Sadly, I'm unable to reveal precisely how much an average lager costs. I sidled to the bar and placed my order fully expecting to be fleeced out of the standard £6.20 and your kidney pint charge that most London pubs adopt.Īs you can imagine, I was quite shocked when I found that the cost of my pint was below £5. I was struck by how warm and safe the atmosphere was, with everyone in the pub packed tightly together and expressing themselves freely as if they were old friends. There was a large stage at the back of the bar where a drag queen was ruling over the crowd with an iron fist.īeing straight myself, this was my first experience of an LGBTQ+ night and if the karaoke was anything to go by it would be some experience. When we arrived at the Admiral Duncan the bar was packed to the rafters with regulars, out of towners and strays like us who'd come in to see what all the fuss was about. Claims from far- right groups have listed the Jewish, Chinese and Irish communities as potential targets in addition to Asian and black people.Cheap pints ain't that fine (Image: MyLondon) The nature and timing of the attack now suggests that any minority community in Britain - but particularly in London - might be next. This outrage has destroyed that cosy assumption." Peter Tatchell, spokesman for the gay rights group OutRage!, said: "A lot of gay people saw the Old Compton Street area as a safe haven.They felt able to relax and hold hands without fear of attack. There are plenty of fun things to see in the area, including a 1920s Art Deco bar and an old. Today, the neighbourhood is best known for its LGBTQ scene, innovative bars and first-class restaurants. I know that the police are devoting huge efforts to find the perpetrators." He added: "We are dealing with people who have warped minds, right-wing extremists who are obviously racist and homophobic." Gentrification and rising rents mean that the former red-light district of Soho isn’t as sleazy as it used to be.
Mr Straw said: "This is a terrible outrage committed by people with no humanity. Angela Mason, director of the gay pressure group Stonewall, called on the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, to bring in emergency powers to curb far-right extremists. Ku Bar Soho, 25 Frith Street, London, WC1D 5LB Gay London. The bombing was greeted with anger by the gay community, which had been bracing itself for such an attack. Queer and LGBTQ+ venues and events in Central London, Soho and the City, including the West. Eyewitnesses spoke of an enormous explosion and dozens of people being hit by flying glass.
Host to a range of event nights the Admiral Duncan caters for everyone and anyone. The vibrant bar staff match the eclectic range of customers so we have something to every-bodies taste. Amid chaotic scenes the injured were treated by the roadside as others fled the area. LGBTQ+ Pub situated on Old Compton Street in the heart of Gay Soho. The Old Compton Street area was packed with people when the device exploded at the start of a bank holiday weekend. Watch the video to see how it looks in 2021. The Admiral Duncan, where the bomb exploded having been placed next to the bar on the ground floor, was among those visited by officers.ĭeputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry, head of the force's anti-terrorist branch, said that when officers arrived at the scene they were confronted by a scene of horror. May 2021 update: The text and photos below come from my 2012 visit and much is out of date. "They may be aimed at vulnerable individuals and communities, but these are hate attacks that affect all of us." The Commissioner said that in recent days, anticipating a possible explosion in the strongly gay area of Soho, crime prevention officers had visited a number of pubs and bars to offer advice on security. "These are cowardly hate attacks," he said. Confirming that police were linking last night's explosion to the incidents in Brixton and Brick Lane, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner said they were incidents that affected the whole community.