G-A-Y Bar goes on sale as Soho 'loses vibrancy'

One of central London's main LGBTQ+ bars has gone on sale with its owner saying Soho has "lost its vibrancy".

G-A-Y Bar owner Jeremy Joseph said he had had to make the "tough decision" after his other venue, Heaven nightclub, was temporarily closed late last year after a member of security staff allegedly raped a woman.

He criticised Westminster City Council and the Met Police as well as local residents' groups as being too resistant to measures, such as late licences, which he said would benefit the nightlife industry.

A council spokesperson said they were proud supporters of LGBT+ businesses and the wider community in Soho and Westminster, while the Met said it understood the "complexities" that night-time venues face.

"This isn't an easy decision. To me it is more than just a bar, it's also my home - I've lived above it for over 15 years," Mr Joseph said in a statement.

He added the closure of Heaven while its licence was under review had put G-A-Y Bar "at risk financially".

"Even now after Heaven's reopening, the damage financially and mentally has been irreparable," he said.

The venue was closed at the request of the Met Police and reviewed by the council after the alleged rape. During the review process, a Met spokesperson called the venue the "highest crime generator in the borough".

New security measures were put in place, with police input, and the council's licensing committee allowed it to reopen last month.

After another one of his venues, G-A-Y Late, closed in 2023, he said he had planned to apply for a late licence for his remaining venue under that brand.

He later decided against this as he felt it would face too many objections from the council, police and residents.

"It's a constant uphill battle and another fight in the cost of living crisis which has negatively impacted all of the hospitality sector," he said.

"It doesn't feel like anyone with power cares about hospitality and it definitely doesn't feel like they care about LGBT venues."

Mr Joseph also cited what he said was a wider decline in Soho as an "LGBT capital".

He said when he had opened the venue on Old Compton Street, it was the "gayest street in the gayest capital".

"But it's not like that anymore," he added.

The nightclub owner said he wanted the G-A-Y Bar to remain an LGBT venue and he was also considering a franchising option to achieve that, but he believed it would not happen "in the current climate".

A Met Police spokesperson said: "We work in partnership and as a community with local venues, residents and partners to understand the impact and issues at night.

"We will always try to support venues as best we can to prevent and deter crime.

"We will continue to work together with all venues that form part of the night time economy in Westminster, including whoever takes over G-A-Y, to improve night-time safety for those who live, work and visit the borough."

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