-A-Y Camp Attack running each Friday
and the flagship Saturday night hosting
live acts on the weekend. Acts confirmed
for July include a special double headline
performance on Saturday 5 July from
Swedish pop sensations Alcazar and
BWO, performing hits such as ‘Crying At
The Discotheque’, ‘This Is The World We Live
In’ and new BWO single ‘Lay Your Love On Me’.
They will be followed on Saturday 12 July by an exclusive show from Cyndi Lauper, performing past hits like ‘Girls
Just Wanna Have Fun’ and ‘I Drove All Night’, plus tracks from her disco-tastic new album, Bring Ya To The Brink. This is
sure to be another classic G-A-Y night, and probably one of the very last at the Astoria, do put it in your diary now!
At the time of going to press, host Jeremy Joseph was still in the process of booking an act to perform at the very final
G-A-Y Saturday night at The Astoria – the date of which is still to be announced. For all the latest information,
keep checking www.g-a-y.co.uk
The Orange crew have been granted the honour of hosting this year’s official Post-Pride parties! They’ll be kicking of
a mega-weekend of partying by hosting the dance stage in Soho Square on Saturday 5 July. After that, there will be
just enough time to get home and freshen up before heading out for the first of three official post-Pride celebrations.
The festivities will begin at Juicy at Fire, which will run from 10pm through till 8am the next morning. Providing the
post-Pride soundtrack across the four rooms will be Steve Pitron, Rob Sykes, Sean Dickson, Gonzalo, Steven Artis, David
Jimenez, Elliot J Brown, The Oli, Stevie B, Dave Cross and Alan K. Advance tickets cost £13 from www.clubtickets.com,
Prowler, Clone Zone and The Box. Fire will be donating £1 for every person through the door to Pride.
You can then continue the partying at Beyond at Area, which will run from 4am till midday Sunday. The Sharp Boys,
Paul Martin and Terry Bryan will be on hand to provide the funky, uplifting house sounds. Again, a donation to Pride will
be made for everyone through the door, with advance tickets £12 from the outlets mentioned above.
Finally, for those still with any energy left, Later will be running at Fire from 11am till 5pm on Sunday 6 July. Expect
more top sounds, plus the Later Garden Party and barbecue. Admission will be £5.
You can also purchase a special Pride Weekend Pass for £25, entitling you to entry to Juicy, Beyond, Later and preparties
at the Embankment Bar on the Saturday and Sunday evening. www.fireclub.co.uk
PHOTO © DAVID HUDSON
HIGH PROFILE
Italian motorcycle cop
Fabrizio Caiazza,
the winner of Gaydar’s
hotly-contested Sex
Factor 08 competition,
was flown over to
London in mid-June for
a meet and greet session
with fans and admirers
at Gaydar’s very own
Profile bar in Soho. The
33-year-old hunk – pictured here at the bar with TV’s
Julian Bennett – seemed taken aback and touched by
the interest he received, and we’re sure that there was no
shortage of London lads offering to show him the sites of
our wonderful city!
As always, both Profile and Lo-Profile have plenty
of events and promotions throughout the month of July.
You’ll find the glamorous, three-floored Profile at 56 Frith
Street, Soho, and regular attractions include the Open
Deck DJ session each Tuesday and Hooley’s Hopefuls each
Wednesday, when host Jonny Hooley presides over a
singles’ night with a difference, thanks to the high-tech
text screens. DJs on rotation at weekends include Gary H,
Mark WestHenry, Ben Parkes and Craig Daniels. The Happy
Hour runs from 4-7pm on Sundays to Wednesdays, with
cocktails at £4 and Becks and Corona at £2.50 a bottle.
www.gaydarprofile.com
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON

PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON
VENUES:
CENTRAL LONDON
79 CXR, 79 Charing Cross Road,
WC2. 020 7734 0769. Leicester
Square tube. Mon-Sat 1pm-3am,
Sun 1pm-10.30pm. Cover charge
after 11pm. Large, cruisy, late-night
bar.
ADMIRAL DUNCAN, 54 Old
Compton Street, W1. 020 7437
5300. Leicester Square tube.
Friendly, traditional gay pub.
ASTORIA, 157 Charing Cross
Road, WC2. 020-7734 6963.
Tottenham Courtg Road tube.
Huge, former theatre, with 2,000
PRIDE IN HEAVEN
Heaven’s flagship
Saturday night
promotion has a
huge post-Pride
event planned for
Saturday 5 July. The gay
mega club will be hosting a whole selection
of live acts and DJs across its five rooms, ensuring that
you’ll be partying with pride right through until sunrise.
On the main stage look out for Britain’s Got Talent
finalists Strike (that’s the two fit hunks who did martial
arts-style dancing) and drag queen Tracey Scott Collins,
along with glamorous burlesque troupe The Adora Girls
(pictured above). Music will come from DJs Pagano, Jacob
Moss and Andy Alder, with Nick Tcherniak whipping up a
special Pride set. Up in the Star Bar you’ll be able to catch
a show from new girl band Stonefoxx, plus commercial
pop sounds from Dusty O and Manny. There’s more live
action in the Dakota Bar, with a PA from Laura Critley,
while six of the club’s sexiest go-go’s will be straddling the
podiums throughout the night.
This is sure to be one of the busiest parties taking place
on Pride night, so arrive early to guarantee smooth
entry. Limited early bird tickets for Heaven Pride are
available at www.heaven-london.com for
only £15. You’ll find Heaven under-the-
GOING
KU PRIDE
If you want to celebrate Pride at a bar
that’s right in the thick of the action,
then get yourself along to Ku Bar on
Saturday 5th July. Midway between
Trafalgar Square and Old Compton
Street, the venue celebrates the day
with one long party. We popped in
last year and found the place heaving
with one of the friendliest and most diverse crowds in the
capital. All three floors of the venue will be open from
midday through till 3am, with DJs in the basement club
from mid-afternoon spinning the feel-good anthems.
The Ku Bar offers a full roster of entertainment, club
promotions and drinks offers throughout the week. Check
it out at 30 Lisle Street, Leicester Square, WC2. 020-7437
4303. www.ku-bar.co.uk
capacity. Now home to G-A-Y club
nights. www.g-a-y.co.uk
BARCODE, 3-4 Archer Street, W1.
020 7734 3342. www.bar-code.
co.uk. Piccadilly Circus tube.
Mon-Sat 4pm-1.30am. Sun until
10.30pm. Dance bar on two floors,
with club-style basement. Comedy
Camp stand-up night each Tuesday.
THE BOX, 32-34 Monmouth
Street, Seven Dials, WC2. 020 7240
5828. Leicester Square tube. 11am-
11pm. Stylish and award-winning
gay café bar popular with scene and
muscle queens.
CANDY BAR, 4 Carlisle Street, W1.
020 7494 4041. Tottenham Court
Road tube. Mon-Thu 5-11.30pm.
Fri & Sat 5pm-2am. Sun 5-11pm.
Long-running and famed lesbian
bar.
COMPTONS, 52 Old Compton
Street, W1. 020 7479 7961.
Leicester Square tube. Noon-11pm.
A Soho institution. Large, traditional
gay boozer on two floors.
THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON,
77 Wardour Street, W1. 020 7439
1274. Piccadilly Circus tube.
Mon-Thu noon-11pm, Fri & Sat
noon-midnight, ‘til 10.30pm on
Sun. Traditional and fun gay pub
over two floors.
THE EDGE, 11 Soho Square, W1.
020 7439 1313. Tottenham Court
Road tube. Noon-1am, Sun 2pm-
11.30pm. Stylish, hip gay bar
spread over four intimate floors,
with regular nights from top DJs.
THE ENCLAVE, 25-27 Brewer
Street, W1. Intimate, lounge bar
and basement club, offering
members-bar atmosphere but
open to all. www.enclavesoho.com
ESCAPE, 10a Brewer Street, W1.
020 7734 2626. Piccadilly Circus
tube. 5pm-3am. Cover charge after
11pm. Every night’s a party at this
late-night video dance bar.
EXILIO, LSE Underground,
Houghton Street (off Kingsway),
Aldwych, WC2. Saturday night gay
Latin and salsa night.
FIRST OUT CAFÉ, 52 St Giles
High Street, WC2. 020 7240 8042.
Tottenham Court Road tube.
10am-11pm. Sun 10.30pm. Over
20 years old and still going strong.
Long-running community café bar.
FREEDOM, 66 Wardour Street,
W1. 020 7734 0071. Piccadilly v
Circus tube. Opulent style bar, with
late-night club promotions for a
metorsexual crowd.
www.freedombarsoho.com
FRIENDLY SOCIETY, 79 Wardour
Street, WC1. Trendy and unique,
intimate basement bar, which
attracts a mixed crowd.
G-A-Y BAR, 30 Old Compton
Street, W1. 020 7494 2756.
Leicester Square tube. 12pm-
12am. Huge, poptastic gay bar,
with a multitude of video screens,
pop tunes and drinks promotions.
www.g-a-y.co.uk
G-A-Y LATE, 5 Goslett Yard,
off Charing Cross Road, WC2.
Tottenham Court Road tube.
11pm-3am. Late-night sister
venue to G-A-Y Bar – more video
screens, camp pop fun and cheap
drinks.
GEISHA, 75 Charing Cross Road,
WC2. 020-7734 6887. Recentlylaunched,
designer gay bar – a
riot of pink and oriental chic! Open
noon-midnight seven days a week,
with DJs nightly. www.geisha-bar.
co.uk
GHETTO, 5-6 Falconberg
Mews, W1. 020-7287 3726.
Subterranean, trend-setting gay
club venue, with nightly alternative
promotions, such as The Cock (Fri)
and Wig Out (Sat). www.ghettolondon.co.uk
THE GREEN CARNATION,
4-5 Greek Street, Soho,
W1. 020-7434 3323. New,
three-floored late night gay
venue, with bar, dancefloor
and nightly promotions. www.
greencarnationsoho.co.uk
HALFWAY TO HEAVEN,
7 Duncannon Street, WC2. 020
7321 2791. Charing Cross tube.
Mon-Thu noon-11pm, Fri & Sat
12pm-12am. Old-style gay pub
spread over two floors.
HEAVEN, The Arches, Villiers
Street, WC2. Charing Cross Road
tube. Huge, world-famous gay
club. www.heaven-london.com
THE KINGS ARMS, 23 Poland
Street, W1. 020 7734 5907.
Oxford Circus tube. Mon-Thur
12pm–11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am,
Sun 12pm-11.30pm. London’s bar
for bears and blokes. Traditional
atmosphere, pool table upstairs
and BearHug each Friday.
KUDOS, 10 Adelaide Street, WC2.
020 7379 4573. Charing Cross
tube. 3pm-11pm, Sat noon-11pm,
Sun noon-10.30pm. Beautiful and
stylish café bar (great food!), with
clubbier vibe and video screens
in the basement. Popular with
Asian crowd.
KU BAR, 30 Lisle Street, Leicester
Square, WC2. 020 7437 4303.
Leicester Square tube. Large,
award-winning, upmarket gay bar
spread over three floors, open till
3am daily. www.ku-bar.co.uk
LO-PROFILE, The Basement,
84-85 Wardour Street, W1. Swanky,
sophisticated,
400-capacity latenight
basement bar and
club space – from the people
that bring you gaydar.co.uk. Open
till 2am midweek, 4am weekends,
and 10.30pm Sundays. www.
gaydarprofile.com
LONG YANG CLUB, long-running
social group for East Asian gay
guys and friends. They host a
regular Sunday evening social in
the basement of Village Soho (81
Wardour Street, W1) from 7pm
onwards. Check website at www.
lyclondon.com
PROFILE, 56 Frith Street, Soho,
W1. Tottenham Court Road tube.
Stylish, big gay bar, owned by the
team at Gaydar.co.uk – spread over
three floors, with internet access
and Gaydar radio.
THE QUEBEC, 12 Old Quebec
Street, WC1. 020-7629 6159.
Marble Arch tube. Huge pub, on
two floors, attracting an older
crowd. www.thequebec.co.uk
RETRO BAR, 2 George Court,
WC2. 020 7321 2811. Charing
Cross tube. Mon-Fri noon-11. Sat
5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-11pm.
A traditional boozer for the gay
scene’s indie, alternative and
student-types – Tuesday’s pop quiz
is an institution.
BARCODE BARGAINS
Barcode in Soho and Vauxhall
are currently offering some
very tempting summer drinks
offers, with £2 for a pint
of Kronenbourg, £1.50 for
single spirits and £1.50 for a
pint of Fosters. Furthermore,
Barcode Blue Tag holders
are entitled to further offers,
including two-for-one on
small bottles of Merlot Rose,
and two-for-one on bottles
of Becks. You can become
a Barcode Blue Tag holder
by signing up free for the
subscription at www.
bar-code.co.uk. Members
will be entered into a
monthly prize draw, free
entry on selected nights,
access to a monthly DJ
mix download, plus a guest list
for themselves and five friends on their birthday, amongst
other benefits and attractions.
Barcode Soho can be found at 3-4 Archer Street, W1,
while Barcode Vauxhall can be found at Arch 69,
Albert Embankment, SE11.
www.bar-code.co.uk

RUPERT STREET, 50 Rupert
Street, W1. 020 7292 7141.
Piccadilly Circus tube. 12-11pm, Sun
10.30pm. Large, designer style bar,
popular with professional gay boyz
and post-work crowd.
SHADOW LOUNGE, 5 Brewer
Street, W1. 020-7287 7988.
Piccadilly tube. Exclusive, gorgeous,
late-night bar and club for A-list
gays and celeb-spotters.
www.theshadowlounge.com
SOHO REVUE BAR, 11 Walkers
Court (off Brewer Street), W1.
020-7734 0377. Legendary Soho
cabaret club, attracting very gay
crowd with nightly cabaret, gigs
and burlesque.
TRASH PALACE, 11 Wardour
Street, W1. 020 7734 0522.
Piccadilly Circus tube. Sun-Thu
5pm-midnight. Fri & Sat 5pm-3am.
Indie, rock and trash fun on two
floors – very popular with students
and alternative club freaks.
VILLAGE, 81 Wardour Street, W1.
020 7434 2124. Piccadilly Circus
tube. 12-1am, Sun 11.30pm. Late
night door charge. Soho’s original
gay café bar, spread over four floors,
and now with basement dancefloor
and discos.
THE YARD, 57 Rupert Street, W1.
020 7437 2652. Piccadilly Circus
tube. Mon-Thur 4pm-11pm, Fri
& Sat 1pm-11pm, Sun 1pm-
1.10.30pm. Busy gay bar with
hugely popular courtyard area,
HAWAII FRUIT
Brighton might not
quite match the beaches
of Hawaii, but get along to
bumper once-a-monther
Wild Fruit on Sunday 6
July for a Waikiki-tinged
‘Aloha’ party. All those attending are invited to dress up
in their loudest Hawaiian shirts, sarongs, grass skirts and
beach wear for what promises to be one of the club’s
busiest summer bashes. Special guests jocks Prok & Fitch
will be joining Wild Fruit residents Mr Haywood and Neil
Duffie, and the bar will be offering drinks deals all night.
Wild Fruit is one of the south coast’s biggest and longestrunning
gay nights, pulling in plenty of London clubbers
and others from all over the Southeast. It takes place at
Tru, West Street, Brighton, between 10pm and 3am. Entry
is £8 Members or with flyer before 11.30pm, £10 queuejump
advance, or £12 guests. www.aeonevents.co.uk
The Wild Fruit crew will also be hosting the Rebel
afterhours club directly after Wild Fruit at 2 One One
(Kings Road Arches), from 3am onwards. Other promotions
include the summery Sunday Sundae terrace session
on the 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th July, from 6 till 11pm at
Audio, Marine Parade. For full details and listings,
check www.aeonevents.co.uk
outdoor balcony and loft bar.
NORTH LONDON
THE BLACK CAP, 171 Camden
High Street, NW1. 020 7428 2721.
Camden Town tube. Shufflewick
Bar: Mon-Thu Noon-1am, Fri-Sat
12noon-2am, Sun Noon-10.30pm.
Club: Mon-Thu 10pm-2am, Fri-Sat
10pm-3am, Sun 10pm-1am.
Long-running, famed gay pub
– probably the most famous
cabaret pub in London, with nightly
DJs and entertainment. www.
theblackcap.com
CENTRAL STATION,
37 Wharfdale Road, N1. Tel: 020
7278 3294. Kings Cross tube. Mon-
Wed 5pm-2am, Thur 5pm-3am,
Fri 5pm-4am, Sat 1pm-4am, Sun
1pm-12am. Big gay bar on three
floors, with ground floor cabaret
and infamously cruisy cruise nights
in basement. www.centralstation.
co.uk
CLUB KALI, The Dome, 1
Dartmouth Park Hill, Tufnell Park,
N19. World’s biggest lesbian and
gay Asian music night, running
every third Friday of the month.
www.clubkali.com
COSMO LOUNGE, 43 Essex Road,
N1. Tel: 020 7688 0051. Angel tube.
Sun-Wed 2pm-Midnight, Thu-Sat
2pm-1am. Long, narrow, intimate
gay bar popular with locals girls
and boys.
THE GOLDEN LION, 2 Britannia
Street, WC1. 020 78374734.
Friendly, local gay pub with
regular cabaret and late opening at
weekends.
THE GREEN, 74 Upper Street,
N1. 020-7704 0713. Angel tube.
London’s first ‘gay gay-stropub!’
Stylish, Islington bar, serving full
food menu and wide range of
cocktails. Mixed, chilled crowd
- now run by the same team as The
Edge in Soho.
KING EDWARD VI, 25 Bromfield
Street, N1. Tel: 020 7704 0745.
Angel tube. Sun-Thu 12noon-
12midnight, Thu 12noon-1am,
Fri-Sat 12noon-2am. Very
long-running gay pub, with ‘local’
atmosphere and character, plus
popular beer garden.
KW4, 77 Hampstead High Street,
NW3. 020-7435 5747. Large, cost,
traditional old gay pub, with regular
entertainment, beer garden and
food. www.kw4.co.uk
SOHO NIGHTS
The Soho Revue Bar (11 Walker’s Court, W1)
continues to pull in the punters throughout the week
with a mixture of live performances, cabaret and latenight
disco action. The intimate and opulent venue now
hosts Pop every Tuesday, offering the best in commercial
pop sounds and chart classics. Get along early on Tuesday
1 July for the monthly Pop-Rocktic session, which is
a live showcase of new pop talent (www.myspace.
com/poprockticspace). It’s followed on Wednesdays by
Trannyshack, a midweek celebration of genderbending
glam and glitz presided over by DJs Dusty O
(pictured), Tasty Tim and Prince Nelly. Put the 16 July
in your diary, as that’s when Dusty will be throwing her
annual birthday ball, this year with a burlesque theme.
Expect a full show and erotic pole dancers, with free
entry to anyone who makes an effort to dress up (£5
everyone else).
Jodie Harsh’s Circus is rammed to the gills each Friday, attracting
possibly the most dressed-up freakish crowd in town and a good
smattering of celebrities. It’s followed on Saturdays by the newly launched
House Party, when top name DJs spin the club classics, funky house and r’n’b
from 10pm till 3.30am.
Monthly or one-off cabaret attractions in July include Electric Empire’s Magic
Night on a ‘BBC Comedy Presents’ showcase on Monday 7 July, the
Hurly Burly Cabaret Burlesque on Saturday 19 July.
THE LOAD OF
HAY, 207 Pinner Road, Watford,
01923-441113. Watford‚s only
gay pub, with big beer garden
and regular entertainment! www.
loadofhay.co.uk
THE OAK BAR, 79 Green Lanes,
N16. 020-7354 2791. Manor
House tube. Friendly, divere gay bar
with late-night club promotions,
open ‘til 3am at weekends. www.
oakbar.com
ON THE ROCKS, 25 Kingsland
Road, E2. Underground Shoreditch
venue that hosts the weekly Trailer
Trash club night each Friday – the
‘Dirty Eastend Gay Ravebox!’ www.
clubtrailertrash.com
PLAYPIT, 76 Caledonian Road,
N1. Intimate, King’s Cross sleaze
club. Open Thur-Sat 9pm-3am,
Sun 3pm-7pm and 8pm-1am.
www.londonplaypit.co.uk
SOUTH LONDON
AREA, 67-68 Albert Embankment,
SE1. Gorgeously-designed, hard
dance club and cabaret rooms, with
eclectic roster of different gay nights
(Juicy on Saturdays) and one-off
promotions. www.areaclub.info
BARCODE VAUXHALL, Arch 69,
Albert Embankment, SE11. 0207
734 3342. Vauxhall tube. Open 7
days a week. Mon-Thu 4pm-1am,
Fri-Sun 4pm-4am. Recently opened
and very popular club bar, with
dancefloor and mezzanine chill-out
space.
CLUB COLOSSEUM, 1 Nine
Elms Lane, Vauxhall, SW8. Huge,
late-night venue for after-hours
crowd – hosting various monthly
promotions such as Bootylicious
and Megawoof.
DEPOT, 66 Albert Embankment,
SE1. 020-7793 9262. Cruisy dance
club which hosts monthly parties
such as Rent, Manhunt and Prowler
on Saturday nights, plus Cruise on
Friday nights.
THE EAGLE, 349 Kennington
Lane, SE11. 020 7793 0903. Mon,
Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 9pm-late, Tue
7.30-10.30pm, Sun 4pm-2am.
Vauxhall tube. Large, club and
cruise bar with nightly promotions.
Horse Meat Disco (Sundays) is
particularly popular.
EGO, 82 Norwood High Street,
SE27. 020 8761 5200. West
Norwood BR. Sun-Thu 8pm-late,
7pm-4am. Door charge on
weekend. Large, popular bar and
club, attracting big crowds at
weekends.
FACTORY, 65 Goding Street, SE11.
Stylish, railway arch Vauxhall venue,
hosting occasional dance and
cruise nights.
THE FORT, 131 Grange Road,
SE1. 020-7237 7742. Small cruise
club, open till 11pm throughout
week, with regular boots-only and
underwear parties.
www.thefortlondon.com
FIRE, South Lambeth Road,
Vauxhall, SW8. Vauxhall tube.
WOTEVER BIRTHDAY
Many happy returns to
the Club Wotever crew.
The monthly club night for
“genderqueers, drag kings,
femmes, trans, homos,
dykes, friends and admirers”
will be celebrating its fifth
birthday with a doubleheaded
post-Pride celebration on Saturday 5th July. The
first part of the evening runs from 5pm till midnight at
The Horseshow, 24 Clerkenwell Close, EC1 (free entry
before 6pm and then £5 after). Expect cake, giveaways and
surprises. This will be followed from 9pm till 5am at The
Masters Club, 12 Denman Street, W1 (near Piccadilly).
Entry is £8 or £5 for those dressed up or sporting a stamp
from the Horseshoe party. Acts performing at the Masters
will include Josephine Wilson and Killpussy, plus DJs Vicki
Lester, Hausfly and Seymour. Expect goodie giveaways,
special drinks offers and partying till the wee hours...
www.woteverworld.com

PHOTO © MIKE KEAR
ARE YOUR
EXPERIENCED?
As the Duckie crew
will be relocating to the
Coronet in Elephant &
Castle on Pride night for
their annual Gay Shame
festival, Vauxhall’s Royal
Vauxhall Tavern will
be throwing an extra
special S.L.A.G.S/Chill-
Out party on Saturday
5 July. Simon Le Vans,
Andy Almighty and Sean
Sirrs will be spinning the
house and dance anthems, while cabaret will come from
the D.E. Experience (pictured). Doors will be open from
8.30pm till 4am (show at 10pm), with advance tickets £8
or £10 on the night – and you’d be wise to buy early if you
want to secure entry!
Regular events at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern include
the BrouHaHa comedy club each Wednesday, and
‘spit’n’sawdust’ spectacular Vauxhallville each Thursday
with Nathaniel De Ville, Timberlina, Bearlesque and DJ
Dawn Right Nasty. Duckie runs every Saturday (except for
5 July), followed by the S.L.A.G.S/Chill-out on Sundays
for the end of the weekend, club comedown crowd.
Timberlina’s back with her Bingo session each Monday,
while the venue is available for private hire on Tuesdays.
One-off or monthly events taking place in July include
Ernesto Sarezale’s Glam Slam UK on Tuesday 1 July, a
‘vogue ball cum poetry slam’ inspired by similar Glam
Slam parties in Manhattan – check www.myspace.
com/glamslamuk for more details. Alternative bears
night Ursus returns on Friday 4 July, this time with cabaret,
while new Spanish night Viva takes place on Friday 11 July.
Gill Manly’s popular live jazz session Diversion returns on
Friday 18 July (www.gillmanly.com). www.rvt.org.uk
Infamous, late-night gay venue
beneath the Vauxhall railway
arches, host to the likes of Orange,
A:M, Horizon and Gravity. Open
around the clock at weekends.
www.allthingsorange.com or
www.fireclub.co.uk
THE GEORGE & DRAGON, 2
BlackheathHill, Greenwich, SE10.
020 8691 3764. Deptford Bridge
DLR. Mon-Thu 4pm-1am, Fri &
Sat 4pm-4am, Sun 4pm-2am.
Late-night pub with nightly
entertainment and cabaret. www.
gandd.org.uk
HIDDEN, 100 Timworth Street,
SE11. Railway arch venue, home
to infamous Hard On night once a
month (www.hardonclub.co.uk).
THE HOIST, Arch 47c, South
Lambeth Road, SW8. 020 7735
9972. 10pm-late. Door charge and
strict dress code. One of London’s
most famous dress-code and cruise
clubs - busy with a men-only
crowd. Open Friday-Sunday and
occasional Thursdays (SM Gays).
www.thehoist.co.uk
JACKIE’S JUKEBOX, Rivoli
Ballroom, 350 Brockley Road,
SE4. First Saturday of the
month, 7pm-midnight (£7).
Gay ballroom and Latin dancing
night, attracting up to 300
dancers a month to the glam
1950s-style Rivoli Ballroom.
Crofton Park BR. www.therivoli.
co.uk
KAZBAR, 50 Clapham High Street,
SW4. 020 7622 0070. Clapham
North tube. Mon-Thu 4pmmidnight,
Fri 4pm-1am, Sat noon-
1am, Sun noon-midnight. Clapham
video bar, popular throughout the
week, with DJs at weekends.
LITTLE APPLE, 98 Kennington
Lane, SE11. 020 7735 2039.
Kennnigton tube. Open 7 days a
week. Small, traditional gay boozer
for local gay boys and girls.
MANBAR, 82 Great Suffolk Street,
SE1. 020-7928 3223. London
Bridge tube. Late-night cruise bar
(with showers!) for men-only.
www.manbar.info
ROYAL VAUXHALL TAVERN,
372 Kennington Lane, SE11.
020 7840 0596. Opening times
vary. Vauxhall tube. Door Charge.
Huge, traditional and historic gay
pub, with long history of hosting
cabaret. Packed to rafters on
Saturday (Duckie) and Sunday
(Chill-Out). www.rvt.org.uk
THE STAG, 15 Bressenden Place,
SW1. 020 7828 7287. Victoria
tube. Mon & Tue midday-midnight,
Wed-Fri midday-2am, Sat 5pm-
2am, Sun 4pm-midnight. Dark and
atmospheric gay bar in Victoria.
286, 286 Lewisham High Street,
SE14. 020-8690 7648. Large, lateopening
gay pub and club, with
regular entertainment and cabaret.
Open till 2am Sun-Thur and till 4am
Fri-Sat. www.two8six.co.uk
THE TRAFALGAR ARMS,
148 Tooting High Street, SW17.
020-8767 6059. A spacious, lively,
attitude-free pub. Excellent food
served all day. Weekly DJs on Friday
and Saturday nights. Karaoke on
Wednesdays.
THE TWO BREWERS,
114 Clapham High Street, SW4.
020 7498 4971. Clapham Common
tube. Mon-Thu 5pm-2am, Fri & Sat
5pm-4am. South London’s most
famed gay cabaret venue. Large
bar and separate dancefloor room.
www.the2brewers.com
XXL, The Arches, 51-53 Southwark
Street, SE1. www.xxl-london.
com. London Bridge tube. Huge,
world-famous club for bears, big
men and admirers, on Saturday
and Wednesday nights.
EAST LONDON
THE ANGEL, 21 Church Street,
E15. Tel: 020 8555 1148. Stratford
BR and tube. Big gay pub, always
popular at weekends, with regular
cabaret, DJs and disco nights.
THE BACKSTREET, Wentworth
Mews, off Burdett Road, E3.
020-8980 8557. Over 20 years old
– small but legendary dress code
leather club, open Thur-Sun.
THE BLACK HORSE, 168 Mile
End Road, E1. Tel: 020 7790
1684. Mile End tube. Mon-Thurs
8pm-1am, Fri-Sat 8pm-3am, Sun
8pm-1am. Late-opening,East End
cabaret bar and disco.
BISTROTHEQUE, 23-27 Wadeson
St, E2. Tel: 020 8983 7900.
Bethnal Green tube. Very mixed,
gay/straight crowd of trendy
metrosexuals. Great bar, restaurant,
plus separate cabaret room.
CHARLIE’S BAR, 124 Globe
Road, E1. Tel: 020 7790 1007.
Whitechapel tube. Recently
refurbished, Moroccan style
– friendly, local gay bar.
THE JOINERS ARMS, 116
Hackney Road, E2. Tel: 020 7739
9854. Debauched decadence
– old-skool boozer popular with
post-club crowd at weekends.
KINGS HEAD, 11 Church
Street, E15. Tel: 020 8534 0197
Stratford BR and tube. Intimate
and welcoming East End gay pub
– regular cabaret.
THE OLD SHIP, 17 Barnes
Street, E14. Tel: 020 7790 4082.
Limehouse DLR. Open from 7pm
Mon & Tue, from 6pm Wed-Sat,
from 4pm on Sun. Small, local,
traditional pub, with regular
cabaret.
BJ’s WHITE SWAN,
556 Commercial Road, E1. Tel: 020
7780 9870. Limehouse DLR. Mon
9pm-1am Tue-Thu 9pm-2am,
Fri-Sat 9pm-3am, Sun 5.30pmmidnight.
A large, long-running
gay pub and club, open throughout
the week and legendary across
London! Wednesday’s Amateur
Strip is an institution. www.
bjswhiteswan.com
WEST LONDON
BROMPTONS, 294 Old Brompton
Road, Earls Court, SW5. 020 7370
1344. Earls Court tube. Big, longrunning
gay pub and club, open
late throughout week. Regular
cabaret and club nights.
COLEHERNE, 261 Old Brompton
Road, Earls Court, SW5. 020 7244
5951. Earls Court tube. Noonmidnight.
Large and legendary
pub. The spit’n’sawdust feel has
gone, but still popular with mixed
crowd of male drinkers.
THE CULVERT, 54 Cowley Mill
Road, Uxbridge. 01895 256 690.
Uxbridge tube. Mon-Wed 4pm-1am,
Thu noon-2am, Fri & Sat noon-3am,
Sun 3pm-1am. Regular discos, cabaret,
karaoke and one-off events.
www.theculvert.com
THE HOPE & ANCHOR, 20
Macbeth Street, Hammersmith,
W6. (contact mobile
- 07858281995). New gay pub
for Hammersmith and Chiswick.
Traditional boozer with nightly
entertainment – open noon-
11pm throughout week.
THE RICHMOND ARMS, 20
The Square, off Princes Street,
Richmond. 020-8940 2118. Longrunning
local gay pub, regular
cabaret and entertainment.
TED’S PLACE, 305a North End
Road, West Brompton, W14. 0207
385 9359. Earls Court or West
Brompton tube. Mon-Fri from
7pm-late, closed Sat & Sun. West
London cruise club. Sleazy… but
that’s why the regulars love it!
WEST 5, Popes Lane, South
Ealing, W5. 020-8579 3266. Large,
popular gay pub with Piano Room
and cabaret bar, open till late at
weekends with entertainment
and DJs.
WINDSOR CASTLE, 152 Bath
Road, Hounslow, TW3. 0208577
6590. Large, local gay pub with
regular cabaret and entertainment.
www.windsorcastlehounslow.co.uk
TRASHED ON THE THAMES
Those kooky club kids at Trailer Trash have a couple of
very special summer events lined up for July. On Sunday
6 July they’ll be teaming up with Radio Egypt and
Council to host the Shoreditch Summer Cruise boat
party. Running from 7pm till midnight, this cruise trip will
take place on the Thames, with the vessel (the Sundance)
leaving from Temple Pier, opposite Temple Tube. Confirmed
DJs and performers include Jonny Woo, Mikki Most, Jon
Sizzle, Hannah Holland (pictured below), Richardette
(George & Dragon), Ian Robinson, The Lovely JonJo, Bo
Bella Selecta, DJ Rokk and the Gutterslut DJs.
Tickets priced £10 are available from George & Dragon,
Trailer Trash, or online at www.ticket.web.co.uk. There will
also be an afterparty at The Joiners Arms from midnite
until the early hours of Monday morning, “for all you people
without responsible stuff to do!”
This will be followed on Saturday 19 July by the Trailer Trash
‘Summer Camp’, taking place at a secret outdoor location in
Shoreditch. Running from 9pm till 6am, the event will feature
two stages of music from Trailer Trash, Horse Meat
Disco and Disco Bloodbath, plus Girlcore’s super games
area, karaoke, ice cream and booze aplenty! The Trailer Trash
stage will feature the likes of Brodinski and Danish production
genius Tomboy, while the likes of Severino, Luke Howard,
James Hillard, Dan
Beaumont, Damon
Martin and Ben
Pistor will guest on
the second stage.
Tickets cost £10 in
advance from www.
ticketweb.co.uk or
www.juno.co.uk, or
£12 on the door. For
more details, www.
clubtrailertrash.
com

BLACK
ASIAN
CULTURE CLUB
AND ALSO…
HEALTH
Do you know of any other groups serving London’s ethnic
minority LGBTs? Email us: editorial@outmag.co.uk

BARCELONA BOUND
It’s not too late to book
yourself a place on
Stonewall’s Barcelona
Equality Walk, which takes
place 11-13 July 2008. This
hugely enjoyable event
includes a sponsored 10km
walk around this amazing
Spanish city, a stay at the
famous, gay-friendly Axel
Hotel (above), and invites
to a variety of social events.
Call 020 7593 1874 or log
on to www.stonewall.org.
uk/barcelona
GROUPS//ORGS
Albert Kennedy Trust: 020
7831 6562 (London). Housing
advice for under 21s.
Antidote: 020 7437 3523.
Counselling, support groups,
Thurs drop-in, complementary
therapies around alcohol & drug
issues.
BKY - Alternative Jewish
Community: www.bkylondon.
org.uk Regular services and
events.
ELOP: 020 8509 3898. Support
and community events in
Walthamstow. Youth, advice,
counselling and groups.
Gay and Lesbian Humanist
Association, (GALHA): 01926
858450, www.galha.org.
Regular London events.
Outrage!: 020 8240 0222.
Political group. Regular
meetings.
Islington LGB Forum:
Rachael: 07989 747824. An
initiative between local police,
the council & victim support.
Jewish Gay and Lesbian
Group: 020 8952 0137.
Kairos: 020 7437 6063, www.
kairosinsoho.org.uk. 9 Archer St,
London W1D 7AZ.
Lesbian Gay Christian
Movement: 020 7739 1249,
lgcm@lgcm.org.uk/www.lgcm.
org.uk.
Lesbian and Gay
Immigration Group: 020
7922 7811, www.uklgig.org.uk.
meetings once a month.
LGBT Choir: 07980 023578. Call
Michael for more information.
London Friend: 020 7837
3337. Groups in Islington.
Quaker London Lesbian &
Gay Fellowship: 020 8675
6740.
Metro Centre: 020 8265 3311,
www.metrocentreonline.org.
Regular groups in Greenwich.
Mosaic: 07931 336668. www.
mosaicyouth.org.uk. Youth
group, every Wednesday.
One-Up: LGBT under-18 youth
group, meets every Monday
4-7pm (based in Hendon - North
West London) - contact Theresa
(PACE) 07504226793 (mobile).
PACE: 020 7700 1323. Groups
promoting lesbian and gay
health and well-being.
Quest LGB Catholics: 0808
808 0234.
Regard: Regard, BM REGARD,
London WC1N 3XX, secretary@
regard.org.uk/www.regard.org.
uk. Disabled LGBT.
Step Out Tower Hamlets:
Social & support group for
gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans
& questioning young people.
5-8pm Tues 079 4633 7160
South London Gays: 020 8672
5268/020 8674 5191. www.
slago.org.uk/slg. A friendly group
with a range of social activities.
Stonewall: 020 7593 1850.
Campaign group for LGBT rights.
HATECRIME
Gay Police Association:
Action Line 07092 700 000
(24hrs), info@gpa.police.uk.
Galop: 020 7704 2040. www.
galop.org.uk. For victims of hate
crime.
HIV//AIDS
Crusaid: 020 7539 3880,
www.crusaid.org.uk.
GMFA: 020 7738 6872. The gay
men’s health charity.
National AIDS Trust: 020 7814
6767, www.nat.org.uk.
Terence Higgins Trust: 020-
78121777. Counselling Services.
SPORTS
Cruisers basketball: 020 8960
0750 (Debbie)/ 020 7582 7009,
www.cruisers.org.uk (Jordi).
Mixed basketball.
Frontrunners: 07092 346340,
www.londonfrontrunners.org.
Running group.
Goslings Swimming: 07814
258 055. Gay social (non
competitive) swimming group,
Thur 8.30pm-9.30pm. www.
goslingssportsclub.com
Irons: www.ironsgolf.org.uk .
Gay golfing, events for all levels.
King’s Cross Steelers Rugby
Football Club: 07090 421 367,
www.kxsrfc.com. Gay men’s
rugby.
London Amateur Wrestling:
www.law-wrestling.org
GAY CARAVAN & CAMPING CLUB
Yearning to sniff the summer breezes in open lanes and grassy fields? Founded in 1990,
the Gay Caravan & Camping Club is a UK-based social club for lesbians and gay men
who own a caravan, tent or motorhome and enjoy sharing weekend or week-long rallies
with like-minded others. All members are encouraged to choose a site and organise a meet
at some point if they can, but there is no compulsion and meets are informal and relaxed.
Some members walk their dogs, go swimming and explore the nearby towns or National
Trust properties. Some simply go to chill out and spend their time catching up with friends,
both old and new. About four fifths of the membership is made up of couples, but singles
are extremely welcome – as are those with children. Annual subs are currently £15 per unit
(tent, caravan etc) – covering primary member plus any partner – renewable every March.
This fee includes a bi-monthly newsletter: Groundsheet, plus regular updates throughout
the year. The club has a good reputation on sites and adheres to a code of conduct so as not
to upset other, generally straight, happy campers!
www.gaycaravanclub.com
London Guns ‘N’ Roses
Hockey Team: Mixed hockey
for all levels. www.pinkhockey.
com or email: iainkimmins115@
hotmail.com
Out to Swim: 07090 422
526, www.outtoswim.org. Gay
swimming group.
Raiders Softball Club: 07931
721 377, www.rainbowraiders.
com. Mixed baseball in Regents
Park / Primrose Hill area.
Stonewall Football Club:
07090 422 390. Sunday soccer.
HELPLINES
Broken Rainbow: LGBT
National Domestic Violence
Helpline. 08452 60 44 60 (Mon
and Thurs, 2-8pm/Weds, 10am-
1pm). www.broken-rainbow.
org.uk.
Dazz-elle: 020 8257 3068.
London drug/alcohol support.
Lesbian & Gay Immigration
Group: 020 7922 7811. Every
Mon 12-5pm and Wed 6-8pm.
London Lesbian & Gay
Switchboard: 020 7837 7324
London Friend: 020 7837
3337. Counselling service.
PACE: 020 7700 1323. Health
and well-being. Tel info/support
on Saturdays, 1-3pm.
POSITIVELINE: 0800-1696806.
HIV info and counselling
(weekdays: 11am-10pm and
weekends: 4pm -10pm). www.
eddiesurmantrust.org.uk
Stonewall Housing Advice:
020 7359 5767.
Unison: 0845 355 0845/0800
0967 968 (minicom). Works with
LGBT community about work
and employment problems.
WANT TO GET LISTED?
Please send listings to
listings@outmag.co.uk
VILLAGE VOICES
Village Drinks is a new networking
and social club for gay professionals. It’s
been launched by young entrepreneurs,
Neil Spring and Greg Healey (pictured
right), who were inspired by the lack of
many opportunities for gay professionals
to meet one another regularly in a relaxed
environment after work. The organisation
now has over 8,000 members, and this
month, launches a new series of ‘Village
Business’ drinks evening, when they’ll host
a respected guest speaker from the world of
business. The first Village Business will take
care on Thursday 17 July at the Arts Club,
Dover Street, Mayfair, with former Dragon’s
Den investor Rachael Elnaugh as the special
guest. She’ll be followed on 30 September
by Sir Michael Bishop CBE, chairman of BMI
airlines.
“Many of our members work in business, so
we are thrilled that Sir Michael and Rachael
Elnaugh have all accepted our invite to
come and speak,” Greg Healey told Out In
The City.
“We want to inspire gay professionals of all
ages to have ideas and make them happen,
whether they are starting their own
business or social venture or by making
their mark at work. This is exactly what we
did when we started Village Drinks.”
For more information, visit www.
villagedrinks.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM
For more information, visit www.brightonpride.org
BRIGHTON PRIDE

CALL TO ARMS

NEWS FLASHES
UK NEWS
UK BLACK
PRIDE SETS
DATE
The official UK Black
Pride will take
place on Saturday
16 August 2008 in
London, home to
half of Britain’s black
and minority ethnic
residents. The date
was announced
at a launch party
Heaven’s midweek
night Work!,
attended by celebrity
guest Beverley
Knight (pictured). The gay pride festival will host a fun-filled
day of music and artistic entertainment, live performances
by the hottest new acts, sounds from London’s best DJ’s, a
market place and information stalls. The event will take place
in Regents College, Inner Circle, Regents Park, and for more
information check: www.ukblackpride.org.uk
PAIR JAILED FOR LONDON BUS ATTACK
Two young men have been sentenced to a combined total of
two years and one month imprisonment at Wood Green Crown
Court, North London, for grievous bodily harm (GBH) and
common assault following an unprovoked homophobic attack
on a 29-year old man on a bus in central London just before
Christmas.
RELIGIOUS REGISTRAR ‘BULLIED’
47-year old London Christian registrar Lillian Ladele has told a
tribunal that she has been bullied because her faith “prevents”
her from performing civil ceremonies for same-sex couples.
She is claiming “discrimination on the grounds of religion” in a
landmark case.
MP CLAIMS GAYS CAN BE CURED
Whilst reacting to news of a vicious homophobic attack in the
Province, Iris Robinson - wife of the First Minister of Northern
Ireland and MP for Strangford - condemned the assault
but then told a local radio station that homosexuality was
“disgusting” and “loathsome”, adding: “I have a very lovely
psychiatrist who works with me. He tries to help homosexuals
turn away from what they are engaged in. And I have met
people who have turned around to become heterosexual.” She
now faces calls for her resignation.
DRAFT BILL TO PROMOTE GAY EQUALITY
A new draft equality bill, to be formally announced in the
Queen’s Speech later this year, will seek to place a duty on
public bodies to actively promote LGBT equality in all their
services - from fostering to health clinics. This is in addition
to existing, recently won anti-discrimination legislation. If
approved by Parliament the bill should become law by
summer 2009.
EURO U-TURN ON DISCRIMINATION
Contrary to earlier indications, and following repeated calls,
the European Commission has announced that previouslymissing
stipulations on sexual orientation, disability, religion or
belief and age will now all be included in a new pan-European
anti-discrimination directive. Campaigners await fuller details
and to see how such a directive will actually be enforced.
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON
WALK FOR LIFE
Dannie Minogue, Alan Cumming and 4 Poofs & A Piano
joined over 2,000 walkers at this year’s Walk For Life on
Saturday 1 June. The Crusaid fundraiser – Europe’s biggest
fundraising walk for HIV and AIDS – has so far raised
more than £175,000, and is on target to raise £400,000
to support poor and marginalised people in the UK and
Africa. Individual walkers were joined by various groups,
including the pink and colourful gang from London Lesbian
and Gay Switchboard (pictured right), who were led by
Switchboard’s chief executive, Tim Gutteridge, dressed in an
eight-foot high and six-foot wide “telephone frock”.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
TOGETHER AGAIN

PHOTO © TIM PURCELL
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON
RETRO’S EUROVISION
FUNDRAISER
PAUL PATRICK: 1950-2008
...AND FINALLY
FROM BIRKENHEAD TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Paul O’Grady, the former Royal Vauxhall Tavern stalwart and creator of drag legend Lily
Savage, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list. The 53-year-old,
Birkenhead-born Channel 4 star said that he was “really pleased, really excited” to receive the
honour. Also picking up gongs were Dr Who producer and TV writer Russell T Davies (OBE),
comedienne Victoria Wood (CBE) and British-born Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour (OBE).
NEWS FLASHES
INTERNATION
NEWS
BAHRAIN
The government in the
Bahrain have set out a
number of initiatives
in an effort to stamp
homosexuality on the
Persian Gulf island. They
have called for the Interior
Ministry to stop granting
residence permits to foreign
homosexuals and for
homosexuals to be “rooted
out” of “hair salons” and
“massage parlours”. Ministers
have further instructed
teachers to look out for
homosexual tendencies in
children and to “punish them
accordingly.” Homosexuality
is illegal in Bahrain and
punishable by up to ten years
in prison.
BACK TO THE STREETS
Two years after his was forced to clean the streets of New York as part of a community service
order, Boy George will be returning to the city to give a free concert to the staff of the NY
sanitation department. The singer and DJ will perform at the department’s annual family day
on 17 August. “The people I worked alongside showed great kindness to me at a difficult time,”
O’Dowd, 47, said in a statement. “I wanted to thank them all in a way that would show my
appreciation.”
BROKEBACK OPERA
Brokeback Mountain, the Annie Proulx novella that was turned into an Oscar-winning film
starring Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger, is to be turned into an opera. Composer
Charles Wuorinen, 70, has been commissioned by the New York City Opera to compose the
piece. “Ever since encountering Annie Proulx’s extraordinary story I have wanted to make an
opera on it,” commented Wuorinen on the commission. “It gives me great joy that Gerard Mortier
and New York City Opera have given me the opportunity to do so.”
OUTSPOKEN:
RICHARD
BARNES
QUEER LIFE IN THE
CAPITAL CAN ONLY
GET BETTER UNDER
NEW MAYOR BORIS
JOHNSON, ARGUES
TORY RICHARD
BARNES - HIS
OPENLY GAY DEPUTY
MAYOR, WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
COMMUNITIES.
For too long equality and diversity issues have
been treated as a “bolt-on” in London Government
- the crassest example being the paragraph that is tacked
onto reports,
just above
the “financial
implications”
statement, stating
“this report has
no equalities
or diversity
implications”.
A tokenistic
approach to
serious issues!
Equal and fair
treatment of
employees, and
partners and
contractors,
can only truly be achieved if equal and fair treatment is
fundamental to the way in which an organisation conducts
itself and its business. Equality should be a management
issue, not simply a matter to be resolved by an employment
tribunal.
The Greater London Authority will continue to provide
support to the development and implementation of
management processes to ensure that the issue of equalities
is being mainstreamed into the work of the GLA, plus the
functional bodies and other partners that the GLA works
closely with.
I am determined that there will be no glass ceilings at the
GLA or its partner organisations. I shall also be working with
the London boroughs in an endeavour to ensure that they
also achieve the highest standards possible.
I, together with members of the GLA, will be supporting
Pride this year, an event that has truly established itself
in the life of London. Yet, celebrating the diversity of our
city, its rich culture streams and its vibrancy should not be
simply a series of one-day events – this week Pride, then
the Notting Hill Carnival, Africa Day, Thai Day, Diwali in the
Square and many others. We should celebrate our city on a
daily basis.
Tackling crime is a key area of concern and hate crimes
will continue to blight our communities unless we can
both adopt and implement policies that bring about a
fundamental change in our city and in the attitudes of our
residents.
The gay community is interwoven within the tapestry of
London. It plays a vital part in our commercial, cultural,
intellectual, and artistic success. I look forward to working
with all of you in that community over the coming years to
build and sustain a London of which we are all proud.
richard.barnes@london.gov.uk
THE GAY COMMUNITY
PLAYS A VITAL
PART IN LONDON’S
COMMERCIAL,
CULTURAL,
INTELLECTUAL, AND
ARTISTIC SUCCESS.

NEWS FLASHES
UK NEWS
ARMY MARCHES
WITH PRIDE
Following a Ministry Of
Defence (M.O.D) ruling
that will finally allow
serving army personnel to
march in their uniforms,
this year’s Pride London
(5 July) will mark the
first time that all three
branches of the military
have been permitted to
march in uniform. Both the
RAF and Royal Navy have previously allowed their personnel
to march in uniform at Pride. The Equality and Human Rights
Commission, which helped broker the arrangement with the
M.O.D, welcomed the decision, with its chair, Trevor Phillips,
commenting, “Just nine years after the landmark ruling to
allow gay and lesbian people to serve openly in the military,
I am delighted the Ministry of Defence has bravely given the
go-ahead to march at Pride in uniform. It will be a historic
moment, and a true sign of how much has changed.”
HIV+ TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS CHALLENGED
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)
has said that travel restrictions on people who are HIV+ are
discriminatory and without public health warrant. In a separate
development, MEPs have agreed an amendment urging the
European Commission to raise the issue specifically with the US,
one of 13 countries worldwide – including Iraq, Saudi Arabia
and Sudan – that bans travel for those who are HIV+.
DRUG MISUSE
– MORE MUST
BE DONE
More needs to be done
to combat the growing
problem of drug and
alcohol misuse within
the gay community,
concluded a new review
published last month by
the Metropolitan Police Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Advisory Group (LGBT AG). The review concluded that drug and
alcohol misuse amongst the gay population more widespread
than in the population at large, and that there was a need for a
distinct approach to the problem within London, which shows
of patterns of misuse different from those seen in wider UK
population-based studies. Bob Hodgson, Co-Chair of the LGBT
AG, said “In the last couple of years over ten deaths in London
have been linked to drug overdose or alcohol misuse in the
LGBT community, we cannot just continue to think one size fits
all for drug and alcohol response - it is time that the specific
needs of the LGBT community are addressed.”
Dr Justin Varney, author of the report, added, “This is small
snapshot of the challenge facing London. The Met and
their strategic partners need to grasp the challenge and do
something strategic and targeted. Crystal is an issue, but so is
cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol, and the brutal truth is that these
deaths could be prevented.”
The full report, including its recommendations, can be
downloaded from the LGBT AG website at www.lgbtag.org.uk
In a seperate substance abuse-development, a new website
has been set up which aims to tackle the increase of GHB use
among clubbers, and to get “parent substance” GBL similarly
banned in the UK. For more info, check: www.knowghb.org.uk
YVES ST LAURENT:
1936-2008
Yves St Laurent, the celebrated and acclaimed
fashion designer, has died at his home in Paris at the
age of 71.
Born in 1936 in French Algeria, he had an unhappy
childhood, later claiming to have been bullied at school
because of his sexuality. A precociously talented teenager,
he moved to Paris and immediately began working for
the House Of Dior in 1954, and made such an immediate
impact that he became chief designer when Christian Dior
died three years later. St Laurent was only 21 at the time.
His designs for Dior were a huge success, and he quickly
became one of the most famous designers in the world.
In 1960 he was conscripted in to the French Army, but
suffered a nervous breakdown and was discharged. He
briefly returned to Dior, but then, in 1962 with business
and personal partner Pierre Berge, launched his own Yves
St Laurent fashion empire. Amongst his most notable
fashion moments was introducing leather jackets to couture
fashion, turning Safari jackets and capes into chic catwalk
items, and creating the trouser suit. However, the problems
that brought on his breakdown persisted, and he suffered
from depression for much of his life. He survived a period
of drug and alcohol addiction in the 70s and 80s, followed
by a somewhat reclusive life in his Paris home. In 1999, he
and Berge sold Yves St Laurent Rive Gauche to Gucci, after
the company found itself in financial difficulty. Friends
claim that it was a decision he regretted and that haunted
him during his final years. He will be remembered by many
for his revolutionary ideas, and for being amongst the first
to take note of the changing role of women in society in
the 50s and 60s and incorporating these changes into his
elegant and luxurious designs.
PHOTO © GETTY IMAGES/REG LANCASTER

ROCK STAR
A young Bette Bourne
Bette Bourne
Rupert Smith, Leee Childers and Paul Burston
Talking with a fan
Fenella Fielding and Bette
PHOTOGRAPHY © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM

JOB INTERVIEW SURVIVAL – TEN TIPS
Katherine Cowan is an independent diversity consultant.
www.katherinecowan.net

GOING OUT
TOP HANGOUTS
We find the most popular
hotspots in Marylebone
PHOTOS © DAVID HUDSON
THE OLD QUEBEC
12 OLD QUEBEC STREET
Established in 1946, this
traditional gay pub attracts
a mixed crowd and hosts
various fun nights.
www.thequebec.co.uk
PLACE TO BE: MARYLEBONE
.
THE BEEHIVE
126 CRAWFORD STREET
Newly refurbished,
traditional pub which offers a
vast range of beers and sells
food all day.
CABBAGES AND FROCKS
MARYLEBONE HIGH
STREET
Fashion stalls alongside
organic continental food
sellers, every Saturday,
11am-5pm.
MARYLEBONE
WHAT YOU CAN
BUY IN THE
AREA
01 NEW CAVENDISH STREET,
£395,000
A one-bedroom, second floor
apartment close to the High Street.
Sandfords 020 7224 4994
02 BAKER STREET, FROM
£81,250 (FOR 25%)
New development located
on the North-side of Baker
Street. Gorgeous one-bedroom
apartments available to purchase
now on a part-buy, part-rent
basis.
(pictured left)
Stagnell Fox 0845 130 1422
03 NOTTINGHAM STREET,
£2,325,000
Bingham House is a luxurious
three-bedroom freehold house
(pictured left) with study,
drawing room and a state of the
art entertainment system. For
more details:
Druce 020 7935 6535
SCREEN ON BAKER
STREET
96-98 BAKER STREET
Intimate cinema showing
popular blockbusters and
indie films. Box office: 020
7935 2772

ROOM WITH
A VIEW
BARBECUE KITCHEN
GALLERY ROOM
FITNESS ROOM
RELAXATION LOUNGE
PARTY HALL
HERB PANTRY
RECRUITMENT:
CREDIT CONTROLLER/OFFICE MANAGER
Please send a CV and covering letter to sarah@outmag.co.uk or call Sarah Garrett on 020 7258 1777 by 12 July 2008

02
01 03
WE WANT
01 STEALTH FRUIT BOWL |
ABSOLUT FORM
If you want a novel and summery
gift idea, look no further. This
snazzy little aluminium and
plastic fruit bowl from Absolut
Form actually folds down so you
can send it to a friend in the post.
What a first class idea!
RRP £29.99
www.absolutform.co.uk
02 RIBBONS PARASOL |
HEALS
We spotted this charming parasol
in LivingEtc magazine, and
couldn’t resist sharing it with
you. Rainbow ribbons stream off
white cotton to give a bit of jolly
fairground appeal. Head to Heals
for one today and keep the sun
off in style.
RRP £125
www.heals.co.uk
WORDS: CHARLOTTE DINGLE

04
06
05
07
03 TURNTABLE | JOHN LEWIS
Load of old records gathering dust
in your loft? Drag them all down
and have a nostalgia fest whilst
simultaneously bringing them into
the 21st century in style! Hook it
up to your computer and the Ion
iTTUSB turntable will convert your
vinyl directly on to CD or MP3.
RRP £99.95
www.johnlewis.co.uk
04 NOW SPEAKERS | JBL
We’re loving the look and sound
of these new JBL Control NOW
loudspeakers. Their unique,
quarter-round shape means
that they can be installed into
spaces that other speakers would
struggle to fit. You can even fit
four together to make a round
speaker to hang from the ceiling.
www.jbl.com
JBL Control NOW black finish: £149
All-weather white finish: £179
05 FIORD HANDKERCHIEF
VASE | JOHN LEWIS
This unusual black glass vase
will be neck and neck with even
the brightest flowers in the fight
for attention… Designed in
Poland exclusively for John Lewis,
the Fiord Handkerchief Vase is
certainly not to be sneezed at!
Available in black or white.
RRP £110
www.johnlewis.com
06 NUANCE BAR TOOLS SET |
ABSOLUT FORM
Serve your guests their cocktails in
style with this funky, streamlined
set of bar tools. New from Absolut
Form, the pestle, strainer, zester
and bar spoon provide all you
need to whip up some splendid
mojitos, Bloody Marys and
Screaming Orgasms.
RRP £82.25
www.absolutform.co.uk
07 PLAIN GORGEOUS COGNAC
GLASSES
These truly unique pieces not
only look fab, they also provide
optimum conditions for a
genuinely good glass of Cognac.
Designer Rikke Hagen created
them specifically to enhance the
bouquet and temperature of the
drink. The glasses come in a giftboxed
set of two.
RRP £27
www.plaingorgeous.co.uk

HOME STYLE:
PINK POWER
John Athanasiou

PHOTO © DICK GOOSE
I’VE GOT A GLASS
SHOWER UNIT THAT
HAS A BENCH INSIDE
IT AND DOUBLES UP AS
A SAUNA. MY FRIENDS
JOKINGLY LABEL IT
‘CHARIOTS CAMDEN’!

A GRAND PROPERTY
ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

THE ONLY GAY AGAIN…

SEX IN THE CITY
CRUISING
GETTING THE WORKS
RIGHT FROM ANY ANGLE
GREAT ENGINES
NEW AND FRESH
Price: from £7,905 OTR
Visit: www.fiat.co.uk
Production of super-hot John Cooper Works-tuned
cars is all set to resume after the launch of the secondgeneration
Mini Cooper S Hatch and new Mini Cooper
S Clubman. From July 2008, customers will be able to
order factory-built Minis that produce 211hp and complete
a 0-62mph sprint in 6.5 seconds.
Motor sport has heavily influenced the engineering and
development of these new Minis, that feature a larger
twin-scroll turbocharger and direct petrol injection
with common rail. The four-cylinder engine has had
the same modifications as the Mini Challenge racing
car, along with re-engineered brakes, suspension and
strengthened gearing. Each upgrade combines to give the
car a remarkable output of 132hp per litre combined with
40mpg. Expected prices on-the-road are £20,500 for the
Mini John Cooper Works and £21,700 for the Mini John
Cooper Works Clubman. The cars were unveiled for the first
time to the public at the International Geneva Motor Show
in March.
Price: from £20,500
Visit: www.johncooper.co.uk
PORSCHE 911 – THE NEXT GENERATION
The Porsche 911 stirs emotions in sports car enthusiasts
the world over and this summer Porsche is introducing four
new 911 models – two Coupés and two Cabriolets.
As well as offering lower running costs, the direct-fuel
injection engines fitted in the new 911s are more powerful
than the previous generation power units. Maximum output
of the 911 Carrera 3.6-litre is up by 20 bhp to 345 bhp,
and the output of the 911 Carrera S 3.8-litre unit is equally
impressive, up by 30 bhp to 385 bhp. With this extra power,
the Carrera S Coupé now offers a top speed of slightly over
300 km/h or 188 mph. On sale from this month, the Carrera
3.6-litre is priced from £63,070 and the Carrera S 3.8-litre
is priced from £70,360. The 911 Carrera Cabriolet is priced
from £70,360, the Cabriolet Carrera S from £77,650.
Price: from £63,070
Visit: www.porsche.co.uk
WORDS BY ADRIAN FOSTER/DRIVELINES

VANCOUVER
WEST COAST

WONDER
PHOTOGRAPH © ALBERT NORMANDIN
DAVIE STREET © HUDSON , MAJESTIC PHOTO © GAYVAN.COM
PHOTOGRAPH © DANNIELLE HAYES

VANCOUVER
TRAVEL
NEWS
PHOTOGRAPH © ALBERT NORMANDIN
HOTELS
SANDMAN SUITES
ON DAVIE
1160 Davie Street, Vancouver,
BC, V6E
+001.800.726.3626
www.sandmansuites.com
Located in the heart of the
gay village, with 195 fullyfurnished
suites (including
living room, bedroom,
bathroom and kitchen area),
a health spa and Moxie’s grill
and restaurant. Ask for a room
on one of the higher floors
– they boast amazing views.
SANDS BY THE SEA
VANCOUVER HOTEL,
1755 Davie Street, Vancouver,
BC, V6G
+001.800.663.9400
www.BestWesternSands
HotelVancouver.com
BLUE HORIZON HOTEL
1225 Robson Street,
Vancouver, BC, V6E
+001.800.663.1333
www.bluehorizonhotel.com
HOLIDAY INN HOTEL &
SUITES
1110 Howe Street, Vancouver,
BC, V6Z
+001.800.663.9151
www.holidayinnvancouver
downtown.com
LINKS
David Hudson’s trip was organized courtesy of Tourism British
Columbia, for details on arranging a similar holiday log onto
www.BritishColumbia.travel. Flights to Vancouver are available
through Canadian Affair and can be booked online at
www.canadianaffair.com
HOTEL LE SOLEIL
567 Hornby Street, Vancouver,
BC, V6C
+001.877.632.3030
www.lesoleilhotel.com
FOOD
CAFÉ LUXY
1235 Davie Street, V6E.
www.cafeluxy.com
Very gay-friendly Italian café
in the gay village.
A KETTLE OF FISH
900 Pacific Street, V6Z.
www.akettleoffish.net. One
of Vancouver’s best seafood
restaurants.
GLOWBAL GRILL & SATAY
BAR
1079 Mainland Street,
Yaletown.
www.glowbalgrill.com
PHOTOGRAPH © HAMID ATTIE
Stylish, smart, contemporary
restaurant, with large
open-air deck.
RAINCITY GRILL
1193 Denman Street,
www.raincitygrill.com
Classy, upmarket restaurant
overlooking English beach.
HAMBURGER MARY’S
1202 Davie Street,
www.hamburgermarys.ca.
American-style, cheap
and cheerful diner on
Davie Street.
HOLIDAY ADVENTURES
AdventureX Guys is a company that specializes in
worldwide gay adventure holidays. From trekking and
safaris through to kayaking, climbing, rafting and mountain
biking, the company arranges holidays from as far afield as
Nepal, Austria, Peru, Uganda and Fiji… truly worldwide!
Upcoming trips include a multi-activity long weekend in
Austria this July (£420), safari and whitewater rafting in
Zambia and Botswana in September (£1,295) and a multiactivity
adventure in Nepal in November (£1095). Prices
are exclusive of air travel, but AdventureX can help arrange
flights at an additional cost through KE Travel.
If you’ve ever fancied trying some adventure activities, and
like the idea of trying them alongside other gay guys, this
could be just the travel agency that you’ve been dreaming
of finding. The company firmly believes in taking a very
personal approach, from your initial enquiry through
to planning the finer details of your trip. No previous
adventure experience is necessary, as full training and
guidance will be provided.
“With many years of experience in organising and running
worldwide adventure holidays, AdventureX formed
AdventureX Guys to cater for the increasing demand for
gay outdoor expeditions,” spokesman Ben Mason told
Out. “We travel to some of the world’s most amazing
places and give people some of the most mind blowing
trips and experiences they will ever have. We wanted to
extend this to the gay community to offer something
different to the usual Canary Island type holidays. There
are lots of active and adventurous people out there so we
offer trips with a unique personal touch and provide that
shot of adrenalin and adventure! Our groups are small in
size, to maximise the experience and minimise the impact
on our surroundings (typically 6 - 16 people) and all our
trips provide people with the ultimate experience in a safe
environment.”
Check the website at www.adventurex-guys.co.uk for
further details.
GOING FAST
When the team at
Devon’s Sura Detox
first threw open the
retreat’s doors, they
didn’t really have
any expectations
about drawing in any
particular type of client. However, to their surprise, they
tell us that their week-long detox therapy has proved
surprisingly popular with gay men. Perhaps seeking an
escape from the hedonistic lifestyle available in London,
they’ve been attracted by Sura’s offer of a meditative
retreat, coupled with fasting (water or fruit juice only) and
twice daily colonic irrigation! Certainly, it might not be
everyone’s idea of a fun week away, but if you’re looking for
some complete rest and relaxation and the opportunity to
give your body a break from the scene, this could be worth
investigating. Prices start at £700 for a week.
www.suradetox.com

NEW
NEW YORK
PHOTOGRAPH © DEAN KAUFMAN
NEW SIGHT
If you enjoyed Olafur Eliasson’s sun-shaped Weather
Project artwork that filled Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall back
in 2003, then you’ll probably also appreciate his giant,
man-made waterfalls, which will be going on display from
26 June as part of a public arts project. The spectacular
waterfalls will be dotted around the East River, between
Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. They’ll be between 90 to
120 feet in height and illuminated at night. A must-see this
summer, the New York City Waterfalls installation will
be taken down in October. If you are on a budget, take the
Staten Island Ferry for a free harbour view of them.
www.nycwaterfalls.com
NEW STORE
There’s never been a better time to shop in NYC. The weak
dollar makes it seem as if everywhere is offering sale prices.
Avoid the tourists elbowing for bargains at Century 21 and
head straight up Fifth Avenue, where the fabulous new
Gucci flagship store awaits you.
It’s the world’s largest Gucci outlet, with three glassenclosed
floors, gold fixtures and a carpet featuring the
famous interlocking G logo. No elbowing here, plus there’s
plenty of eye candy… and we’re not just talking about
the clothes! Check out its limited-edition ‘Gucci NY’
range for a true luxury souvenir – proceeds from the range
will be donated to Playground Partners of the Central
Park Conservancy, which will go towards the care and
maintenance of the playgrounds in Central Park. That might
help you justify the price tag!
Gucci, 725 Fifth Avenue (on 56th Street), NY
www.guccilovesny.com
NEW MUSEUM
Complete your trip with a spot of culture by heading
downtown to the über hip, Lower East Side’s New
Museum (pictured above). You can’t miss it – it looks
like a giant stack of Carrie Bradshaw’s shoe boxes towering
above you! The building is designed by acclaimed architects
Sejima & Nishizawa (SANAA), with a collection of different
ceiling heights and interconnecting, light-filled spaces.
The museum’s mission is to promote new art and new
ideas, and is devoted exclusively to contemporary art. It’s a
must for art and architecture fans alike.
New Museum, 235 Bowery (at Prince Street), 10002. General
Admission: $12.
www.newmuseum.org
NEW RESTAURANT
If all the culture is leaving you hungry, a short cab ride
away from the New Museum is Allen & Delancey. The
entrance could be easily missed, as this isn’t a place for
passing trade, but hidden behind the heavy velvet curtains
is one of NYC’s trendiest new eateries. Once inside, soak up
the New York Bohemian atmosphere with candlelit, brickclad
surroundings and a couple of old-school Martinis
served up by sleek bar tenders that look as if they’ve been
whisked straight off the catwalk. The hearty American
dishes here are by chef Neil Ferguson – the original Chef de
Cuisine at Gordon Ramsay at The London NYC. It’s amazing
food, and little surprise that the establishment scooped the
2008 Time Out New York Eat Out Readers’ Choice Award for
Best New Restaurant.
Allen & Delancey, 115 Allen Street, NYC 10002.
www.allenanddelancey.net
NEW HOTEL
Recently rated one of the world’s Top 10 Hippest Hotels
by tripadvisor.com, the Hotel Gansevoort in New York’s
meatpacking district can be found just across the road
from the city’s famed Soho House. Its rooftop ‘Plunge’ bar
and pool is a 45-foot, heated outdoor glass-surrounded
swimming pool, offering stunning vistas over Manhattan.
The bar also offers a fantastic view of the sun setting
over the Hudson River. The hotel has a variety of package
deals, including the ‘Sex & The City’, the ‘Night Owl’ and
‘Indulgence Escape’.
Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Avenue (at 13th Street)
www.hotelgansevoort.com
NEW WEBSITE
Make sure you visit www.nycvisit.com/lgbt before your
trip. Its brand new gay section has all the information you
need on the latest entertainment, events and nightlife.

23 AUG-22 SEP
VIRGO
A change in your life is
imminent, but instead of
reacting against it you must
embrace it. The transition may
seem difficult but the benefits
will far outweigh the negative
aspects and you’ll find yourself
in a much better position.
Within the next few months
you’ll achieve huge goals.
22 DEC-19 JAN
CAPRICORN
23 SEP-22 OCT
LIBRA
The anger you feel at the
moment needs to be addressed
Libra or it will end up having a
physical affect on you. This is all
misguided energy that you really
need to re-focus in a positive
direction. Instead of being pissed
off about something, stop and
think it through fully before
lashing out.
If you feel unfit then do
something positive about it
Capricorn. And that doesn’t
mean a membership to a trendy gym that you’ll never use. Don’t
be half hearted – put some real effort into this challenge and don’t
expect instant change. You will have to give it some time before you
see the rewards of your work.
CANCER
KEVIN BACON
08.07.58
Happy 50th
birthday to actor
Kevin Bacon. Born
in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, Bacon
got his big break in
Footloose in 1984, and
has continued to grace
cinema screens ever
since. Cancerians often
keep their feelings
beneath the surface
– handy when you’re an
actor! They can also be
fiercely loyal and place
great importance on
home life.
23 OCT-21 NOV
SCORPIO
Be wary of people’s duplicity
Scorpio. Some that you think of
as friends have a lower opinion
of you than you think and are
quite happy to drag your name
through the mud just to make
themselves look good. You don’t
need to become paranoid, but be
careful who you confide in lest it
be used against you.
20 JAN-18 FEB
AQUARIUS
22 NOV-21 DEC
SAGITTARIUS
Have a proper holiday Sagittarius
and not some week in the sun
that leaves you more stressed out
than before you went. Take some
time off and just stay home,
catch up on the silly little things
like DIY. By the time you go back
to work you’ll feel much better,
even if you don’t have a tan to
show off!
Keep a closer eye on your
finances Aquarius. You always
think that you have more than
what’s really there. Simple things like checking your statements
online and keeping a note of the purchases you make will keep
you from being overdrawn. Extra prudence is needed for the rest of
summer, so stop avoiding checking your bank balance!
19 FEB-20 MAR
PISCES
Next time you feel like being
critical, stop for a moment and
consider the effects of what
you may say on the feelings
of others. What you see as
the simple truth can be very
cutting, and it often upsets
those close to you - whether
they admit it or not. Try being a
bit more tactful.
21 MAR-19 APR
ARIES
Lots of excellent opportunities
will present themselves this
month Aries, but you must
act quickly to maximize their
potential. Try to be aware of
everything that’s going on
around you, as some of these
opportunities might not appear
very obvious at first. Don’t stay in
the same old rut.
20 APR-20 MAY
TAURUS
Suspicious ideas regarding
someone close to you may turn
out to be nothing more than
negative impulses floating
about in your head, so don’t be
too quick to attack as you may
be well off the mark. Get all
the facts before you make any
accusations. The world’s not out
to get you!
21 MAY-21 JUN
GEMINI
The current pressure you’re
feeling just now may be getting
you down but fear not as it shall
start to ease off around about
the 23rd and you’ll start to see
the rewards of your hard work.
Don’t let it all slide though
– just because there’s less
pressure, don’t slack off. Keep
up the momentum.
22 JUN-22 JUL
CANCER
Even though you’re a very
independent person it’s a
good idea to let people help
you out if the situation calls
for it. Being self-sufficient
is great but sometimes you
need a little help to get over
a hurdle that’s just a little too
high for even someone of your
resources.
23 JUL-22 AUG
LEO
Pay more attention to your love
life Leo. It’s all been slipping
by the wayside of late and you
need to put in a little more time
with the one you love. Just do
all those romantic things that
you enjoy and show some extra
affection as someone close to
you has been feeling overlooked
lately.

DENTAL
DANGERS
DIGITAL CONSULTATION
For more information on the British Dental Health Foundation, check
www.dentalhealth.org.uk
DIABETES
SURGE
New figures from the
Yorkshire and Humber
Public Health Observatory
have predicted that by
2025 there will be 540,000
people with diabetes in
London – a huge increase
on the 300,000 known to
currently be living with the
disease at the moment,
and the additional 70,000
believed to have it but who
remain unaware. Most of
this increase will be due
to the rising numbers of
overweight or obese people
in the capital following a
nationwide trend for weight
gain.
Commenting of the
research, Roz Rosenblatt,
Manager of the Diabetes
UK London office, said:
“These new figures are
shocking and confirm that
diabetes is one of the main
health challenges facing the
UK today. Awareness and
prevention are crucial if we
want to avert this future
health crisis and see the
number of people with Type
2 diabetes fall. We need to
encourage people to reduce
their risk of developing
the condition by eating
healthily, maintaining a
healthy weight and leading
an active lifestyle.”
For more information
on diabetes and its early
warning signs, check
www.diabetes.org.uk

STEAMING SAFELY
HOW CAN YOU STOP
YOURSELF GETTING
INTO HOT WATER ON
A SAUNA VISIT?
For more on drugs, visit: www.tht.org.uk/drugfucked
For more on PEP, visit: www.chapsonline.org.uk/pep
For more on Play Zone, visit: www.tht.org.uk/playzone
FREE 15-MINUTE TESTING
Did you know that there’s now somewhere in
Soho you can go for a free, rapid, 15-minute
HIV test? The Sorted Soho clinic, which is based at
Soho Centre for Health and Care, 29-30 Soho Square,
W1, is offering the service during its open hours on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:30 until 8pm. Its
believed that one in ten gay men in London is HIV
positive, but that up to a third of them are untested
and unaware of their HIV status. Given advances in
HIV medication, knowing your status can significantly
improve your chance of keeping the virus at a
manageable level and improving your long-term
health prospects.
The clinic also offers free hepatitis B vaccinations.
Hepatitis B is something that all gay men should be
vaccinated against, as it can cause serious health
problems, and on rare occasions, even death. Despite
this, by the age of 35 it’s thought that one in three gay
men would have contracted the virus, even though its
preventable after a short course of vaccinations.
“The number of gay men affected by HIV and Hepatitis
B is a cause for great concern,” said HIV consultant Dr
Macky Natha.
“Visiting Sorted for a HIV test or Hepatitis B vaccination
is free, confidential, quick and straightforward. Gay
men can make a quick stop on their way home from
work using our walk-in service.”
Those seeking testing or vaccinations can just turn up
on the day, or you can phone beforehand to secure an
appointment - 020 7534 6500. The same service is
offered on a Friday evening between 5.30 until 8pm at
Clash, 11 Warwick Street, W1 (020 7734 1794).
NEW THT SERVICES
IN THE CAPITAL
The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has
launched a whole raft of new services, mainly in
London. These include the London Gay Men’s
Sexual Health Helpline (0845 231 0600 from
10am-10pm, Mon-Fri; 12pm-6pm, Sat-Sun)
and a new face-to-face service at THT’s central
office in Gray’s Inn Road, King’s Cross, for people
living with HIV who would prefer to speak to an
advisor in person rather than over the phone.
Initial assessments and appointments are
made through the THT Direct helpline, which
you can call on 0845 122 1200. They can offer
advice on everything from welfare benefits and
immigration through to housing and debt – so
not just health matter per se.
The Trust is also offering tests for sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) at Chariots sauna
in Limehouse (Thursdays from 5-8pm), and
an extension of the existing service at Chariots
in Shoreditch (5pm-8pm on Wednesdays and
Tuesdays); plus a new interactive website for gay
men about recreational drugs, alcohol and sex
(www.tht.org.uk/drugfucked).
Lastly, the organisation has relaunched its
‘Get it checked, Get back out there’ campaign
to try and increase gay men’s awareness of
sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This year
the campaign includes high profile outdoor
adverts that will target men when they’re out
on the scene. The campaign will include gay
bar washroom panels, roadside adverts near
gay venues in major gay centres, phone boxes
near London gay venues and adverts in London
Underground’s stations.

WORDS BY LOREM DELOREM | PHOTOGRAPH BY MAET IPSUM