Last look inside empty G-A-Y Bar after nobody buys it

Stepping into the former G-A-Y Bar, one of the last remaining signs the iconic club was ever here is the glitter covering the walls head-to-toe.

The building, which has been closed since October, has only a few flickering lights revealing the bare purple walls and polished sparkly floors.

An electrician has been called in to power up part of the building for Metro’s exclusive look around – and it is world’s away from it once was.

The place has been stripped to its bare bones. Most of the furniture is gone and there is a silence where the cheesy chart music once was.

Even the bars don’t look like bars anymore. Without the bottles of spirits attached to easy-pourers and signs advertising the latest deal on shots, it looks like a well-glittered shop check-out .

But the memories run deep. A few stickers with G-A-Y lettering and sexual innuendos can still be found hidden away in corners, and there’s no hiding from the row of pride flags flying above the front door.

Despite the venue’s rich history and ideal location on Old Compton Street, no other operator has snapped up a lease. And we take a look to see why.

What’s left inside the former G-A-Y Bar site?

The building is four-storeys tall, and houses more than just a few bars and a dance floor.

Without streams of people battling for space, you can appreciate just how large the building is, and downstairs in the basement it was easy to get lost in the maze of corridors between the toilets, coat room and downstairs bar.

On our way up the stairs, we surprisingly found a large and fully functional kitchen kitted out on the third floor by the office space.

Hannah Barter, from Kenningham Retail, told Metro: ‘This does mean we are looking at restaurant options to fill the space, because who knew this was actually here!’

Upstairs on the top floor sits a residential flat, complete with a mini-sauna at the back.

Who will take over the former G-A-Y Bar site?

It has been nearly one year since G-A-Y bar owner Jeremy Joseph first put it up for sale, closing the venue in October.

But Jeremy revealed to Metro he received several offers when he first put the venue up as part of a discreet sale – but none of them were for LGBT+ venues.

He said: ‘I am now regretting turning them down, because in the end I just had to exit the lease.

‘But I wanted to keep it as LGBT+ for the sake of Old Compton Street, but I doubt any new operators will keep that pride focus as all of hospitality is suffering at the moment.’

And landlords Soho Estates are ramping up their energy to fill the space. From mid-January, their empty-rates relief expires meaning they will become liable for full business rates at about £152,375 per year.

Gemma Watts, from Soho Estates, told Metro: ‘Our priority will always be getting an LGBT+ space in, but finding a long-term lease holder that will serve the community is hard.’

Events companies which will hold shorter leases have also been explored.

Hannah Barter, Associate Partner, Kenningham Retail, said: ‘We really are keeping an open mind to fill the space. Anything from pop-ups, to fashion shows – this place could be reimagined.’

Why is it taking so long to find a new operator?

Old Compton Street has one of the highest footfalls of all of London’s leisure streets, and remains a firm part of the capital’s nightlife and LGBT+ scene.

But the hospitality industry has faced growing challenges since Covid-19 lockdowns. Rising costs, staffing shortages and Nimby complaints controlling their licences has stifled the incentive for bars to establish themselves.

Instead customer demand is shifting towards experience-led venues, such as the many types of golf-swinging, dart-flinging, axe-throwing bars all over London.

Opinions on Old Compton Street are also beginning to swing. Doubts are being raised it is not the LGBT+ safe haven it was once promised.

‘It’s not surprised me they haven’t found an LGBT+ venue to take my place,’ Jeremy said. ‘I made up my mind to leave Soho after I saw around only 40% of businesses on Old Compton Street were openly supporting pride.

‘I just thought, “what’s the point?”‘

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