Friendly Society

This is one of my new favourite places, that you wouldn’t know was there. Buzzing, with a bright, clean atmosphere (despite being a basement bar). Everyone was really friendly and the bar staff had a lovely charm. It’s also reasonably priced (£7.50 a double) — looks like the right place for a date/​quieter drink.

We absolutely loved this bar! Amazing drinks and super friendly staff and cute boys! London quirky gay bar with visiting! The Barbie ceilings or disco room to fish tanks… you see it all here! It’s really easily walkable in SoHo! Highly recommend!

This place is simply a trip.
You’ll not find it by accident, as it is down some stairs accessed from the street through a fairly innocuous door in Wardour Street (don’t accidentally enter one of the strip joints next door, unless you have access to a second mortgage…).
As you descend, you are enveloped by the swimming pool theme, with the turquoise décor recreating exactly that of a public baths. Leatherette banquette sofas in turquoise with funny ‘button’ seats at either end lie beneath concealed lighting, with a screen showing what seemed to be a fairly surreal film. Actually, the whole place is surreal. Ceilings are decorated with Barbie dolls and mirror disco balls; there are fish tanks with real fish; and luridly coloured plastic poodles adorn each table with bunches of plastic flowers coming out of their, well, out of their rears… Tables are adorned with more psychedelic flower patterns.
Drinks and cocktails have standard Soho prices, so it’s not cheap — Asahi beer on draft is sold in half pints or two pint jugs (ie, no pints — apparently it keeps the clientèle more select), at around £5 a pint. But it’s fun, and bar staff are chatty and friendly.
It might be too much for a regular joint, but a visit is a must.

Quirky décor and cocktails! Two things I really like. The whole bar feels as if it is underwater due to its light blue colour, booths and by being a basement to start with. I still can not decide it it looks futuristic or old school, probably because it feels like what they considered futuristic in the 80s and 90s. There’s also Barbie and Ken dolls nailed on the ceiling, which is kinda creepy (even more because I realised I had one of them and loved it).
So apparently this is a gay bar, however on a Sunday afternoon we were the only 5 people there so I can not really comment on the usual clientele.
I must admit the cocktails are pretty good but a bit pricey (about £10 each). The rest of their drinks are much cheaper though. You can have a whole bottle of wine for the price of two cocktails, more or less, so I’d say do that instead. In general it’s a nice place to take someone if they like quirky places and show off a bit.

The quirkiest bar in Soho for me. I literally walk in and feel like I’ve gone following the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. From figurines hanging from the ceiling, doggie vases, circular fish bowls and interesting mood lighting; this place will have you looking around for a while.
I got a mojito here and it was spot on. Usually the place is packed on Saturdays but went on Sunday and was empty. Definitely worth a go if you’re bar hopping.

The premise of this bar is a good one, all the ingredients are there to be a splendid addition to the selection of gay bars in Soho. However, it’s almost like they’re trying too hard and have completely lost their way. There’s too much going on. Plastic dolls glued to the ceiling. Underwater décor. Handbags hanging from the ceiling behind the bar. A fish tank (that could do with cleaning!). Worst of all, rude, unhelpful bar staff with attitude off the scale. One beer on draft (Peroni) but they had run out of that. Limited alternatives. The only saving grace is a decent selection of music. I’m unlikely to return.

Love love this place. grate to meet up with friends and do on. i recomend it to everyone.

I last visited this place whilst ona night out with a few Unilocaler friends (big up Jane G, Theresa C and Issy F!!). We went downstairs after being told by the bouncer that they were on last orders. This was at 11pm, which I think is a mistake for a Friday night. And also a shame because this place is GREAT. We could easily have spent all night here!
Downstairs you emerge into a crazily decoarted yet rather special world. Small and perfectly formed is how I would call this place, and you know it’s popular when it’s rammed to the ceiling. Drinks were cheap, friendly staff, amazing music (got to love some cheesy Abba to kick off a Friday night dancing) and Barbie dolls on the walls. Yes you read right, I would guesstimate over 100 barbie dolls in various provacative positions glued to the walls. Now that’s a good bar!

I once went to the Tate Modern to see an exhibition — one of those that you pay a little extra to see. One of the most memorable pieces of art I saw (and in fact have ever seen) was a garden shed, filled up with a lifetime of junk and blown up with explosives then put back together using wires to give an impression of how the shed looked a millisecond after the explosive went off. I remember seeing barbie dolls and other bits of crap flying out in all directions.
This, is what I believe, was the inspiration for whoever decided to decorate the Friendly Society’s walls and ceilings. Spattered with Kens, Barbies, trolls, vines and other stuff, it’s like the bomb went off and everything was coated in superglue at the time.
This small, ‘friendly’, gay bar is never too crowded (deliberately so thanks to the bouncers upstairs). Seating is of the trendy but not too comfortable variety and the toilets are, well, they’re toilets.
Being in a basement it’s a little hidden compared to the brasher/​busier bars of Soho. Stand under a speaker and risk losing your hearing. I don’t go out in Soho much but if I do (when someone else is organising) and they choose this place, I’m pretty happy with their choice.
I have no idea of bar prices as my rounds came later but they’re probably similar to everywhere else.

Not so friendly society, to my experience.
I was having fun with my friends at the bar (which is otherwise fine) when, trying to give instructions to someone on the phone, I accidentally found myself in a private area (?store room).
I was yelled at with utter disrespect by club employee, who, not only kicked me out of the private area treating my like s**t, but also forbade me re-​entry to the club and had doorman show me the way back to the street!
This place needs to learn how to respect customers. Even if I had been a drunk or a troublemaker, I would have expected a more decent behaviour.

I love the vibe in here. It’s like you’re in an underwater playground with seaweed made out of plastic garden flowers, and a sea of ken and barbie dolls on the ceiling.
They play cool music (first it was like brazilian lounge music, and switched into a pet shop boys marathon), it’s a very low key lounge where you can chat with friends and cute décor. I think it is more hidden so drunk douches won’t stumble in off the street. A pitcher of PERONI was £10… 2 pints.
Overall, I think this place is pricier than other pubs around, but this is made up by the atmosphere and crowd.
I WOULD DEFINITELY COME HERE AGAIN.

This is such a nice and fun place to chill out after work with a glass or two, i just love the variety of people that drink here…

Being a Fag Hag, this is another fave haunt, before a bit of Karaōke in ‘The Village’ next door a small downstairs venue, that lives up to it’s friendly name.
Anywhere that has a Babycham themed bar, with a painted sky & cloud ceiling that has stuck on Barbie Dolls & Trolls in Day-​glow outfits & garden gnome stools is OK with me (I so want to know where I can get that Babycham wallpaper from??)
Drinks about average for the West End, depending on what your drinking, premium brands of Vodka & Gin like Absolute or Grey Goose, will be more than Smirnoff & Gordon’s Also bottled mixers, more than on tap mixers.

Out with a friend on a busy Friday who was determined for me to see this place for myself
As per the below reviews I was slightly skeptical about having to travel down a dark set of stairs into the unknown, especially given this place is sandwiched by peep shows and porn shops!
We queued for about 10 minutes so I expect a small pokey place with barely room to breathe! However it wasn’t cramped at all — and no huge queue for the bar
I LOVE the décor — random Goose artwork, fab Gnome stools and strange barbies and kens nailed to the roof!
Definitely worth a visit — it’s funky, cute and very soho
Top Tips
1 — Everything is served in doubles, makes a Sambuca shot very interesting!
2 — Lots of lovely looking men, pitty I’m not their type :(
3 — Go early and try and secure the booth at the back

I really love this quirky bar. It’s down an alley in Soho. But don’t worry, you won’t be arrested for having a good time here. This downstairs bar plays some really awesome tunes, think the best of the 80s mixed with a bit of the hits from today.
The décor is amazing. My favorite is probably the lesbian jungle poster on the wall near the loos along with the booth at the side of the bar that is essentially just a massive bed.
The drinks aren’t too overly priced and the staff are really nice.

Go down the street, take a right into the alley, and look for the beefy bouncer standing next to a small neon blue sign.
So those were the directions I was given to find Friendly Society. A little concerned? Yeah try an almost certain feeling I wasn’t going to be coming up those stairs again. Oh yes, once the bouncer lets you through (after casting an appraising eye over you), you gotta head down below ground into this place.
Like the sign, Friendly Society is a small bar bathed in a blue glow. I have no idea why the lighting choice but it seems to fit along with everything else in this quirky gay bar. Yes, it’s a gay bar (my first experience in one actually) as denoted by the ¹⁰⁰⁄₁ guy/​girl ratio and the men grinding on each other. Keep an eye out for the ceiling which is «decorated» by sticking a variety of Barbie and Ken dolls in all sorts of positions making it look like some possessed child’s bedroom. There is also a large goldfish swimming around in a tank on a shelf on a central pillar. Why? I have no idea but maybe the question is rather why not?
Another cool thing to check out are the speakers hung from the walls. Take a close look and see what they remind you of. Your first instinct will be right as those are indeed converted toilet bowls (one hopes they were washed thoroughly) and have surprisingly good acoustic focus. And if you are feeling tired of standing up or dancing, there are some tables and chairs near the toilets or, more entertainingly, a true lounging area where you can lie down or recline against some pillows.
The drinks are served in doubles (my kind of portion control) which makes jaegerbombs a true challenge for all but the most committed. Beer selection is limited but sufficient and the usual well drinks are on offer. I got the feeling this place is a great spot for starting a night with a relaxed yet upbeat atmosphere and some strong drinks.

L. O. V. E. I. T.
I’ve been a few times and this is one of those love it or hate it kind of places. Friendly, diverse & gay-​friendly crowd, decent drinks, fun music and yeah, a pretty silly interior… but silly in a very good way.

Uh, a bar with about 100 random Barbie and Ken dolls stuck on the ceiling, AWESOME 80’s/90’s music, solid drinks, garden gnome seats, padded walls for when the crazy dancers go a little wild (and boy there were quite a few that night I was there)? Hellz Yeah.
Best Bar in Soho as far as I’ve been! And I thought it was a strip show or bath house… LOL.

Seriously — Friendly Society is one of my top 10 bars in London. It’s so quirky, fun and yet sexy.
However, don’t tell everyone about this little gem or it will lose its charm!

A tiny door in one of the dodgier looking alleys in Soho, between Ann Summers and The Village, take you down into a brilliant bar that is suitable for everyone, although it is aimed at the gay market.
The first thing you notice about this bar is its beautiful design. It’s like the interior has been lifted straight from Wallpaper magazine; bold wallpaper in the main area with naughty barbies in slutty positions hanging from the ceiling, a small side room with comfy bed-​like seating which you have to step into and toilets which are clean and brilliantly presented. It’s obvious that a lot of thought has gone into the place, reflected by the owner Maria, who positively enforces the friendly in the name and goes out of her way to ensure everyone is happy and having fun.
Drinkswise the bar is brilliantly stocked. Pitchers of beer are served at reasonable price, spirits are served as 50ml but prices are okay. Add dj’s throughout the week playing chilled music and it’s a brfilliant place to take friends and relax.
Truly recommended!