News : G-A-Y Bar has been put up for sale, owner says “it doesn’t feel like anyone with power cares about LGBT venues”

Jeremy Joseph, the owner of LGBTQIA+ venues like G-A-Y and Heaven, has announced London’s the G-A-Y Bar has been put up for sale.

The bar came under financial risk after Heaven nightclub, which is also owned by Jeremy, was forced to close temporarily after a bouncer allegedly raped a customer.

Although Heaven has reopened recently under strict conditions, Jeremy said the area’s strict licensing makes keeping the G-A-Y Bar open too difficult.

Sharing a lengthy statement on Instagram, he said it hasn’t been an “easy decision” and “it’s a constant uphill battle”.

“I have made the tough decision to put G-A-Y Bar on the market for sale,” he wrote. “This isn’t an easy decision, to me this is more than just a bar, it’s also my home, I’ve lived above it for over 15 years, but it’s now time to make some changes.”

He continued: “I was clear to Westminster CC’s Licensing committee that if they closed Heaven even for a short time it would potentially put G-A-Y Bar at risk financially and I was clear and transparent with everyone as to the financial and mental damage which the fight to reopen Heaven had on me. Even now after Heaven’s reopening, the damage financially and mentally has been irreparable.”

He went on to say there is no point trying to keep the venue open because Soho has “lost its vibrancy”.

Jospeh added: “I did consider extending G-A-Y Bar’s license to 3am after we lost G-A-Y Late but what’s the point when I know Soho Society will object, police licensing will object, EHO will object.

“It’s a constant up hill battle and another fight in the face of a cost of living crisis which has negatively impacted nearly all of the hospitality sector. It doesn’t feel like anyone with power cares about hospitality and it definitely doesn’t feel like they care about LGBT venues, Old Compton Street has lost its queer identity.”

G-A-Y Late closed in November 2023 due partly to continuous building works, according to Joseph, which made running it “too disheartening to continue”.

Joseph’s other venue, London nightclub Heaven had its alcohol licence suspended for 28 days by Westminster Police last November on the grounds of public safety.

The move came after a woman was allegedly raped “in the vicinity of the venue” by a member of Heaven’s security staff on November 1. A member of security staff has since been arrested and charged with rape, and is currently on remand in prison.

Following a hearing regarding the license suspension in December, Westminster Licensing Sub-Committee gave Heaven permission to re-open following several new conditions being implemented, including last entry at 3am, a ban on queue drinking and revamped security.

The new measures were all designed to protect “vulnerable” customers being the targets of “opportunist criminals” in the club’s queue.

Heaven previously said that there was “a lot to be considered & addressed” over the incident, adding: “I ask other venues to learn lessons with us from what has happened at Heaven & work together to do all we can collectively to try and ensure this never happens again.”

It opened in 1979 and became an influential part of London’s LGBTQIA+ scene, hosting the long-running club night G-A-Y. It was also celebrated for Paul Oakenfold’s acid house nights in the late ‘80s and is sometimes credited as the birthplace of ambient house. The Heaven name has also been extended to clubs in Gran Canaria and Ibiza.