SCISSOR SISTERS - Out In The City

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PAGE 18
SCISSOR SISTERS
HUDSON’S LETTER
Sadly, there are some
anniversaries that
one doesn’t really feel
like celebrating. I was
reminded recently that
June 2011 marks the 30th
anniversary of the first
reported cases of AIDS.
In summer 1981, scientists
in the US reported on
an unexpected cluster
of deaths of men from a
rarely encountered form of
pneumonia. All the men
were believed to be gay,
and it was soon realised
that they were all suffering
from a disorder that
wreaked havoc with their
immune systems.
I was only a child in 1981. I
can’t imagine what it must
have been like to have
been on the gay scene at
the time, when rumours of
a mystery illness began to
circulate – or the fear and
terror that that news must
have prompted.
Though treatment for HIV
infection has improved
greatly over the past three
decades, it is depressing
that we still do not have
a cure.
Frustratingly, one of
the greatest barriers in
preventing the spread
of HIV remains that of
ignorance. Some people
are still uncertain of how
it’s transmitted, and
many gay men do not
have a regular HIV test.
It’s recommended that
all sexually-active gay
men should have a test at
least once a year. Finding
out that you are HIV soon
after infection can make
a huge difference to your
treatment, prospects and
quality of life. Many of
those who die from AIDS
are the ones who only
discovered their condition
when they began to fall
ill. When did you last get
tested?
Empower yourself by
taking our HIV quiz on
page 97. Some of the facts
may surprise you.
hudson@outmag.co.uk
CONTENTS
PAGE 04
LETTERS
Send your
correspondence to
editorial@outmag.
co.uk
PAGE 06
MY LONDON
Scene host and DJ Ma
Butcher gives us his
capital highlights...
PAGE 08
SHOPPING
New cameras from
Leica and classic retro
iPhone handsets
PAGE 11
DIARY
June’s cultural
highlights in and
around London
PAGE 18
JAKE SHEARS
Ahead of Scissor
Sisters’ headline
appearance at
Lovebox, we catch up
with Jake Shears
PAGE 22
MUSIC
New albums from Lady
Gaga and Patrick Wolf
PAGE 24
FRANKIE KNUCKLES
David Hudson catches
up with the godfather
of house
PAGE 42
WE PARTY
PAGE 26
FILM
Last Night, Bridesmaids
and The Messenger
reviewed…
PAGE 30
THEATRE
Betty Blue Eyes and
Bette & Joan reviewed
PAGE 32
FOOD
Royal China reviewed
PAGE 36
WHY DO WE CLASH
OVER CASH?
PAGE 24
FRANKIE KNUCKLES
Is your relationship
coming apart over
financial issues?
PAGE 38
LONDON FOR LESS
THAN A TENNER
Summer fun on a
budget!
PAGE 41
OUT THERE
Upcoming scene
highlights for June,
plus coverage of Circa,
XXL and We London
PAGE 61
OUTREACH
The Stonewall Equality
Walk in Brighton, and
community listings
PAGE 64
OUTNEWS
All the gay news from
home and abroad
PAGE 68
FAMILY
The London Sperm
Bank and British
Surrogacy Agency
PAGE 76
CAREER
Jacob Nieuwkoop and
Julian Victoria
PAGE 78
PROPERTY
Interior design and
homeware
PAGE 84
MOTORING
PAGE 86
TRAVEL
Gay Madrid
PAGE 95
HOROSCOPES
PAGE 96
HEALTH
How good is your HIV
knowledge?

ON FIRE
WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT
THIS MONTH’S RISE AND FALL
ON ICE
ADELE
The girl with the world at
her feet: two albums and
singles both clogging up
the top ten at the time
of going to press, and a
number one single and
album in the US.
SIR ELTON JOHN
Holds talks with Prime
Minister David Cameron
to discuss rising HIV rates
and the work of the Elton
John AIDS Foundation.
Love. Him.
TYSON
The sexy creator of the dark
and irresistible slice of 70s
disco-inspired electronica
that is ‘Out Of My Mind’.
Keep an eye out for a
second single in late June.
FELLAS WIPES
‘New male intimate wipes’
said the press release that
landed on our desk, for all
those bits that get sweaty
during the summer. Hmm...
we’ll stick with soap and
water, thanks.
UGANDA
Thankfully, the Ugandan
parliament has shelved
the Anti-Homosexuality
Bill that it was due to
discuss… but it could
still be debated later in
the year.
BLUE
The veteran boy band may
have stripped-off plenty
in a storm of pre-event
publicity, but they still
managed to lose out to
Jedward at Eurovision.
SNOW STORM
FAITHFUL
FEEDBACK
STAR LETTER
FILM FABULOUSNESS
Alan, London, EC3
WIN!
HOT STUFF
Everyone who had a letter
printed this month won
a copy of new DVD Seeing
Heaven.
PHOTO © WWW.ADRIANLOURIE.CO.UK

SHOT ON LOCATION AT VOGUE FABRICS
MY LONDON

SHOPPING...
SINFUL
Perfectly launched to coincide with the arrival of
Spring is Guilty – a new fragrance (or “contemporary
fougère”) for men from Gucci. It offers a light and
zingy dash of lemon and mandarin with crushed
green leaves – supposedly evocative of sap rising
– and hints of pink pepper, undercut by middle
tones of lavender, cardamom, orange flower and
neroli – topped by the patchouli that hallmarks all
Gucci fragrances. We love it. It’s available as Eau de
Toilette (30ml, 50ml, 90ml), aftershave, deodorant,
shampoo, after shave balm and body massage oil,
and is available from the Perfume Shop and other
good stockists.
www.theperfumeshop.com
www.gucci.com
LEICA LOVE
Other camera brands may boast of their megapixels, but Leica appreciates that a quality lens is a more
important factor when it comes to stunning imagery. With this in mind, may we present the Leica V-Lux 20
(pictured). Yes, its £505 price tag is hefty for a compact digital camera, but fully justified by its high-quality
images – thanks to the Leica DC Vario-Elmar 4.1-49.2mm f/3.3-4.9 ASPH zoom lens. You can also shoot HD
video and geotag photos, among many other features. Also worth checking out is the £644-priced Leica D-Lux 5,
which looks purposefully retro but takes compact digital photography to an even higher level of excellence.
ww.leica.com
EARN YOUR STRIPES
A regular shopping haunt whenever we’re in Soho is XTG
– the Spanish underwear brand that’s set up camp
on Old Compton Street. These new stripey designs
have been launched – apparently – in time for
Father’s Day. We think they’re better suited
to the young bucks (such as the hunk
pictured) with generous sugar daddies!
Collection includes boxers (pictured
- £26.50), briefs and T-shirts. Shop
online at www.xtg.es or visit
the store at 60 Dean
Street, Soho W1D
6AW.
SPECS APPEAL
Not only does James Franco cut a dash on the silver screen, but he also looks pretty hot on the red
carpet, as he did when he turned up to perform Oscar-hosting duties earlier this year in a pair of
Persol 0714 sunglasses – as made famous by Steve McQueen in the original of The Thomas Crown
Affair. The firm has produced 10,000 of this classic folding frame as part of a limited edition range.
Select Specs are selling a variety of colours for £213.12 at www.SelectSpecs.com
HE’S ON THE PHONE
Skype has transformed the way in which we stay in touch with friends and family… but don’t you
sometimes just crave to nestle a receiver next to your ear? If you’re a fan of all things retro (or find
that slamming an iPhone down on the sofa is not quite the same as slamming down a receiver…),
then you may be interested in this new POP handset from French designer David Turpin. It boasts a
quality speaker and microphone, and a 3.5mm jack (compatible with the iPhone). It can be used with
all mobile phones when fitted with the correct adaptor (sold separately) and, when fitted with a USB
adaptor (sold separately), can be used for VOIP computer telephone calls (Skype, Google Talk...).
Available in a range of colours, it costs £24.95 from www.gadgets.co.uk

SUN 19 JUNE: Being huge
fans of Kathy Griffin, we
were overjoyed to hear that
she is heading to London for
a couple of exclusive shows.
Originally booked for a oneoff
evening performance
(8pm) at the Palace Theatre
on Shaftesbury Avenue,
ticket sales have been brisk,
and she’s now also going to
be performing a matinée
show at the same venue at
4.30pm in the afternoon.
This is the double Emmyaward
winner’s first UK
appearances since 2007,
and she’s promising an
evening of “laughter,
swearing and negativity!”
“I’m humbled to be bringing
my inappropriate jokes to
the historic Palace Theatre.
It’s a venue that’s long
overdue for an international
incident. Put the American
Embassy on standby.”
All tickets are priced at £30
(plus booking fee). Call the
box Office: 0844 412 4656 or
Ticketzone: 0844 875 8758
(www.seetickets.com or
www.ticketzone.co.uk)
CALENDAR EVENTS//
JUNE 2011
01 AND 22 JUN:
The Kings of Leon, whose Come Around Sundown album
has steadily grown on us, play a rescheduled date at the
O2 Arena on 1 June, (the performance was cancelled a
few months ago following a fire on a tour bus outside the
venue). They follow this up with a huge concert in Hyde
Park on 22 June, supported by Paul Weller and White Lies.
www.kingsofleon.com
THUR 02 JUNE:
Andrea Corr
MON 06 JUN:
FRI 03 JUN:
FRI 03 JUN:
O7 JUN-20 AUG:
PHOTO © ELLIE KURTTZ
01 JUNE-03 SEPT:
Former Dr Who David Tennant is reunited with Catherine
Tate this summer – on stage at the Wyndham’s Theatre on
Charing Cross Road. The two will be starring as sparring
lovers Benedick and Beatrice in a new production of
Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
www.MuchAdoOnStage.com
THUR 02 JUN:
New Yorker Moby headlines the Roundhouse in Camden.
Expect a show packed with classic hits and material from his
latest album, Destroyed. www.moby.com

CALENDAR EVENTS//
JUNE 2011
IMAGE: TORSO © STEVEN DAVID LIM
21-26 JUNE: Following the success of its inaugural exhibition
last year, the Gay Photographers Network will be hosting its
second show this month at the Strand Gallery (32 John Adam
Street, WC2). Last summer’s show was entitled ‘Guys Hanging’,
and this year’s show is simply called ‘More Guys Hanging’. The
Gay Photographers Network is simply a club for gay men with
an interest or passion for photography.This year’s show (which
will be officially opened by actor and singer Toyah Wilcox) will
feature the work of over 40 photographers (both professionals
and talented amateurs), and will cover a wide range of genres
– from portraits to cityscapes, abstracts to landscapes, nudes
to reportage. The photos exhibited will be available for sale
but there will also be an opportunity to win limited-edition
prints in a charity auction/prize draw held over the course
of the week to raise money for the Disabled Photographers
Society and London Friend.
www.gayphotographersnetwork.co.uk
PHOTO © JAMES BULLIMORE
02 JUNE-19 NOV:
Mathew Kelly returns to the West End to take a starring
role in Lend Me A Tenor: The Musical at the Gielgud Theatre.
Based on the award-winning comedy by Ken Ludwig
(which made its West End debut back in 1986), this new
musical production promises to be a riotous, unpredictable
explosion of mistaken identities and unexpected romance.
The story is set in 1934. The world’s greatest tenor, Tito
Merelli, has come to Cleveland, Ohio, to save its Grand
Opera Company by singing Verdi’s Otello, but when he is
unexpectedly incapacitated, Max, the opera director’s meek
assistant, is given the daunting task of finding a last-minute
replacement. Tickets cost £10-£62.50.
www.tenorthemusical.co.uk
08 JUN-16 JUL:
Derren Brown
MON 13 JUN:
14-16 JUN:
MARTIN CREED - WORK NO. 998. 2009 COPYRIGHT MARTIN CREED. PHOTO BARBORA GERNY
07 JUN-15 AUG:
Always a highlight of the London calendar is the annual
Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts. Expect
an exhibition crammed with 1,000 pieces of work,
whittled down from 13,000 submissions. It’s the largest
open contemporary art exhibition in the world, and will
include paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture and
architecture – so make sure you allow yourself a few hours
of browsing time!
www.royalacademy.org.uk

CALENDAR EVENTS//
JUNE 2011
WED 29 JUN: Liza Minelli returns to London for an exclusive
performance at the Royal Albert Hall. Expect classic songs
from her back catalogue and material from her latest album,
Confessions. www.officiallizaminnelli.com
PHOTO © RUVEN AFANADOR
PHOTO © JASON BELL
14 JUN-19 FEB 12:
Previewing now, Shrek The Musical officially opens
on 14 June. Following success on Broadway, the stage
adaptation is derived from the story and characters from the
Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film. This London
production will star Amanda Holden (as Princess Fiona),
Richard Blackwood (Donkey), Nigel Lindsay (Shrek) and Nigel
Harman (Lord Farquaad). It’s currently booking from now
until next February.
www.shrekthemusical.co.uk
SAT 15 JUN:
16 JUN-18 SEPT:
SUN 19 JUN:
25-30 JUN:
THUR 30 JUN:
30 JUN-08 JUL:
30 JUN AND
02-03 JULY:
The legendary Janet Jackson finally returns to London for a
trio of live dates as part of her ongoing world tour. Catch her
at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington. www.janetjackson.com

SUMMER OF LOVE
ON THE BUSES
Square Peg Media (publishers of Out In The City) are the media partners for www.rooflesspride.com. A unique
experience for major Gay Pride Festivals around the United Kingdom, whilst raising money for pride charities, with 10%
of all bookings going to the Pride funds.
Providing the ultimate open-top bus experience under the beating sun, breezing through the heart of London, Brighton
and Manchester Gay Pride Festivals on-board entertainers such as Diva Fever, Stacey Jackson, Keith George and Rozalla
will provide an open-air concert environment while you enjoy the on-board refreshments and take in the sights below.
There are various options available for each Pride giving you the opportunity to be part of the actual parade and see the
festivities from a whole new angle. Visit www.rooflesspride.com for more information.

PORTRAIT BY KEVIN TACHMAN
TALES OF THE
SCISSORS...
I’M SUPER FUCKING
HAPPY. I FEEL VERY
CREATIVELY INSPIRED
AND HAPPY AND
SATISFIED

WWW.KEVINTACHMAN.COM

I JUST FEEL LIKE THE
LUCKIEST GUY ALIVE
SOMETIMES. I’M VERY
LUCKY TO HAVE HIM;
WE’RE VERY MUCH
IN LOVE
Scissor Sisters: (L-R) Babydaddy, Jake Shears, Ana Matronic and Del Marquis
Robyn
Beth Ditto
LOVEBOX
This year’s Lovebox festival takes place in Victoria Park in east
London on 15-17 July. Sunday’s ‘Out and Out Fierce’ line-up will
include Scissor Sisters, Blondie, Robyn, Kelis, Beth Ditto,
Marc Almond, 2 Many DJs, Hard Ton and Azari & III, amongst
others. DJs will include Jim Stanton, James Hillard, Severino,
Luke Howard and Dr Noki, while Horse Meat Disco and Jodie
Harsh’s Circus will also be present. One-day tickets for the Sunday
(17 July) event start at £48.50 (£48.50 for Saturday and £28.50 for
Friday). A three-day pass costs £99. Tickets are on sale now, and are
available from www.lovebox.net as well as from Ticketmaster
(www.ticketmaster.co.uk) or by calling 08448472436. You
can also buy tickets in person from the London HMV stores.
www.lovebox.net
PHOTO © TOM BUNNING

ALBUMS OUT IN JUNE
PATRICK WOLF
Lupercalia (Mercury)
It makes the world go round, it heals all wounds, and it seems
to have made Patrick Wolf the happiest bunny since Bugs
won a year’s supply of organic carrots from Abel & Cole. As he
prepares to enter into a civil partnership with partner William,
the man he clearly regards as his soulmate, Wolf cuts a very
different figure to the bondage-clad dissident of his last LP,
2009’s brilliant but somewhat abrasive The Bachelor.
Named after the ancient Roman festival of love and fertility,
Lupercalia is Wolf’s most infectious and accessible record yet,
its joyous major key pop songs embellished with handclaps,
horns and harps. Not to mention strings – lots of strings
– that swell like a proud mother’s bosom. These are songs
about the redemptive power of love, the ability of love to
trump economic hardship, the fact that there’s precisely sod all
difference between heterosexual and homosexual love, and
the comfort of spending the night tucked up safely with the
one you love. ‘The City’ even finds Wolf recalling, “The day we
kissed up by Niagara Falls”; an image so incorrigibly romantic
it’s almost (Taylor) Swiftian.
The melancholy of yore creeps in two-thirds through, but only
when Wolf contemplates a life
without his beloved, and it’s telling
that he rediscovers his joie de vivre
on penultimate track ‘Together’,
which begins as a missing-mylover
lament before becoming a
celebration of what they might
achieve once reunited. Bless. Now,
how to score an invite to that
wedding? NL
Out: June 20
LADY GAGA
Born This Way
(Polydor)
The worst fate to befall a
popstar? Nope, not getting
tricked into representing Britain at Eurovision, nor being
forced to record a duet with Daniel Bedingfield, but having
to withstand a backlash. Lady Gaga, of course, is currently in
the midst of one.
Born This Way – which, lest we forget, is only her
second full studio album – will supply bountiful grist
to the whingers’ mill. It’s bloated, subtle as a page three
model’s cleavage, a bit silly, kind of cringe-inducing in its
proclamations of equality (re: that title track), and it doesn’t
have anything quite as undeniable as ‘Poker Face’. But it’s
also a frequently thrilling stadium pop behemoth with nods
to Queen, Pet Shop Boys, Elton John, Madonna circa True
Blue, Madonna circa Like A Prayer and… er, Madonna circa
Erotica.
Thumping tune by thumping tune, it arguably trumps her
12-million selling debut. Highlights include the hymn-like
synth-pop of ‘Bloody Mary’, the giddy ‘Bad Kids’ with its
bad/brilliant “twit”/”degenerate” couplet and a big blowsy
Mutt Lange ballad called ‘Yoü and I’. And if it’s ‘Springsteen
goes techno’ that you want, ‘The Edge Of Glory’ delivers...
right down to the sax solo!
So, moan away about over-exposure, but at least Gaga
gives us something to talk about. When did Rachel Stevens
ever proffer a song like ‘Government Hooker’ and sing the
line, “Put your hands on me, John F. Kennedy”?
Whether born or a product of impregnable self-will, we
wouldn’t have her any other way. NL
Out: 23 May
SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR
Make a Scene
(EBGB’s/Universal)
Ms Ellis-Bextor proves herself
pluckier than a female
impersonator’s tweezers, peddling the daaahnciest album
of her decade-long career – just as her commercial fortunes
reach something of a low ebb. It’s been four years since
Sophie last strutted into the top ten; her most recent single
stalled at... um... number 165! Then again, in purely musical
terms, her confidence is far from misplaced. Featuring
contributions from some of the top producers in British pop
(Freemasons, Richard X, Calvin Harris), Make a Scene is a
consistently entertaining collection which flirts purposefully
with Hi-NRG (‘Bittersweet’, ‘Dial My Number’), filter disco
(‘Starlight’, ‘Magic’), trance (‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’), the
throb-tastic Balearic (‘Not Giving Up On Love’) and even
ABBA (‘Under Your Touch’), before (nearly) always returning
to the warm embrace of a solid pop chorus.
Preferring Daft Punk-style vocoder to Ke$ha-esque
auto-tune, and leaving the “swagga” to J.Lo & Co., it’s also
an inherently elegant and quintessentially British affair.
The mildly eccentric, ‘outsiders-unite’ stylings of the title
track find Ellis-Bextor prescribing: “All of the hierarchies are
broken now that we’re not at school.” Who else could carry
off that kind of line? Who else would try?
It all adds up to a career best effort from the only real rival
to Debbie Harry’s “Sharpest Cheekbones In Pop” title. (Siva
from The Wanted comes a respectable third).
When it comes to dancefloor shenanigans, men might
perspire and ladies may glow, but on this evidence, Sophie
Ellis-Bextor truly sparkles. NL
Out: June 6
TIM & JEAN
Like What (Publica)
Aussie youngsters Tim Ayre
and Jean-Christophe Capatorto
first hooked up in 2008 at the
tender ages of 17 and 14 respectively. Immediately hitting
it off musically, they started jamming together – citing a
shared love for the likes of Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty and
Fleetwood Mac as their main influences. Listening to their
debut album, it’s likely that both were also listening to
MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular on heavy repeat, as that – and
fellow Aussie synth-pop rockers Empire Of The Sun – are
the more obvious contemporary inspirations.
Like What bounces along on an initially hard-to-resist
summery vibe, all squelchy 80s synths and multi-layered
vocal harmonies. Opener and title track, ‘Like What’, would
love to be ‘Time To Pretend’. It’s almost perky enough, but is
let down by uninspired lyrics (‘life is a rollercoaster, don’t be
afraid to ride it’). That said, it remains a highlight, alongside
‘Veronika’, recent single ‘Come Around’ and ‘Give It Up’.
‘Solina’ is also pleasant, in a Goldfrapp sort of way, but again
highlights the somewhat second-rate nature of many of
these tracks, which all roll along at exactly the same pace.
It sounds like a homage to bands (Goldfrapp, Empire Of The
Sun) already paying homage to other bands.
Although only offering an economical ten tracks, by the
time you reach closer ‘Hustle’, you’ll be left with the feeling
that Tim & Jean currently only have one trick up their sleeve.
Undeniably talented, here’s hoping their second long player
offers a little more light and shade. DH
Out: 30 May
REVIEWS: DAVID HUDSON AND NICK LEVINE

THE GODFATHER
WHEN THE FIRST
WAVE OF AIDS CAME
THROUGH AND JUST
SWEPT AWAY SO MANY
INCREDIBLE PEOPLE,
I ASK MYSELF TO
THIS DAY, HOW DID I
MANAGE TO AVOID IT?
Frankie Knuckles’ Director’s Cut feat. Jamie Principle – ‘I’ll Take
You There’ is out now. It will be followed soon by remixes of
‘Your Love’ and ‘Baby Wants To Ride’.
www.defmix.com
www.myspace.com/fkalways

FILMS OUT IN JUNE
BRIDESMAIDS
LAST NIGHT
THE BEST DVDS
JUNE ’11
DAVID’S BIRTHDAY
Two married Italian couples
go away on a beach holiday
together and, at first, both
Diego and Shanny and Matteo
and Francesca seem united;
but a spanner is thrown into
the works by the arrival of
Diego and Shanny’s son,
David. Unexpectedly, Matteo
is drawn to the young man’s good looks, and finds himself
wrestling with his feelings. An evocative, beautifully-shot
drama, it’s one of the better European gay films we’ve seen
recently, even if it builds to a somewhat OTT climax.
OUT: 13 JUNE
THE FIGHTER
Even if boxing films normally
leave you cold, the awardwinning
The Fighter is worth
seeking out. Starring Mark
Walhberg, Christian Bale and
Melissa Leo, it’s based on the
true story of fighter Micky
Ward, who ascended, Rockylike,
through the ranks to take
the world welterweight title in the early 80s. His victory
came despite well-meaning but cack-handed help from his
dysfunctional family – specifically, his mother (Leo), and
older brother, Dicky (Bale). Predictable, but entertaining.
OUT: 20 JUNE
BRIGHTON ROCK
Writer and director Rowan
Joffe takes Graham Green’s
iconic 1938 tale and re-sets
it in 1964 against a backdrop
of the mods vs rockers
riots. Teen gangster Pinkie
(Sam Riley) kills rival gang
member Hale, sparking a
gang war between Brighton’s
protection racketeers. A young, naïve waitress, Rose
(Andrea Riseborough), stumbles on the truth, but falls for
Pinkie’s charms. Although visually stunning, with a great
performance from Riseborough, a lack of genuine suspense
or intrigue renders this a strangely flat offering.
OUT: 20 JUNE
RABBIT HOLE
Nicole Kidman and Aaron
Eckhart star in this film from
director John Cameron Mitchell
(Shortbus). They play the
formerly happily-married
couple grieving the loss of
their son. Although sombre,
Rabbit Hole emerges as a
poignant and moving experience, with some corrosive wit
ensuring that it avoids becoming a drab, maudlin slog.
OUT: 20 JUNE
REVIEWS: DAVID HUDSON AND JOSH WINNING

REVIEWS: DAVID HUDSON AND JOSH WINNING
FILMS OUT IN JUNE
KABOOM
DONOR
UNKNOWN
THE MESSENGER

PHOTOGRAPHY © MICHAEL LE POER TRENCH
SNORTS AND SQUEALS
BUT YA ARE,
BLANCHE...
JUSTIN SWIFT REVIEWSBETTE
& JOAN
Any gay man worth their Maldon sea
salt must surely be aware of the celluloid
inferno of spite and campery that is the
classic 1962 film Whatever Happened
To Baby Jane, and of the legendary feud
between its iconic stars, Hollywood
legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
Playwright Anton Burge has re-imagined
for the stage what might have occurred
in those dressing rooms on the Warner
Bros back lot during the movie’s long days
filming and infighting. The result, Bette &
Joan – which is now playing for a limited
run at London’s Arts Theatre – is both
extremely funny and very touching.
Taking on the title roles in this two-hander
are Greta Scacchi as Bette Davis and Anita
Dobson as Joan Crawford. Both clearly relish
inhabiting their respective characters, and
the exquisite badinage that is played out
between them. Scacchi seems to have the
most fun, playing up the more outrageous
and vulgar facets of Davis’ personality,
but it is Dobson who is awarded the best
one-liners as the incredibly cool, controlled
and devious Crawford. Both actors display
flawless comedy timing and have the
unmistakeable quirks and mannerisms
of their creative wards totally down pat
without being patronising or distracting.
The first act in the production is essentially
the funniest in setting out each characters’
egos and eccentricities while weaving in
salacious Hollywood gossip, classic quotes
and witticisms from the ladies themselves.
The second act succeeds in fleshing out
their personalities by trying to explain how
and why events made them the people
they were and the flawed stars that
they became.
The end result is a fun night’s
entertainment with real substance
behind the humour. Highly
recommended.
PHOTOGRAPHY © RALPH RAPLEY

SUM DAY
DAVID HUDSON REVIEWS ROYAL CHINA
24-26 Baker Street, London W1U 7AB
020 7487 4688. www2.royalchinagroup.biz
A dear friend first introduced me to the concept
of dim sum around nine years ago. I took to it
immediately, but can understand why some people avoid
it purely because they find the idea a little bit confusing or
fear they won’t know what to order.
The success of restaurants such as Ping Pong – which
have aggressively marketed the younger end of the market
– have greatly boosted the popularity of dim sum, but
there remain many food lovers who have yet to feast upon
this most traditional part of Chinese cuisine.
Whether you are a dim sum virgin, or a connoisseur, one
of the best and most authentic destinations in London in
which to sample a whole range of the stuff are the Royal
China establishments. This family-run empire began in
Hong Kong (where there are still several restaurants),
before spreading to these shores with the launch of a
Bayswater branch in 1996. Sister venues now run in
Harrow-on-the-Hill, Fulham and Baker Street. A branch
opens in Canary Wharf on 1 June.
It was the Baker Street branch, near the Out In The City
offices that I decided to check out. Take note – this is not to
be confused with the ‘Royal China Club’, a few doors down
the road. That establishment is owned by the same group
but offers a slightly more contemporary, and pricier, twist
on classic Chinese dishes.
Royal China, at 24-26 Baker Street, is a hugely
popular lunchtime destination – particularly at weekends.
It serves an estimated 2,000 dim sum dishes alone on
Sundays! Things are – thankfully – a little quieter during
the week. The venue itself is large (150 covers) and
elegant. The interior is decked out in shades of gold (with
a signature gold wall along the front half of the room), soft
browns, and dark, smokey, reflective surfaces.
The dim sum selection – unsurprisingly – is wide and
varied. Like Spanish tapas, it’s best to order and share
several of these small dishes – probably 3-4 per person.
They generally cost between £2.80-£4.10 each. Feeling
hungry, my companion and I ordered nine.
Long-time favourites of mine include honey-roast pork
puffs (£3.10) – delicious puff pastry parcels of minced
pork – and roast pork buns (£3). Sometimes called char
siu buns, these are white, fluffy, steamed balls of dough
filled with barbecue pork. Minced pork dumplings with
shrimps (£3) come served in their wicker steamer. For some
reason they always remind me of the alien pods from the
film Alien – thankfully, their contents were much more
agreeable! Shanghai pork dumplings (£3.20) were similarly
fabulous, while fried minced squid balls (£3.10) were very
more-ish. Turnip cake with Chinese meats (£2.90) offered
some extra carbohydrate to our meal, while – from the
specials menu – deep-fried seafood dumpling (£4.10)
added some visual ‘wow’ factor – ornate parcels with
intricate pastry frills. The steamed prawn and green pea
dumplings (£4.10) – also from the specials menu – were
the only slight let down, being limp and forgettable, while
we had to wait ages for the prawn cheung fun (£4.20) – a
sloppy, but delightful, prawn lasagne.
Dim sum desserts were a new experience for me. We
finished our meal with an unusual black sesame and
coconut pudding (£3.80) and steamed sweet egg custard
buns (£3). The former was an unappealing grey and white
striped block of jelly – its unusual colour belying its tasty
sesame flavouring. The buns were great – steamed dough
balls filled with pleasingly stodgy dollops of egg custard.
If you have never had dim sum, Royal China offers
an authentic yet affordable introduction in surprisingly
exclusive and upmarket surroundings. All the staff were
helpful throughout, and we didn’t feel rushed (you
can be during a hectic dim sum lunch session at other
establishments). If you are already a fan of this particular
brand of Chinese cuisine but haven’t yet discovered Royal
China, then do so – it easily one of the finest dim sums
restaurants in London.

ONCE UPON A TIME…
PERHAPS THE
CLERGYMEN HAVE
BEEN AFFLICTED
WITH THE SAME
CONDITION AS
ME: THEY SEE
THE GAYNESS IN
EVERYTHING

OUR ATTITUDES
TO MONEY ARE
OFTEN SHAPED
BY OUR PARENTS’
BEHAVIOURS WITH
CASH
WHY DO WE
ALWAYS CLASH
OVER CASH?

LONDON FOR
UNDER A TENNER
WORDS BY MICHAEL TURNBULL
David Hoyle
Tate Modern
Hampstead Heath

CLUBS>BARS>FASHION>GOSSIP>NEWS>TRENDS>SCENES>QUEENS>FACTS>
© CHRISJEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM
Page 44
XXL
For an early taster of its
huge Bear Pride party
at the end of May, we
got along to Arcadia to
sample the delights of
the legendary XXL...
PAGE 47
CIRCA
The launch of a new
Soho bar is always
cause for celebration
- which is why we were
first in the queue at the
unveiling of Circa...
© SAM KNIGHT
PUTTING ON A SHOW
PAGE 59
BURGER QUEEN
Scottee unveils his
new beauty contest for
chubby boys and girls
at the Royal Vauxhall
Tavern...
The team took over the huge Coronet venue for lavish 'Broadway' party, which prompted another elaborate stafe
production with lashings of sex appeal. Check out our full review on pages 42-43...

WE LONDON
WORDS AND PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM
With a huge crash and the
flashing of a million light bulbs,
Spain’s WE Party landed again
at the Coronet in Elephant and
Castle in May with a Broadwaythemed
spectacular. The stage was
transformed by a specially built and
shipped in set of giant illuminated signs
that provided the back drop for more
than a dozen beautiful hard-bodied
topless boys and exotic dancers in
fantastic creations of feathers, leather
and flesh. It was like something plucked
from the Las Vegas strip. As always,
the auditorium was packed with an
equally hot crowd of trendy guys,
muscle-circuit party boys and OTT
dressed-to-the-nines exhibitionists
– with everyone taking advantage
of the bank holiday to let their hair
down in true Balearic, Ibizan style.
Scorching pyrotechnics flew overhead,
giant lasers that could have performed
mass eye surgery shone out from the
stage, magnificent confetti cannons
deposited their contents high in
the rafters (only to see them flutter
down over a euphoric crowd) and
CO2 cannons blasted us with cooling
wafts of air as a welcome respite in
the steamy environment. A 'diva with
attitude' PA belted out the club tracks
before handing back to an all-star
DJ line-up of London residents Steve
Pitron, Gonzalo Rivas and D’Johnny.
They were joined by special guest DJ
Nano, who laid down some superb
Spanish-inspired beats. WE Rocks!
For those of you with a sweet tooth,
WE returns with its ‘Candy’-themed
bash on Saturday 28th May.
www.wepartylondon.com

XXL
WORDS AND PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM
Pausing between mouthfuls of
chocolate to answer the phone,
we were persuaded by mates that
perhaps Easter was about more
than just cocoa solids!
Persuaded to venture out, we put on
something tight and tarty and headed
over to the Arcadia arches for XXL’s
Playbear Mansion party – and boy,
were we glad we made the effort! DJs
Christian M and Alex Logan kept the
main room pumping with energetic and
upbeat anthems as we found ourselves
helpless and happy in a heaving sea
of men.
Over in the fourth arch DJ Joe Egg was
in retro classic heaven –spinning a
mixture of indie, pop, rock and dance
–with his packed room spilling out
onto the terrace. The dress code
throughout the venue could best be
described as ‘skimpy’ and the Easter
egg hunt provided hours of fun – did
we mention how much we love
chocolate? It all made for a fabulously
fun-filled evening.
Consistently one of the busiest clubs
every single week, XXL really comes in
to its own on holiday weekends, and
their next biggie is at the end of May
as Bear Pride hits our shores. Friday 27
May sees a one-off XXLXTREME with
a plethora of dark and cruisy areas to
get lost in, followed by the main Bear
Pride party on Saturday 28 May and
Fusion at Pulse just up the road on
Sunday 29 May.
www.xxl-london.com

NICE PACKAGE
MONEY SLIDES SO
SATISFYINGLY OUT OF
THE CASH MACHINE AND
YET RUNS THROUGH MY
FINGERS LIKE WATER...
GET ON THE
GUEST LIST
Bit of an early heads-up
here – but boutique
clubbing festival Summer
Rites is back Sunday 10
July at Shoreditch Park.
Brought to you by scene
stalwarts Wayne Shires
and Kim Lucas, expect
showcasing from the likes
of East Bloc, George &
Dragon, Meat, The Joiners
Arms, Gutterslut, Popstarz,
Bootylicious – with
more and more added
every week. With only
10,000 capacity, this will
definitely sell out so check
out the ‘Summer Rights
Remix’ page on Facebook
and make sure you sign
up for early notification of
tickets – as earlybird offers
go on sale soon for a cool
£10. Check out www.
summer-rites.com
Hard On has recently
moved to the third
Saturday of every month
and enjoys a super seedy
new venue at Factory in
Vauxhall. Expect some of
south London’ most pervy
decadence. DJs include
Brent Nicholls, Zack Hadley
and HaLo-Is on rotation
with sexy, funky and
uplifting house. It returns
the 18 June to Factory, 65
Goding Street (just behind
Chariots). Entry is strict
fetish – think leather,
latex, sleaze, skinhead or
just ‘boots-only’. Entry
is £15 and membership
required – members may
sign in up to four guests.
See www.hardonclub.
co.uk for full dress code.
and membership
information.

BAR CIRCA
WORDS AND PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM
While club nights and names may
change more frequently than
Katie Price’s partners, new additions
to the roster of our beloved gay venues
are few and far between. However, this
month saw the launch of a new kid on
the Soho block. With former incarnations
including the Budda Bar, Jrink and even
a pizza restaurant, 62 Frith Street (just
off Soho Square) is now known as Circa
and is in the more than capable hands of
Alan Winter, former manager of Ku Bar
and The Edge.
Previous layouts have always had a
tunnelling effect, so walking through
the front vestibule, thanks to a great
use of lighting, mirrors and furniture
arrangement, we were surprised at
how spacious the venue now feels. The
back end of the room is dominated
by a giant mirror-ball that houses the
DJ, while LED lights cycle through
the spectrum to constantly change
the colour scheme of the walls. The
venue offers both comfort and style,
with soft leather sofas and tall bar
stools. A bevy of Soho socialites, drag
queens and a raft of lovely DJs offer
different beats across the weekend…
On Fridays Monroe Burgdorf brings
you her unique blend of pop and
commercial house, Saturdays sees
James Pople spinning club beats, and
on Sundays drag darling Alyna Chic
brings you a truly camp end to the
week with pop, R&B and old school
hits. It's open from 4pm ‘til 1am every
night of the week.

PHOTO © ABSOLUT QUEER PHOTOGRAPHY
NASTY BUT NICE
WE RECENTLY JOKED
ABOUT HOW WE BOTH
HAVE A REPUTATION
FOR BEING A BIT
DIFFICULT OR SCARY...
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON

HIGHLIGHTS
BLITZ KIDS
If you’re looking for some midweek clubbing at its finest, can we point you in the direction
of Trannyshack at Madame Jo Jo’s? This hugely popular night has been running for a
number of years now, and is wildly popular with trannies, drag queens, Soho reprobates,
boys, girls and everything in between. The night is presided over by Dusty O (pictured
above) and a gaggle of London’s best gender benders and scene queens. The ‘gals’ are never
shy of throwing a party, and Dusty has given us advance warning of a couple of special
events taking place in June. Join them on Wednesday 8 June for ‘Blitzed Out Broads’ – a
celebration of the Blitz. Expect a 1940s-style party and a war-themed show from all the
Trannyshack girls, with music spun by Munroe Bergdorf and Dusty O.
The next special event will be a guest appearance from New York drag diva Miss
Peppermint, who will be sprinkling her own brand of Manhattan glitter across the Jo Jo’s
stage. For a taster of what to expect, check out her videos on YouTube.
Trannyshack takes place at Madame Jo Jo’s, 8-10 Brewer Street, Soho, W1. Doors are open
from 10.30pm till 3am, with free entry for anyone who makes a gender-bending effort
before midnight (or £5).
www.madamejojos.com www.trannyshack.co.uk
HEY MR DJ!
Following the success of last year’s competition, the
team at Ku Bar has decided to again host another DJ
competition – to search for new, young deck talent. The
winner of last year’s contest, DJ DouG’ium, has gone on
to great things, regularly spinning the sounds not only at
the Ku Bar but also at other London club nights. He’s even
played at Brazil’s famous The Week in his hometown of San
Paulo, and was voted Best DJ Newcomer in a leading scene
publication. Once again, the winner of this year’s contest
will win a residency at Ku, and will get to play at a major event at Fire in Vauxhall.
The contest will run from 3 June for 12 weeks, with the grand final taking place on the
August Bank Holiday. Anyone interested should send a 30-minute mix, along with contact
details and a recent photo, to the Ku Bar – you can find all details at www.ku-bar.
co.uk/djquest – Successful applicants will be invited to spin a one-hour set at the
Friday night club O Zone, in the Ku Klub on Lisle Street. This will be their chance
to impress the judges and Ku crowd and win themselves a place in the final!
XXL BANK HOLIDAY
The end of May Bank Holiday brings with it the annual Bear Pride festivities.
This year, in a slight change to previous formats, the Bear Pride party will
chiefly take place as a one-night mega bash at XXL at Arcadia. The party runs
from 9pm till 6.30am, with admission £8 for guests and £15 for guests. You can
expect all four arches to be packed out, plus the outdoor cabaret area to be put to
full use, with confirmed appearances from Sheri Vine and New York’s Peppermint.
This party is always full to capacity, so make sure you arrive early if you want to
avoid any queuing!
This will be preceded on the Friday night (27 May) by a one-off party entitled
XXLXTREME. Again, it will take place at Arcadia (51-53 Southwark Street, SE!),
between the hours of 9pm and late. Promoter Mark Ames will himself be behind the
decks to spin the sounds, and you can expect plenty of dark areas of the club to explore.
Admission will be free before 10pm and £5 after.
Finally, the bank holiday weekend will wind up with another dose of Fusion on Sunday 29
May. For the first time in its history, Fusion will be leaving Arcadia and moving into Mark’s
new super club – Pulse. This is set to be the biggest Fusion party yet, and if you’ve still yet
to have checked out the 5,000-capacity Pulse, then this will be the perfect opportunity.
Again, there will be live PAs from Sherri Vine, Peppermint and other guests, while the
special guest jock will be Dave Aude, alongside XXL resident Christian M. Doors will be
open from 10pm till 8am, and you’ll find Pulse at 1-4 Invicta Plaza, SE1 9UF – a short walk
from Arcadia (and Southwark tube station).
DO THE
HUSTLE!
The world-famous HustlaBall makes its
annual return to the UK for its 2001 London
date on Saturday 11 June. This year’s event
– which always attracts a capacity crowd
– will take place at Fire in Vauxhall. The event
will feature five dance arenas, and no less than
50 adult entertainment stars! Quite simply,
this is going to be one, long, debauched, sexy
night of partying! Expect stars from such wellknown
studios as Raging Stallion, Hot House,
Falcon, Lucas Entertainment, Bel Ami and Stag
Homme. Names confirmed to attend include
Samuel Colt, Kyle King, Rafael Alencar, Harry Louis, Austin Wilde, Ricky Sinz, Heath Jordan,
Chris Porter, Ryan Raz, Martin Mazza and many more. They will be joined by newcomers
from the US, Spain, Germany, France and UK.
However, it’s not all about flesh flaunting, as the organisers take the music side of things
very seriously too. Expect a roster of international DJs to keep all the floors busy, with Bear
Necessity and Hard On confirmed to host their own rooms, plus Gaydar (with Paul Burston
and Jodie Harsh on the decks) taking care of the VIP Room. Other confirmed DJs include
Francesco Pagano, Germany’s Chris Bekker, Guy Scheiman (Israel), Ricky Sinz (Chicago), Aurel
Devil (Paris) and Dani Toro (Barcelona). Confirmed London DJs include HiFi Sean, Sharon O
Love, Tony Bruno and many more.
Limited earlybird supersaver tickets are online now (£15 standard or £55 VIP). For
more information and bookings, check www.Hustlaball.com
WORDS BY LOREM DELOREM | PHOTOGRAPH BY MAET IPSUM

GOING
SLUT HUT
Gutterslut returns to East Bloc on Old Street on Saturday 28 May for its monthly
debauched shindig. Returning to host the night will be Miss Kystilina, while special
guest DJs will be Musiclovemakers – a duo whose name has steadily been rising since
they made their debut in Shoreditch’s Joiners Arms with their Sunday club night Cock-O-
Van. They will be joined in the main room by Nic Fisher and MC Miss Crystal. Meanwhile,
in the disco room, taking turns behind the decks will be Will Viper from the White Leather
Viper Club at Dalston Superstore and James Phillips of Best Before. They will join resident
Ralf in spinning the pop, avant-garde disco, hip hop, electronica and retro classics.
Projections and visuals will come from PRICKIMAGE and the Dalston Gay Mafia.
Doors will be open from 11pm till 6am, with admission £5 before midnight, £10 after. For
the £5 concession guestlist (before 1am), email gutterslutuk@yahoo.co.uk
East Bloc, 217 City Road, London EC1V 1JN. www.myspace.com/gutterslutuk
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 - always busy after 10.30pm
with those who don’t want to head
home too early.
ADMIRAL DUNCAN, 54 Old
Compton Street, W1. 020 7437
5300. Leicester Square tube.
Friendly, famous, traditional gay
pub - just look out for the purple
and pink exterior!
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 three
floors, with club-style basement.
Comedy Camp stand-up night
each Tuesday, and more danceoriented
sessions at weekends.
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. Longrunning
and famed lesbian bar.
CIRCA, 62 Frith Street, Soho, W1D
3JN. Tottenham Court Road tube.
New Soho gay bar, offering pop
and r’n’b tunes, drag hostesses and
cute bar staff. Open 4pm till 1am
every day.
www.circasoho.com
COMPTONS, 52 Old Compton
Street, W1. 020 7479 7961.
Leicester Square tube. Noon-11pm.
A Soho institution. Large, traditional
gay boozer on two floors, attracting
a butch and manly crowd. www.
comptons-of-soho.co.uk
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, attracting a
good cross-section from across
the scene.
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,
regular piano bar and tasty food.
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.
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
Circus tube. Opulent style bar, with
late-night club promotions for a
mixed, metrosexual crowd.
www.freedombarsoho.com
FRIENDLY SOCIETY, 79 Wardour
Street, WC1. Piccadilly Circus
tube. Trendy and unique, intimate
basement bar with quirky decor
and fun atmosphere – 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.Gets very busy most nights
of the week.
THE GREEN CARNATION, 4-5
Greek Street, Soho, W1. 020-7434
3323. Stylish, three-floored
late night gay venue, with
bar, dancefloor and nightly
promotions. Attracts a very mixed
crowd. 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, which is now home to
G-A-Y, along with mixed/studenty
Monday nighter Popcorn. Check
www.g-a-y.co.uk for details
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 plus pool table.
Sunday night karaoke very popular.
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 and always busy
throughout the week. www.
ku-bar.co.uk
KU BAR SOHO, 25 Frith Street,
W1. Leicester Square tube. New,
smaller sister venue to Lisle Street
Ku Bar, with entrances on Old
Compton Street and Frith Street
- open till 11pm daily. The first floor
houses a Gay Tourist Office from
noon-6pm throughout the week
(www.gaytouristoffice.co.uk).
www.ku-bar.co.uk
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, with clubbier vibe
and video screens in the basement.
Popular with Asian crowd upstairs,
plus a basement women’s bar.
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
11pm-3am Thursdays, and 10pm-
4am on Fridays and Saturdays.
www.loprofile.com
MADAME JO JO’S, 8-10 Brewer
Street, W1. Long-running, late
night gig venue, nightclub
and cabaret bar - open to very
mixed crowd. Home to popular
Wednesday nighter Trannyshack.
www.madamejojos.com.
MOLLY MOGG’S, 2 Old Compton
Street, W1. 020 7434 4294.
Tottenham Court Road tube. Small,
intimate little gay pub, with regular
drag shows attracting a mixed
crowd of theatre folk and tourists.
NEW BLOOMSBURY SET, 76
Marchmont Street, WC1. 020 7383
3084. www.newbloomsburyset.
co.uk. New, intimate basement bar
and lounge, beneath Snappy Snaps
on Marchmont Street - half way
between Russell Square and King’s
Cross tubes. Open 4-11pm Mon-Sat
(2-10.30pm Sunday).
PROFILE, 84-84 Wardour Street,
W1. 020 734 3444. Piccadilly Circus
tube. Upstairs bar above Lo-Profile,
SPRING SALVATION
Salvation is back! The semi-regular London circuit
party is returning for a May bank holiday date on Sunday
29 May. Following the success of its New Year’s bash, it
will be taking over the opulent surroundings of Koko in
Camden. The theme for this party will be ‘Sci-Fi’, with the
team aiming to present a vision of the clubbing future.
Expect the main stage to be brought to life with hi-tech
laser walls, LED’s, CO2 and Special FX, while sexy dancers
illuminate the stage and aerial artists high-wire above
the crowds.
DJs confirmed for the event include Miswhite, Oliver M,
Paul Coals and Pier Morrocco, while Howard Turner and
Phil Marriott will take care of the VIP Room. There will
also be a PA, but the team is keeping the name under
wraps at the time of going to press.
Doors will be open from 7pm till 2am, and you’ll find
Koko at 1A Camden High Street, London NW1 7JE.
Advance tickets cost £20, VIP tickets cost £25 (includes
separate VIP entrance, free VIP cloakroom and VIP area)
from Prowler, Profile Bar (Soho), Barcode (Vauxhall) &
Soho Gyms (Covent Garden, Clapham and Camden). Pick
up tickets online at www.gaypartix.com.
www.salvation-london.com
www.koko.uk.com

owned and run by the team behind
Gaydar. Stylish gay bar/diner,
open for food and drink from early
morning through till 11pm – when
the action moves downstairs.
www.profilesoho.com
THE QUEBEC, 12 Old Quebec
Street, WC1. 020-7629 6159.
Marble Arch tube. Long-running
and huge pub, on two floors,
attracting an older crowd. Open till
3am at weekends. Off the beaten
Soho track but well worth checking
out. www.thequebec.co.uk
THE QUEEN’S HEAD, 25 Tryon
Street, SW3. 020-7589 0262.
Sloane Square tube. Popular, very
long-running, cosy gay pub – a
Chelsea institution.
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.
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
DOUBLE TONKER
The Tonker crew will be using the late May
bank holiday weekend to host a double
helping of bear-sized mayhem at Eagle
London. The regular Friday night Tonker will
take place on Friday 27 May, and has been
titled the ‘Brute by FaBEARge’ bank holiday
special. Doors will be open from 9pm till
3am, and special guest jock Phil Marriott
from Gaydar Radio will be behind the decks.
The delightful, muscled Shot Bears will be
distributing the drinks in the garden, and
there will also be a free barbecue from 9pm.
Admission will be £6 on the door.
This will be followed on bank holiday Monday
(30 May) with the ‘Bear Holiday Bonanza’,
which will run from 8pm till 2am. Expect more
of a chilled-out party to end the extended
weekend, with another free barbecue in
the beer garden to help kick off proceedings, plus music from promoter Tim Jones
(pictured above). Entry will be just £3 on the door.
and post-work drinkers.
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. Open from
late each evening.
www.theshadowlounge.com
THE STAR AT NIGHT, 22 Great
Chapel Street, W1. Tottenham
Court Road tube. Relaxed, mixed
gay/lesbian bar – in traditional,
bistro-type surroundings. Great
food menu and cocktails. Open
6-11.30pm Tue-Sat. www.
thestaratnight.com
SWEATBOX, 1-2 Ramillies
Street, Soho, W1. 020-3214 6014.
Exclusively gay gym (ground
floor) and sauna (first floor), with
occasional late-night parties. Open
Sun-Thurs noon-2am, and till
7am Friday and Saturday. www.
sweatboxsoho.com.
VAULT 139, 139 Whitfield Street,
W1. 020-7388 5500. Central,
daytime and evening intimate
cruise club, for a men-only crowd.
Open 1pm-1am seven days a
week. www.vault139.com
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. Popular with a youngish
crowd of boys and girls.
THE YARD, 57 Rupert Street, W1.
020 7437 2652. Piccadilly Circus
tube. Mon-Thur 4pm-11pm, Fri
& Sat 1pm-11pm, Sun 1pm-
10.30pm. Busy gay bar with hugely
popular courtyard area, outdoor
balcony and cosy loft bar.
SAUNAS
CHARIOTS WATERLOO, 101
Lower Marsh, Waterloo, SE1. 020
7401 8484. Waterloo tube. Wellpresented,
popular sauna, open
24/7. www.gaysauna.co.uk
PLEASUREDROME, 124 Cornwall
Road, Waterloo, SE1. Waterloo tube.
Big venue with lots of different
areas – open 24 hours, 365 days of
year. www.pleasuredrome.com
Saunabar Portsea, 2 Portsea
Place, Marble Arch, W2. 020 7402
3385. Marble Arch tube. Small and
friendly gay sauna with masseurs.
www.gaysaunabar.com
Saunabar Covent Garden,
29 Endell Street, Covent Garden,
WC2. 020 7836 2236. Covent
Garden tube. Basement sauna with
pool, sauna and rest rooms. Check
website for discount entry.
www.thesaunabar.co.uk
SWEATBOX SOHO, Ramillies
House, 1-2 Ramillies Street, Soho,
W1. 020 3214 6014. Oxford Circus
tube. Gay-owned and run gym and
basement sauna.
www.sweatboxsoho.com
NORTH LONDON
THE BLACK CAP, 171 Camden
High Street, NW1. 020 7485 0538.
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. Longrunning,
famed gay pub – probably
the most famous cabaret pub in
London. www.theblackcap.com
CENTRAL STATION,
37 Wharfdale Road, N1. Tel: 020
7278 3294. Kings Cross tube. Big,
late-opening gay bar on three
floors, with ground floor cabaret
and infamously cruisy cruise
nights in basement. Upstairs
B&B accommodation. www.
centralstation.co.uk
CLUB KALI, The Dome, 1
Dartmouth Park Hill, Tufnell Park,
N19. World’s biggest lesbian and
gay Southern Asian music night,
running every third Friday of the
month. Always busy and rather
unique. www.clubkali.com
EGG, 200 York Way, King’s Cross,
N7. 020 7609 8364. King’s Cross
tube. Bespoke club space on three
floors, hosting occasional gay club
nights and after-hours sessions

PLAYPIT, 357 Caledonian Road,
N7. Caledonian Road tube. 0333
700 1231. Intimate, King’s Cross
sleaze club – basically a basement
darkroom. Open Thur-Sat 9pm-
3am, Sun 3pm-1am. Take your
own booze.
www.playpitcruise.me.uk
SOUTH LONDON
AREA, 67-68 Albert Embankment,
SE1. Gorgeously-designed, hard
dance club and cabaret rooms, with
eclectic roster of different gay nights
and one-off promotions, including
Friday nighter Onyx and new
Sunday nighter Booster, amongst
others. www.areaclub.info
(mixed afterhours every Saturday
night/Sunday morning). www.
egglondon.net
THE GREEN, 74 Upper Street,
N1. 020-7226 8895. Angel tube.
London’s first ‘gay gay-stropub!’
Stylish, Islington bar, serving full
food menu and wide range of
ALL HEART
Performance artist
Scottee’s latest instalment
of Eat Your Heart
Out – his monthly
cabaret extravaganza at
Stratford Circus – returns
on Saturday 27 May.
Out In The City popped
along to the show last
month and enjoyed a
delightfully mixed bag
of entertainment and
thought-provoking pieces
from Scottee and around half a dozen other performers.
It all takes place in the boutique theatre space at Stratford
Circus, between the hours of 7.30pm and 10.30pm.
“We want you to think of us as Britain’s Got Talent meets
the South Bank Show,” says Scottee. “It’s edgy, cheap and
has a nice theme tune.”
This month, he’ll be joined by Marawa the Amazing, Myra
Dubois (pictured), Spencer Wood and Miss Annabel Sings,
with “collaborators” Sue Hart, Nando Messias and Masumi
Tipsy. Admission will cost £9 or £6 concessions. Advance
tickets: stratford-circus.com or 0844 357 2625. You’ll
find Stratford Circus in Theatre Square, Stratford, E15
– just a couple of minutes from Stratford tube.
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, cosy,
traditional old gay pub, with regular
entertainment, beer garden and
food. One of London’s longestrunning
gay establishments.
www.kw4.co.uk
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,
diverse gay bar with late-night
club promotions, and open ‘til 3am
at weekends. Very popular with
lesbians and male friends.
www.oakbar.com
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. Very popular
club bar, with dancefloor and
mezzanine chill-out space - gets
busy at weekends.
CLUB COLOSSEUM, 1 Nine
Elms Lane, Vauxhall, SW8. Huge,
late-night venue for after-hours
crowd – hosting various monthly
promotions such as Bootylicious
(www.bootylicious-club.co.uk)
and Exilio.
THE EAGLE, 349 Kennington
Lane, SE11. 020 7793 0903. Mon,
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 9pm-late,
Tue 9pm-2am, Sun 9pm-late.
Vauxhall tube. Large, club-bar
with nightly promotions. Tonker
(Fridays) and Horse Meat Disco
(Sundays) are particularly popular.
www.eaglelondon.com
EXILIO, Bar Rez, Club Colosseum,
1 Nine Elms Lane, SW8. Vauxhall
tube. Long-running, Friday night
gay Latin and salsa night. Open
11pm till 4am. www.exilio.co.uk
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. Check website
for full listings.
www.thefortlondon.com
FIRE, South Lambeth Road,
Vauxhall, SW8. Vauxhall tube.
Infamous, late-night gay venue
beneath the Vauxhall railway
arches, host to the likes of Orange,
A:M, Later and Juicy. Open
CANDY BOYS
Following the storming success of the last WE outing (see
out pictures on pages 42-43), the team have announced
that they will be back at the Coronet in Elephant and Castle
over the late May bank holiday weekend.
The next party is entitled WE Candy, and it will take
place on Saturday 28 May between 11pm and 7am. The
team promises the most spectacular live show yet, which,
given the lavish production staged at the beginning of
May, is quite a big promise! Expect a neon playground,
with LED installations, laser shows and amazing lighting
– transforming the Coronet into the most spectacular
of club spaces. Dancers and go-go’s from both Madrid
and London will take to the stage, dressed head-to-toe
in revealing WE couture. DJs for the party include Carlos
Gallardo, Paul Heron, D’Johnny and Gonzalo Rivas, while
the live PA will come from Peyton plus a very special guest.
As a thank you from the WE Party London team, a special
batch of 500 x £10 super advance tickets has been released
to be available online only. If they haven’t already sold out,
get yours now at www.wepartylondon.com – with
admission more on the door.
around the clock at weekends.
www.allthingsorange.com or
www.myspace.com/firelondon or
www.clubtickets.com
THE FRIDGE, Town Hall Parade,
Brixton, SW9. 020 7326 5100.
Brixton tube. Large and legendary
venue - formerly a theatre. Now
home to occasional gay club nights.
www.fridge.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 Tinworth Street,
SE11. Railway arch venue, home
to infamous Hard On night once
a month (www.hardonclub.co.uk),
and now also Megawoof (www.
megawoof.com) and popular urban
night Work on Wednesdays.
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
every third Thursday of the month
- www.smgays.org).
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

MOULIN MAY-NESS!
Promoter Logan bounces back with the next instalment
of his massive SuperMartXé parties. After two successful
outings at Pulse, the night is now well and truly settled
at the SE1 super club. The venue, which only opened a
couple of months ago, boasts a whopping capacity of just
under 5,000 – allowing plenty of room and dancefloor
space for the SuperMartXé masses.
For the late May bank holiday, the SuperMartXé theme
will be ‘Moulin Rouge’. “Enter a world where fantasy is
real. Where you can be anything you want. A place where
you can discover glamour, passion, and London’s biggest
clubbing phenomenon...”, says a spokesperson for the
party, which they’re promising will be full of showstopping
surprises. Musical talent on the night will include
Ab Garcia, Tony English, Kris Di Angelis, Per QX, Jamie
Hammond and guests. Jodie Harsh will host the night,
and there will also be a special live PR – details of which
were still to be announced at the time of going to press.
SuperMartXé parties are always well attended, and this
Bank Holiday party should be a particularly busy affair.
Doors will be open from 10.30pm till 6.30am.
Advance queue-jump tickets, which are sure to be
snapped up, cost £16. Get them from www.clubtickets.
com or the usual Soho outlets (Prowler, Clone Zone, DV8,
etc). More details at www.LoganPresents.com
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 - open
till 1.30am Fri-Sat.
PARIS GYM,
73 Goding Street, Vauxhall, SE11.
020 7735 8989. Vauxhall tube.
Huge, well-equipped men-only
gym with large, devoted following.
Regular classes. Tourists welcome.
Check website for entry details and
membership. www.parisgym.com
PULSE,
1-4 Invicta Plaza (corner of
Blackfriars Road and Southwark
Street), SE1. Southwark tube.
State-of-the-art, 5,000-capacity
megaclub, hosting occasional gay
parties and one-off events. www.
pulse-club.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
(S.L.A.G.S/Chill-Out). Check
www.rvt.org.uk or the facebook
group RV Taverners for information.
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, with occasional cabaret
and DJs at weekends, plus upstairs
theatre space.
286, 286 Lewisham High Street,
SE14. 020-8690 7648. Large, lateopening
gay venue, with regular
entertainment, DJs and cabaret.
Open till 2am Sun-Thur and 4am
MYLO PRESENTS…
Fresh from the success of its second
birthday party, the team have Dalston
Superstore have announced details
of some dates coming up over the next
couple of weeks. Kicking off June in
fine style on Friday 3 will be top dance
producer and musician Mylo, with his
monthly ‘Mylo Presents’ session. Expect
special guests (to be confirmed) and
Grizzle spinning tracks in the upstairs bar. Doors are open 9pm till 3am, with admission
£5. Before that, catch Brainwaves on Friday 27 May, with DJs Chris Flatline, Jonas
Ransom, Jonny Woo, Ma Butcher and John Sizzle spinning the electro, techno, disco and
pop (with admission again £5).
Revive Her Vs Naïve Melody takes place on Saturday 28 May, with guest DJs Kaos and
Tiago downstairs, and Dan Beaumont, Bi Bop and Elliot Mess upstairs. Legendary girls’
night Twat Boutique returns for its next bi-monthly date on Thursday 2 May.
One of east London’s hippest hangouts, the lovely Dalston Superstore (which is open
all day) can be found at 117 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB.
Fri-Sat. www.two8six.co.uk
THE TRAFALGAR ARMS,
148 Tooting High Street, SW17.
020-8767 6059. A spacious,
lively, attitude-free, gay-friendy
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 7819 9539. 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
UNION, 66 Albert Embankment,
SE1. 020-7793 9262. Cruisy
dance club which hosts regular
promotions. Plays areas and hot
go-go’s. www.clubunion.co.uk and
www.ma1.co.uk
XXL, Arcadia, 51-53 Southwark
Street, SE1. www.xxl-london.com.
London Bridge tube. Huge worldfamous
club for bears, big men and
admirers, on Sat and Wed. Pulls in
1,000+ customers each Saturday
with uplifting dance anthems and
occasional guest DJs.
SAUNAS
CHARIOTS STREATHAM
292 Streatham High Road, SW16.
020 8696 0929. Streatham station.
Large sauna, with weekly theme
nights (bears, men of colour, etc).
www.gaysauna.co.uk
CHARIOTS VAUXHALL
63-64 Albert Embankment,
Vauxhall, SE1. 020 7247 5333.
Vauxhall tube. Large, modern
sauna in converted railway arch.
www.gaysauna.co.uk
THE LOCKER ROOM, 8 Cleaver
Street, Kennington, SE11. 020
7735 6064. Kennington tube.
Long-running, intimate gay-owned
and run sauna.
www.the-lockerroom.co.uk
STEAMWORKS, 309 New Cross
Road, New Cross, SE14. 020 8694
0606. New Cross/New Cross Gate
station. Small, long-running
establishment.
www.steamworkslondon.co.uk
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. New
night Hidden InDa Hood each
D.E Experience
LARGE AND LIVE!
As always, June is shaping up to be another busy month
at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Things kick off with the
next May Bank Holiday Bender, which means a double
helping of S.L.A.G.S/Chill-Out. Get along on Sunday
29 May for an extended session running until 3am, which
will feature special guest jock Rob C, alongside residents
Simon Le Vans, Andy Almighty and Sean Sirrs. The D.E
Experience will hit the stage at 5.30pm. Entry will be £8,
or £5 after 9pm. This will be followed on Monday 30 May
by another afternoon and evening session of S.L.A.G.S
and Chill-Out from 2pm till midnight. Again, the D.E
Experience are on stage at 5.30pm and RVT anthems from
Simon Le Vans, Andy Almighty and Sean Sirrs will reign.
Entry: £8 or £5 after 7pm.
This month offers a couple of special runs of shows. On
Wednesdays in June you can catch Scottee’s Burger
Queen – a new, lighthearted contest to find sexy larger
folk and big role models– with a contest open to both
men and women. The contest will run over four weeks
– launching on Wednesday 1 June and culminating in a
grand final on 22 June. The show will commence each
week at 8pm – and besides the competition, weekly
highlights will include Sami Knight on the decks, ‘What’s
Jude from Waitrose eating this week?’. Full details at
www.burger-queen.info
Taking place each Thursday at the venue, from 26 May
through to 30 June, is David Hoyle’s Lives 2 – a
new series of shows from the unique and controversial
performer. This ‘healing ground for the avant garde’ returns
with an all-star cast of supporting artists – check out
our interview with show producer and DJ Dawn Right
Nasty on page 48 for more details. The show will start
each week at 8.30pm, with tickets costing £10. If you’ve
still never caught David Hoyle live before, do yourself a
favour and get yourself down there for what is sure to
be a memorable and thought-provoking performance.
Advance tickets can be picked up from www.ticketweb.
co.uk
Friday nights feature a rotating line up of events, including
soft rock night Speedwagon (3 June), Kimono Krush
(10 June) and indie legend Marvellous (24 June). A
new promotion called Push The Button makes its debut
on 17 June, celebrating pure pop from the last 20 years.
Expect Madonna makeovers from a top make-up artist, a
‘Momentous Britney Moments Medley’ live on stage from
Harry Clayton-Wright and various other tongue-in-cheek
delights.
The week is rounded up with Duckie each Saturday,
Timberlina’s Bingo each Monday, and the fabulous,
gender-bending Bar Wotever each Tuesday.
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane,
Vauxhall, SE11. www.rvt.org.uk
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON/LONDONCLUBLAND.COM

Tuesday (8pm till late - offering
r’n’b, bashment, Soca and funky).
THE BACKSTREET, Wentworth
Mews, off Burdett Road, E3.
020-8980 8557. Over 25 years
old – small but legendary East
End dress code leather club, open
Thur-Sun. Very strict rubber and
leather dresscode, ensuring a
wide and loyal following. www.
thebackstreet.com
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.
www.bistrotheque.com
DALSTON SUPERSTORE, 117
Kingsland High Street, E8. 020
7254 2273. Highbury & Islington
tube. New, two-floor mixed gaystraight
venue - café by day and
fashionable performance space
and club promotions at night.
Open noon-2am every day.
GAY LICK, Club Lick, 58 Hoe
Street, E17. Walthamstow tube.
Twice-monthly gay promotion at
a cruisy club space. Every first and
third Friday from 9pm-4am. Entry
£4 before midnight and £7 after.
www.gaylicke17.co.uk
THE JOINERS ARMS, 116
Hackney Road, E2. Tel: 020 7739
9854. Debauched decadence
– old-skool boozer popular with
post-club crowd at weekends. Gets
busy later in the evenings.
KINGS HEAD, 11 Church
Street, E15. Tel: 020 8534 0197
Stratford BR and tube. Intimate
and welcoming East End gay pub
– regular cabaret. Open till late
throughout the week.
THE OLD SHIP, 17 Barnes
Street, E14. Tel: 020 7790 4082.
Limehouse DLR. Small, local,
traditional gay pub, with regular
cabaret - five minutes’ walk from
BJ’s White Swan (see below).
VOGUE FABRICS, 66 Stoke
Newington Road, N16. New,
underground and arty hangout for
the Dalston set. Mixed crowd but
regular gay events.
BJ’s WHITE SWAN,
556 Commercial Road, E1. Tel: 020
7780 9870. Limehouse DLR. A
large, legendary, long-running gay
pub and club, open throughout
the week. Wednesday’s Amateur
Strip is an institution. www.
bjswhiteswan.com
SAUNAS
CHARIOTS LIMEHOUSE,
574 Commercial Road, E14. 020
7791 2808. Limehouse rail station.
Multi-level, well-established
sauna. Themed parties such as
‘Big and chunky’ each Monday
evening, amongst others. www.
gaysauna.co.uk
CHARIOTS SHOREDITCH,
1 Fairchild Street, Shoreditch, EC2.
020 7247 5333. Liverpool Street
station. Biggest gay sauna in UK,
with a maze of rest rooms. Very
popular (particularly at weekends).
www.gaysauna.co.uk
E15 CLUB, 6 Leytonstone Road,
Stratford, E15. 020 8555 5455.
Stratford tube. Deceptively large
sauna behind a discreet facade.
www.londonnoise.com/e15
WEST LONDON
THE HOPE & ANCHOR, 20
Macbeth Street, Hammersmith,
W6. (020 8748 1873). Gay pub
for Hammersmith and Chiswick.
Traditional boozer with nightly
entertainment – open noon-11pm
throughout week, with popular
karaoke at weekends.
THE RICHMOND ARMS, 20
The Square, off Princes Street,
Richmond. 020-8940 2118. Longrunning,
traditional gay pub, with
regular cabaret and entertainment.
One of gay London’s better locals.
TED’S PLACE, 305a North End
Road, West Brompton, W14. 0207
385 9359. Earls Court or West
Brompton tube. Mon-Fri from 7pmlate,
closed Sat & Sun. Small, West
London cruise club. Dark and sleazy.
www.tedsplaceuk.co.uk
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. Attracts a big local crowd
- particularly at weekends.
www.west5ealing.com
WINDSOR CASTLE, 152 Bath
Road, Hounslow, TW3. 020 8577
6590. Hounslow West tube. Large,
local gay pub with regular cabaret
and entertainment throughout the
week. www.thewinz.co.uk
BURGER QUEEN
Following our news of its announcement last month,
performance artist Scottee’s new venture – Burger
Queen – comes to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern this
month. A beauty contest with a difference, it will run each
Thursday for four weeks – 1, 8, 15 and 22 June. Why with
a difference? Because Scottee is describing it as a “A beauty
pageant for fatso and so’s!”
“Flick through any primetime TV spot and you’ll find a
gluttonous array of programmes designed to point and
laugh at obesity – Britain Biggest Loser, Britain’s Fattest
Man, Supersize VS Superskinny, Gok: Too Fat, Too Young
– the list goes on but do these programmes help solve the
‘obesity time-bomb’ or have fatties become the modern
freak show?”
In an effort to find some positive role models within chub culture, Scottee has devised the
first Burger Queen contest. The competition will be open to all, including chub admirers, as
“fat is a politic and not just a dress size”. Each heat is judged by some special guest judges,
which we’re told will include Paloma Faith, Lisa Stansfield, CockNBullKid, Mel Blatt, Jodie
Harsh, Sue Tilley, La Gateaux Chocolat, Julian Ganio and resident judge Amy Lamé!
The winner will receive £100 cash and £300 of gifts from the shows sponsors, a paid gig at
The Hospital Club during London Fashion Week, and the “golden broken scales award”!
The first heat is 1 June, with the final on 22 June. www.burger-queen.info
PHOTO © SAMI KNIGHT
BRIGHTON
AUDIO, Marine Parade, BN1.
www.audiobrighton.com. Club
venue with outdoor terrace
– making it a summer favourite.
Hosts regular club nights such
as Sunday Sundae (www.
aeonevents.co.uk)
AMSTERDAM BAR, 11-12
Marine Parade, BN2. www.
amsterdam.uk.com. 01273
688825. Long-running
establishment, with an adjoining
hotel and sauna. Great outdoor
terrace for the summer months.
AQUARIUM, 6 Steine Street,
Brighton. 01273 605525. www.
the-aquarium-theatre-bar.
co.uk. Long-running, traditional
style pub popular with gay guys.
Regular entertainment.
BLANCH HOUSE, 17
Atlingworth Street, Brighton,
BN2. 01273 603504. www.
blanchhouse.co.uk. Plush, hip,
mixed hotel cocktail bar that’s
popular with a cross-section of
Brighton residents and visitors.
Open late at weekends.
BRIGHTON TAVERN, 100
Gloucester Road, North Laine,
BN1. 01273 680365. A stylish
but homely venue with wooden
flooring, open fire, real ales and a
friendly welcome.
THE BULLDOG, 31 St. James
Street, Brighton, BN2. 01273
-696996. www.bulldogbrighton.
com. Legendary scene bar
(nearly 30 years old!), attracting
a bloke-ish crowd with drinks
promotions, entertainment and
long hours thanks to a 24-hour
licence in operation at weekends.
CHARLES STREET BAR, 8
Marine Parade, BN2. 01273
624091. www.charles-street.
com. Large, stylish and popular
gay bar overlooking the seafront
– particularly busy with pre-club
crowds at weekends.
DOCTOR BRIGHTONS, 16-17
Kings Road, BN1. 01273 208113.
www.doctorbrightons.co.uk.
Another long-running scene
institution, ideally placed for the
seafront, shopping on The Lanes, or
Brighton’s club life.
THE HONEYCLUB, 214 Kings
Road Arches, BN1. 01273 202807.
www.thehoneyclub.co.uk.
Acclaimed club venue, which hosts
occasional gay nights and parties.
THE KING’S ARMS, 56 George
Street, BN2. 01273 245128.
www.kingsarmsbrighton.co.uk.
Brighton’s bar for bears and blokes,
with promotions throughout the
week and occasional dress-code
parties.
LEGENDS, 31-32 Marine Parade,
BN2. 01273 624462. www.
legendsbrighton.com. A true
scene stalwart, and part of the
New Europe hotel complex. Longrunning
bar that’s still going strong
– open late throughout the week.
MARINE TAVERN, 13 Broad
Street, BN2. 01273 681284. www.
marinetavern.co.uk. Small, cosy,
traditional-style bar.
QUEEN’S ARMS, 7 George
Street, BN2. 01273 696873.
www.queensarmsbrighton.com.
Long-running scene pub with
camp tunes and fun entertainment
throughout the week.
R-BAR, 7 Marine Parade, BN2.
01273 608133. www.revenge.
co.uk. Sister bar to the longrunning
and famous Revenge
nightclub. A hip and stylish
establishment that’s popular with
its own crowd of regulars.
REVENGE, 32-34 Old Steine,
BN1. 01273 606064. www.
revenge.co.uk. Brighton’s famous,
long-running, full-time gay club,
offering two floors of music and
club promotions. Attracting a
wide range of customers from all
sections of the city’s gay scene, and
a hot spot for visitors.
VAVOOM VIDEO BAR, 31 Old
Steine, BN1. 01273 603010.
www.vavoom.co.uk. As its name
suggests, a bight and glitzy video
bar, next door to Club Revenge.
WILD FRUIT, Tru, West Street,
BN1. 01273 327083. The biggest
gay night on the south coast. A
huge, monthly party that’s been
running for years – pulling in
clubbers from far and wide. Check
the website at www.aeonevents.
co.uk for details of upcoming dates
and ticket prices.
THE ZONE, 33 St James’s Street,
Brighton, BN2. 01273 682249.
Friendly, mixed venue with regular
entertainment and laid-back
attitude.

Stonewall supporters take over the seafront
STONEWALL HITS
THE SEASIDE
Heather Peace, Ben Summerskill and Charlie Condou

Islington LGB Forum:
Rachael: 07989 747824. An
initiative between local police,
the council and victim support.
Regard: Regard, BM REGARD,
London WC1N 3XX, secretary@
regard.org.uk/www.regard.org.
uk. Disabled LGBT group.
THE HIGH LIFE
Always offering a fun night
out is the annual Terrence
Higgins Trust Cocktail Club,
which this year will take
place at Altitude 360, on the
29th floor of Millbank Tower,
London SW1P 4QP. The party
takes place on Thursday 2
June from 7-10.30pm. Now in
its tenth year, the 2011 event
is supported by Belvedere
Vodka and The Independent.
Tickets are £50 each, and
include all cocktails and
canapés. To purchase a ticket,
please visit www.tht.org.
uk/cocktailclub.
GROUPS//ORGS
Albert Kennedy Trust: 020
7831 6562 (London). Housing
advice for under 21s.
Antidote: 020 7437 3523.
Counselling, Thursday drop-in,
complementary therapies
around alcohol and drug issues.
BKY - Alternative Jewish
Community: www.bkylondon.
org.uk
Croydon Area Gay Society:
Friendly social group in Croydon.
020 8645 0943 - www.cags.org
ELOP: 020 8509 3898. Support
and community events in
Walthamstow. Youth, advice,
counselling and groups.
Gay and Lesbian Humanist
Association, (GALHA):
National campaigning
organisation, founded 1979.
Monthly meetings in central
London, all welcome. www.
galha.org - secretary@galha.org
- 0844 800 3067
Outrage!: 020 8240 0222.
Political campaiging group.
Jewish Gay and Lesbian
Group: 020 8952 0137.
Kairos: 020 7437 6063, www.
kairosinsoho.org.uk. Soho project
promoting health and wellbeing
among LGBT community.
Lesbian Gay Christian
Movement: 020 7739 1249,
lgcm@lgcm.org.uk/www.lgcm.
org.uk.
Lesbian & Gay Immigration
Group: – 020 7922 7811.
www.uklgig.org.uk - Every
Mon 2-6.30pm, Tue 10am-5pm
and Wed/Thur 10am-1.30pm.
Helpline and meetings.
London Friend: 020 7837
3337. Groups in Islington.
Quaker London Lesbian &
Gay Fellowship: Religious
group – 020 8675 6740.
Metro Centre: 020 8265 3311,
www.metrocentreonline.org.
Greenwich-based LGBT support.
Mosaic: 0800 0433 411. www.
mosaicyouth.org.uk. Youth group
based in Brent.
One-Up: LGBT under-18 youth
group, meets every Monday
4-7pm (based in Hendon - North
West London) - contact Theresa
(PACE) 07504226793 (mobile).
OutZone: London-based social
and support group for gay and
bisexual young men under
25. Every Friday 6.30-9.30pm
- info@outzone.org - www.
outzone.org
PACE: 020 7700 1323.
Counselling and support groups.
Quest LGB Catholics: 0808
808 0234.
Step Out Tower Hamlets:
Social & support group for LGBT
and questioning young people.
5-8pm Tues 079 4633 7160
South London Gays: 020 8672
5268/020 8674 5191.
www.slago.org.uk/slg. Friendly
social group.
Stonewall: 020 7593 1850.
Campaign group for LGBT rights.
HATE CRIME
Gay Police Association:
Action Line 07092 700 000
(24hrs), info@gpa.police.uk.
Galop: 020 7704 2040. www.
galop.org.uk. Advice and support
for victims of hate crime.
HIV//AIDS
Crusaid: 020 7539 3880,
www.crusaid.org.uk.
GMFA: 020 7738 6872. 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.
Gay running group.
Goslings Swimming: 07814
258 055. Gay social swimming
group, Thur 8.30pm-9.30pm.
www.goslingssportsclub.com
Mark Ravenhill and Bette Bourne
BETTE BOURNE – THE MOVIE
Ever wanted to see your name on the end credits of a film? Sadly, we’re not in the position to
offer you Hollywood stardom. However, if you are able to contribute some finances to a new
film projectthen the makers of a new film would like to hear from you.
Some of you may remember that legendary drag performer and actor Bette Bourne
bought her life to the stage recently in a widely-acclaimed production (A Life in Three Acts)
at the Edinburgh festival and Soho Theatre. The show, which consisted of a conversation
between Bette and playwright Mark Ravenhill about the former’s life, is now being turned
into a documentary, which will cover Bette’s career, the Gay Liberation Front, and the
founding of radical drag theatre group Bloolips. The producers have invested enough money
for pre-production, and raised further funds through sponsorship to shoot the film, but are
now turning to the gay community to secure enough funding for all post-production work
on the movie. They are hoping to raise £30,000 by 1 July through the fundraising site www.
indiegogo.com. Contributing any amount entitles you to various perks: including your
name on the end credits should you be able to donate £30 or more. Contribute £150 and
you can even meet with Bette afternoon tea! You can find more details and how to donate at
www.indiegogo.com/Bette-Bourne-the-Movie
Grace’s Cricket Club: The
world’s only gay cricket club!
www.gaycricket.org.uk or 020
8376 0630.
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
The London Royals 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.
London Raiders: Gay and
lesbian softball club – both
beginners and experienced
players welcome. www.
londonraiders.com
Stonewall Football Club:
07090 422 390. Sunday soccer.
HELPLINES
Broken Rainbow: LGBT
Domestic Violence Helpline.
0300 999 5428 (Mon and Thurs,
2-8pm/Weds, 10am-1pm).
www.broken-rainbow.org.uk.
Dazz-elle: 020 8257 3068.
London drug/alcohol support.
London Lesbian & Gay
Switchboard: 020 7837 7324
London Friend: 020 7837
3337. Counselling service.
PACE: 0808 1807 223. Helpline
open Monday 9.30am-12.30pm
and Thursday 6.30-8.30pm,
offering structured telephone
counselling or 30-minute
counseling sessions. Or email
pacehelpline@pacehealth.org.uk
POSITIVELINE: 0800-1696806.
HIV info and counselling
(weekdays: 11am-10pm and
weekends: 4pm -10pm). www.
eddiesurmantrust.org.uk
Stonewall Housing Advice:
020 7359 5767.
Stonewall infoline:
Information on all LGB rights
WANT TO GET LISTED?
Please send listings to
editorial@outmag.co.uk
HERE PUSSY, PUSSY…
Are you a cat lover? Could you offer
a home to an unwanted kitten? If so
then the Battersea Dogs & Cats
Home wants to hear from you.
It has recently sent out an appeal
for more volunteers to help it cope
with the ‘double whammy’ of kitten
season and the upcoming summer
holidays. The much loved animal
charity relies on the help of local
volunteers to provide temporary
foster homes to cats and kittens
but currently has a real shortage of
suitable foster homes.
“During kitten season, we can
sometimes see hundreds of kittens
and pregnant mothers coming into
our three sites,” says Battersea’s Head
of Cats, Kirsty Walker. “Some kittens
are too young to be re-homed
straight away, so we are looking for
experienced and kind foster homes
to care for them until they are
around nine weeks of age and ready
to find permanent loving homes.”
During the summer months many
of Battersea’s existing cat fosterers
take well-deserved holidays. This
leaves the Home with a shortage of
volunteers at the London, Windsor
and Brands Hatch sites, right in the
middle of the kitten season, which
runs from April to October.
Even if you can’t help by offering
a foster home to a kitten, you can
help by making a donation. Kitten
season is an expensive time for
Battersea, which receives no
government funding and relies
solely on donations to carry out its
vital work.
Please phone 020 7627 7883
quoting ‘Cat Fostering appeal’ or
check the cat fostering section
at www.battersea.org.uk to
make on online donation or find
out more details.

NEWS FLASHES
UK NEWS
STUDENT FUNDRAISER
CYCLES THE TUBE
Medical student Adam Fairris
(pictured), has set himself
the gruelling challenge of
cycling the entire London tube
network – approximately 300
miles around the capital! The
challenge will take place over
five days (30 May-3 June), and
all money raised via www.
justgiving.com/adam-fairris1 will go towards helping HIV
and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT).
OUTLET SUPPORTS NAT
Well-known property and rental
agent Outlet has teamed up
with the National AIDS Trust in
a novel support partnership.
Outlet will make a donation
to NAT for every property sold
or let through them by a NAT
supporter, whilst also offering
special discounts.
If you are looking to rent your
property, NAT supporters will
receive a full 1% off Outlet’s
normal letting fee and Outlet will also donate 1% to NAT. If
you sell your property through Outlet, their sales rate will be
reduced from 2% to 1.5% and Outlet will also donate 0.25%
directly to NAT. Outlet hopes to raise over £5,000 this year for
NAT through this new scheme alone.
Josh Rafter, Managing Director of Outlet (pictured above with
NAT’s Deborah Jack), said, “I am so pleased Outlet is able to give
something back to the communities in which we work. From
day one, our ethos has been to match people and properties,
without prejudice.”
DRUGS MASSIVELY CUT SPREAD OF HIV
Groundbreaking research, which studied couples where
one partner was HIV positive and one was HIV negative, has
concluded that if the positive partner takes anti-retroviral
drugs soon after diagnosis – rather than once their health
declines – it can cut the risk of spreading the virus by up to
96%. The study, which was carried out by the United States
National Institutes of Health studied 1,763 couples in 13 sites
across Africa, Asia and the Americas. HIV-positive patients were
split into two groups. In one, individuals were immediately
given a course of anti-retroviral drugs, while the other group
only received the treatment when their white blood-cell count
fell below a certain level. Both groups were given free condoms
and advice on safer sex practices. Among those immediately
starting anti-retroviral therapy there was only one case of
transmission between partners, while in the other group there
were 27 HIV transmissions. The World Health Organisation
described the study as a “crucial development”.
GAY FARMER CRISIS
A chaplain in Cheshire says that he has been overwhelmed
by the response that he has received after setting up a phone
helpline to support gay farmers. Keith Ineson, who is gay
himself, set up the service for Churches Together after being
approached by farmers who felt unable to reveal their sexuality
to family and friends. He says the majority of callers are over 50,
and who had bowed to “pressure to get married and produce an
heir [and] now feel trapped”.
EQUAL LOVE CELEBRATED AT
ROYAL VAUXHALL TAVERN
Wedding ‘guests’
Taking place on the day of the wedding of Prince
William and Kate Middleton (29 April), A Right
Royal Affair was a one-off event held at the
Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Many of those attending
dressed up as their favourite royal (including someone
dressed as a corgi!), while performances came from a
whole host of entertainers. Besides being a celebration
of the royal nuptials, there was a serious side to the
fun and frivolity. The Tavern’s management used the
event to raise awareness and funds for the EQUAL =
LOVE campaign, which is campaigning for LGB people
to get married and for heterosexual couples to have
civil partnerships. A grand total of £1,026 was raised
on the day. For more details about the EQUAL = LOVE
campaign, check http://equallove.org.uk
ANNUAL STUDENT PRIDE
GETS THE X FACTOR
Joe McElderry and Pride volunterers
The Q&A debate
Pride volunteers see pink!
Former X Factor winner Joe McElderry was
amongst those who performed at May’s Student
Pride event in Brighton. The annual event proved a big
success over the late-May Bank Holiday, attracting around
Flying the flag at the RVT
Peter Tatchell
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas
Dragster Billie Lewis entertains the crowds
PHOTOS © MIKE KEAR
1,000 LGBT students from universities across the country.
Events include a Question Time-style panel at Oceana
nightclub, live performances and speeches, and associated
parties in the evening.
PHOTOS © SAM MILFORD/WWW.REALBRIGHTON.COM

SOHO BOMBING
REMEMBERED
17-24-20 supporters gather in St Anne’s Gardens
...AND FINALLY
NEWS FLASHES
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
BRAZIL
Despite Brazil being the
most populous Roman
Catholic nation in the
world, the country’s
Supreme Court has voted
overwhelmingly in favour of
allowing same-sex couples
the same legal rights as
married heterosexuals. The
ruling brings the country
into line with fellow
South American nations
Argentina and Uruguay,
which have adopted similar
laws recognising same-sex
unions. Although the ruling
stops short of recognizing
gay marriage, the decision
to allow civil unions was
widely welcomed by
Brazilian gay groups.
SOUTH AFRICA
A woman found murdered
in South Africa is believed
to have been the victim of a
hate-crime because of her
sexuality. Noxolo Nogwaza,
24, was a prominent local
gay rights activist. She
was found dead in an alley
in Kwa-Thema township,
South Africa, on Easter
Sunday morning. It’s
believed she had been raped
prior to her death.
GEORGE MICHAEL SAYS HE FEELS HE’S ‘LET DOWN’ GAY KIDS
Singer George Michael has revealed tantalizing details about his next album of new
material. At a press conference in early May at London’s Royal Opera House, which he
used to announce details of his upcoming Symphonica tour of Europe’s biggest arenas
and opera houses, the 47-year-old also said that his next album would be a danceinfluenced
piece of work, made in collaboration with gay or gay-friendly producers and
artists. He said that the work was being made specifically with the plight of younger gay
kids in mind.
“I have a really serious problem with the fact that when I brought myself down, I felt I
was letting young gay kids down. My behaviour meant these kids suffered abuse and
the homophobic language that is legal in this country... My next album will seek to correct the damage I inadvertently caused
by making myself so newsworthy.”
The Symphonica tour will kick off in the autumn, and he hopes to complete work on the album in early 2012.
BEN COHEN RETIRES TO FIGHT HOMOPHOBIA
Rugby player Ben Cohen has indicated that he is planning to retire in order to devote his
time to campaigning against bullying and homophobia through the work carried out by his
own foundation. A report in The Independent newspaper says that the 32-year-old has been
released by Sale Sharks despite being their player of the season. Although he thinks he could
still play competitive rugby for another couple of years, and has received interest from other
clubs, he instead plans to focus on heading up the Ben Cohen Stand Up Foundation.
“I have reached the top in my sport. It has been an incredible journey and has put me in the
privileged position I am in today to be able to work on these exciting new projects through
the Stand Up brand. As athletes, it is not enough just to have strong bodies, we must have
strong characters and use our voices to support those who need and deserve it.”
OUTSPOKEN:
ALASTAIR TALLON,
EDUCATION DIRECTOR
AT STONEWALL, SAYS
THAT HOMOPHOBIA IN
SCHOOLS REMAINS A
HUGE PROBLEM…
It’s shocking that in
2011 homophobic
bullying in schools is still almost endemic, and
with new technology it’s becoming increasingly
damaging. Recent YouGov polling for Stonewall found
that two in five primary school teachers say that children
in their schools currently experience homophobic bullying
or name calling. Three quarters of primary school teachers
report hearing phrases such as ‘you’re so gay’ and ‘that’s so
gay’. That’s a huge cause for concern.
If these children have such a poor experience in their early
years, how will they grow up eventually to be happy,
confident young adults at ease with themselves and their
lives? And if schools don’t tackle the issue, then what
message are they sending out to the bullies?
The long-term impact of this bullying can blight a child’s
chances for the
rest of their life.
Some young
people disengage
completely and drop
out of school. One
of the young people
who Stonewall
works with, 15-
year- old William,
says: ‘I wasn’t happy
to go to school
because I knew
that homophobic
bullying would
happen’.
IF SCHOOLS
DON’T TACKLE
THE ISSUE, WHAT
MESSAGE ARE
THEY SENDING
OUT TO THE
BULLIES?
In an ever-changing society, the concept of family
is also changing. There are now more young people
than ever from families with two mums or two dads, or
who have out gay family members. In Stonewall’s recent
report about ‘Different Families’, what shone out was the
response of young people with same-sex parents who’d
been subjected to homophobia. Eight-year old Holly, for
example, said: ‘I wouldn’t have changed it. I just wish other
people would have been more accepting’.
In 2011, these young people need to know that their
home lives are reflected in the ways schools talk about
families, that schools welcome diversity and that it’s part
of the school’s general ethos and approach to the wider
community they serve.
Stonewall’s Education for All campaign is working to
address these issues. We’ve now created a range of
high-quality resources for secondary schools and at our
Education For All conference on 1 July we’ll be launching
some fantastic new resources for primary school teachers.
If schools can create a welcoming, safe environment,
not only will their students growing up to be gay feel
supported and thrive, but all the other pupils will too.
Finally, one way that you can help transform those young
people’s lives is by contacting your old school and asking
what they’re now doing to tackle homophobic bullying.
Just guide them to www.stonewall.org.uk/education
if they need help.

HELP IS AT HAND
Oliver
Davidge-Stringer

THE GIFT OF LIFE

TAKING THE KIDS TO PRIDE?
Barrie
Drewitt-Barlow
DO THE UK’S VARIOUS
PRIDE FESTIVALS
ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE
SAME-SEX PARENTS
TO ATTEND?

THE SURROGACY
PROGRAMME FOR YOU
The Surrogacy Experience (TSE) brings a group of diverse
professionals together to provide high-quality and
comprehensive legal, medical and financial support for
intended parents, gestational surrogates, and egg donors,
serving as their personal guide from pre-conception through
post-delivery. For more details, visit the website at:
www.thesurrogacyexperience.com

BANK IT
If you are between 18 and 45 years old and this has made you
consider donation, you can find out more details by keeping
an eye out for Birmingham Sperm Bank representatives
at Birmingham Pride, or contact them via the website
at www.birminghamspermbank.co.uk or email info@
birminghamspermbank.co.uk (Tel: 0121 627 2739)
If you are interested in starting a family, see the website:
www.bhamivf.com or call the Birmingham Women’s Fertility
Centre on 0121 627 2700

MEN ON TOP
Jacob Nieuwkoop (left) and Julian Victoria

01
02
03
04
05
WE WANT
01 BREEZE DESK FAN
With summer upon us, and
London being notoriously illequipped
with air conditioning,
now is the time to invest in
some cool designs to… er, keep
you cool. For something classic,
head straight for Habitat for this
affordably but timeless Breeze
Desk Fan – available in black or
silver.
RRP £45
www.habitat.co.uk
02 OUTBACK METEOR
BARBECUE
Why lug a tatty disposable
barbecue to your local park, and
choke strangers in smoke and
cinders? Better to invite friends
round for a proper barbie at home.
This model is packed with features
to ensure your meat is grilled to
perfection.
RRP £399
www.dobbies.com
www.worldfurniture.co.uk
03 SNACK BALL
It looks like a toy, and that’s
partially what it is... but the
primary purpose of the snack ball
is as a container for snacks, so that
you can eat on the run or nibble if
you feel peckish at your desk. The
two halves unscrew, so cleaning
is super easy; it’s also great for a
game of catch if you want to burn
calories after all that scoffing.
RRP £6.99
www.boonuk.co.uk
WORDS BY JOHN O’ CEALLAIGH

06 07
08
04 MAGNETIC KNIFE BLOCK
Jamie Oliver continues his
domination of all things culinary
with the growth of his Jamie
At Home line. One of its latest
innovations is a magnetic knife
with a slender oak block encasing
a series of magnets. Without
conventional slots to catch food
and dirt, it’s a more hygienic way
to store kitchenware.
RRP £41
www.jamieathome.com
05 BOW HAMMOCK
Given the early taste of a British
summer, now might be a good
time to invest in a hammock.
This stylish model is made from
hardwearing larch to withstand
the weight of generouslyproportioned
snoozers and to
wear well in the elements.
RRP £139
www.livingitup.co.uk
06 FLUX CHAIR
The Flux Chair is made from
polypropylene and transformed in
just two folds from a flat envelope
to the seat you see here. It can be
dismantled again just as easily, so
is a great investment if space is at
a premium. It holds up to 160kg
and is available in eight different
colours.
RRP £109
www.allupandon.co.uk
07 MOOOI HORSE LAMP
Perhaps it is only the Queen who
has real horses in her London
abode... but if you’ve plenty
of space you might be able to
accommodate this extravagant
lamp. The size of a thoroughbred,
it’s likely to be the focal point of
any room. It’s made of polyester,
though, so just make sure you
don’t try to ride it.
RRP £3,165
www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk
08 BRITISH ICONS BOOKENDS
Here’s a sunny day dilemma: do
you spend the day exploring the
best London has to offer or curl
up with a good book? We’d like
to think it was this quandary
that motivated Susan Bradley to
fuse the two by designing these
distinctive bookends. A perfect
present for any book-loving
Londoner, we reckon.
RRP £18
www.lifestylebazaar.com

Caveman Suite
KITSCH PALACE
The Madonna Inn
Dining Room
The Traveler’s Suite
WORDS BY JOHN O’ CEALLAIGH

CRUISING
COOL CATS AT MOTOREXPO
RENAULT RELEASES WIND
TAUT AND SPORTY
TRIM LEVELS
WOULD WE WANT ONE?
On the road price: from £16,105
For information visit: www.renault.co.uk
The Jaguar E-Type, one of the most iconic and
desirable sports cars ever made, will celebrate its 50th
birthday this summer when more than 50 examples
take part in a cavalcade to Motorexpo, Britain’s
biggest free-to-visit motor show.
The E-Type cavalcade on 6 June starts in central
London and finishing alongside the Motorexpo area in
London’s Canary Wharf. The 10-mile route will take in
some of London’s most famous landmarks including
The Mall, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of
London. There are no tickets and no queues, with easy
access to the event by bus, London Underground or
Docklands Light Railway. Alternatively, there is ample
space for cars within Canary Wharf’s four underground
public car parks.
Motorexpo is open daily from 10am to 6pm (Monday 6
to Saturday 11 June) and 11am to 5pm on Sunday 12
June. Details and information on the show are available
at http://www.motorexpo.com.
Price: Free entry
Visit: www.motorexpo.com
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE A SNIP AT £30K
Land Rover has announced pricing for the youngest
of its models, the Range Rover Evoque. Available in
three design themes (Pure, Prestige and Dynamic),
the baby Rangie will be offered in both two- and
four-wheel drive variants, with the former priced from
£27,955 and the latter at £28,705.
Due for delivery from September of this year, the
models feature a wide variety of options: three different
engines, both a five-door and three-door coupé
body and different design themes are sure to result in
customers specifying relatively individual vehicles. The
top-of-the-range Evoque, fitted with the ‘endless list of
options’ and the six-speed automatic gearbox, will cost
about £45,000.
Powerplants include an updated version of the marque’s
2.2-litre diesel, in 148- or 187bhp guises, as well as
a new 237bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine dishing out
0-62mph in 7.1s. Unite the lower powered diesel to the
two-wheel drive Coupé and you have an Evoque that
emits just 130g/km.
Price: From £27,995
Visit: www.landrover.com/evoque
WORDS BY ADRIAN FOSTER/DRIVELINES

El Escorial

ghghghghgh
Plaza Major
Puerta De Alcala
Prada Museum

TRAVEL NEWS
LINKS
www.esmadrid.com
www.tourspain.es
www.orgullogay.org
www.madridgaypride.com
Madrid Gay Pride
Tel Aviv
SIMPLY THE BEACH
Last year we were fortunate enough to join a press
trip to Israel to enjoy Tel Aviv Pride… so we are in a
knowlegeable position to state that it’s easily one of the
best Pride festivals on the planet! It’s guaranteed good
weather, and sure to attract some of the sexiest men in
the world – all of whom appear to know how to party!
Somewhat uniquely for Pride festivals, it’s probably the
one of the few that ends up marching to a beach – the
perfect excuse for many of those attending to walk in
their swimwear! The event has been running since 1998,
and it now attracts over 100,000 participants. This year,
the annual Pride Parade is scheduled to take place on
Saturday 10 June, so it’s not too late to book yourself
some last-minute flights and accommodation. For full
details about the event, and the gay scene in Tel Aviv, go
to www.gaytlvguide.com
WHEN IN ROME…
Pride season is approaching,
and one of the biggest
celebrations in Europe is
Europride. Last year’s event
took place in Warsaw, Poland,
but this year the celebrations move to Rome in Italy
– right on the Pope’s doorstep! The Pride celebrations
officially run from 1-12 June, with an official Europride
meeting place located in the gardens of Piazza Vittorio,
in the Esquilino district of the city. The main parade
is scheduled to take place on Saturday 11 June. There
is a host of associated parties and special events,
including an official post-Pride spectacular, presided
over by special guest jock David Morales – check www.
europrideroma.com for details. Fans of big and hairy
Mediterranean types may also want to know that in the
run up to Europride is Rome Bears Week (1-9 June),
which will feature guest appearance from London’s clubs
own Come To Daddy. You can catch it at the Eagle Club
(Via placido Zurla, 68 Rome) on Wednesday 8 June.
www.romebearweek.com
ELTON SETS UP CAMP
IN VEGAS
If you’re already a fan of
Las Vegas then you will
need little persuading
to return. There’s always
something new to see or do – even for the most
frequent of travellers. However, should you need that
extra little reason then take note that Elton John has
just confirmed a new residency at Caesar’s Palace. Elton
will be returning to the Colosseum with his all-new “The
Million Dollar Piano” show, beginning on 28 September
2011 for 16 shows. It will mark the beginning of a threeyear
residency for Elton at the Colosseum; his second as a
headliner at Caesar’s Palace.
For more details, check www.caesarspalace.com

YUMBO ACTION
EATING OUT
POSTCARD FROM
GRAN CANARIA
Drag fun at Amigos

YUMBO ACTION
EATING OUT
POSTCARD FROM
GRAN CANARIA
Drag fun at Amigos

23 AUG-22 SEP
VIRGO
Virgo, instead of lamenting
what you don’t possess, why
don’t you take five seconds
out of your day to be thankful
for what you do have? You’re
missing out on so many of the
good things –and people – in
your life. You’ll get what you
need eventually, but in the
meantime, count your blessings.
22 DEC-19 JAN
CAPRICORN
23 SEP-22 OCT
LIBRA
Be impulsive this month, Libra.
I know it’s going completely
against your nature but you need
more spontaneity in your life.
All this analysing things can sap
the joy from any situation. Allow
yourself to go with your first gut
feeling. Throw yourself into a
situation and then let fate decide
the outcome.
Try to cut down on some of
the more ‘luxurious’ items in
your life, Capricorn. It’s easy to
‘treat’ yourself “because you’re worth it”, but a treat’s not a treat if it
becomes a daily occurrence, is it? Address this issue now before you
wake up one day and realise you’ve become the size of a couch. Eat
healthier and try doing a bit more exercise.
GEMINI
Prince William
02.06.81
Many happy returns to Prince William – pictured here on his recent
wedding day to Catherine Middleton. Those born under the sign of
Gemini typically like variety in life, and heir to the throne William
– now the Duke of Cambridge – has certainly enjoyed many varied
experiences. Geminis also like to have different projects on the go, and
to talk – which should help with all those meet’n’greet engagements!
Prince William turns 29 on 2 June.
23 OCT-21 NOV
SCORPIO
Don’t let conflicting points of
views within your group of
friends turn ugly. There’s the
possibility of a rift forming
amongst those close to you
because of a silly disagreement
over almost nothing. Using
all your reserves of tact and
patience, step in and show them
how precious they’re all being.
20 JAN-18 FEB
AQUARIUS
22 NOV-21 DEC
SAGITTARIUS
It’s never wrong to believe in
the power of love – and don’t
let anyone change your mind!
Cynics may get a kick out of
trying to make you feel stupid for
the fact you have a heart and are
not afraid to show your feelings.
You need to demonstrate your
inner strength and not be
swayed by their carping.
You may have been feeling
detached from people and
lost in your own thoughts, but
others are reading it as disinterest on your part. There’s been a real
sense of the aloof about you... get a grip of yourself before it gets out
of hand. Don’t forget to remind friends how grateful you are to have
them – even if you’ve appeared a little quieter than usual.
19 FEB-20 MAR
PISCES
Don’t get too hung up on your
looks, Pisces. You may be pretty
but nobody likes someone
who’s head over heels in love
with themselves. You’re not
everyone’s cup of tea, dear.
Instead of always trading on
your looks, try being nicer to
people – demonstrate that you
have a soul too.
21 MAR-19 APR
ARIES
21 MAY-21 JUN
GEMINI
22 JUN-22 JUL
CANCER
23 JUL-22 AUG
LEO
Aries, this month you will require
a little faith and trust. You’re
allowing your suspicious nature
to run away with itself, and it’s
having an impact on someone
close to you. Take a step back;
take matters at face value, and
don’t waste your time and
energy trying to pick apart a
perfectly good relationship.
20 APR-20 MAY
TAURUS
Travel broadens the mind and
it’s time to think about taking
a long holiday. You’ve allowed
your outlook to become
somewhat narrow-minded.
You’re not going to appreciate
the bigger picture if you keep
going through the same
practices. Take a trip or change
your mental methodology.
Gemini, get off the fence! You’ve
been avoiding involvement
for too long. Now is the time
to pick a side and stand up
for what you feel is right. Put
your inner fire and strength to
good use. Try to make a positive
change for you and others
around you. You’ll hit barriers,
but be tenacious!
A vague dissatisfaction with
your sex life has been gnawing
away at you. It’s not all your
partner’s fault, but is more to
do with the fact that you find
it so difficult to talk about sex.
Yes, sex – it’s not a dirty word!
Practice opening up those
channels of communication
– it will pay dividends.
You don’t need to sell your soul
to get on in work, Leo, but a
little more ‘give’ will help your
chances of promotion. It’s OK to
be strong, but if you’re too stuck
in your ways then they may be
tempted to seek out someone
more flexible. Be more open to
suggestions – even if think your
way is the best way.

TAKE THE TEST
WITH THANKS TO THE NATIONAL AIDS TRUST FOR HELP WITH OUR QUESTIONS. WWW.NAT.ORG.UK
LINKS
If you want to find out more information about HIV and
AIDS, check the following:
www.nat.org.uk - National AIDS Trust
www.tht.org.uk - Terrence Higgins Trust
www.gmfa.org.uk - Gay Men’s Health Charity GMFA
You can also call THT Direct on 0808 802 1221

MY BODY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WWW.THEIRISHWOLF.COM