G-A-Y Bar

Used to come here all the time before I moved to the States. Just moved back to London and the two times I’ve tried to come in here… Completely rejected. MEMBERS ONLY. There was barely a line and they just opened. They told us «full capacity», but it was definitely a lie since they let a group of just boys in, this is definitely against women and shouldn’t be tolerated. They wouldn’t let us in because a girl was with us. This is completely discriminatory and definitely calling to complain to the authorities. The fact that a gay bar is discriminating anyone is disgusting. It should be open to everyone. Disgusting.

If you like bitchy twink queens who don’t brush their teeth then come here. Was very disappointed. The door staff were rude, ditto the bar staff. Prices were pathetic, even for London standards. There are so many good gay bars in London. This is not one of them, Stay away.

It’s a weird bar, the people who check Id are so stupid. They wouldn’t let me in because I had an Italian ID card and not a passport… But then they let American People in with just their ID card and not a passport! What about EU ??? As long as I know Italy is part of the EU while America is not but apparently American ID cards are better than Italian ones! So annoyed with that club and inside is not that great. The service is bad, the drinks are not good and people are rude!

The place I have frequented the most this year.
Drinks are very cheap, music is good and atmosphere is friendly — good place for dancing, drinking, hanging out with friends and getting wasted without having to sell a kidney (not something easy to do in London).
It would be my favourite place on Earth if it didn’t close at midnight.

Great place! Drinks are very cheap for central London. If you’re looking for a chill place to chat with a friend this one’s a bit too loud for that — Ku just a couple seconds away is better. But if you want to dance and have a good time this place is very good. Would recommend!

I came here on a Thursday night with a friend, and we headed straight to the bar on the first floor. Queues were packed at 10PM, but £1.70 for a selection of 7 drinks (beers, ciders, basic mixed selection, jaegers)? Yes!!! Because the wait can be annoying, I wouldd suggest buying drinks in bulk — I saw one guy carrying 8 shots away from the bar, haha.
The second floor also has a bar, a sitting/​resting area in the far back with couches and tables (but not really separate from the rest of the floor), and a patio for smoking. Most of the crowd on the night I went was pretty young (20s or younger), and the dance floor was poppin’. They played top 40 music in addition to some older pop songs (think Lady Gaga, old-​school Rihanna, etc.).

I did –not– want to go here, I could tell from peeking inside that this is –not– our kind of crowd … but The Husband insisted we step in for a drink. Just –one– drink.
We made our way through the storm of twinks and their BFF girlfriends to the bar, got a couple of glasses of red wine, then my husband led me further into the swirling mass. We were at least two decades older than anyone there (I’m 50), and I felt terribly out of place. We found a spot near the bar and tried to enjoy our wine while being jostled and nudged by completely oblivious kids.
This is apparently where all the Baby Gays go to get sloppy drunk, shriek at the top of their lungs, and spontaneously break into dance wherever they happen to be whenever Kylie, Madonna, or that GaGa woman appears on the multitude of TV monitors.
After a few moments we decided to try and find a (relatively) calmer spot to stand, so we snaked our way through the crowd when Drunk Boy suddenly decided to pick up Drunk Girl and swirl her around because OMG! TAYLOR SWIFT! And they landed on my husband, splashing a full glass of red wine all over his shirt and jacket.
He was stunned. I was furious. I tapped him and said «Let’s go!» … but to be fair, and honest, and give these kids a little credit, they descended upon him and cleaned him up as best they could, with paper towels and napkins. They fussed and fussed and fussed over him, kissed him on the cheek, and apologized relentlessly … as they should have. Of course he absolutely ate it up. *rolling eyes*
We made it to the space near the front and I gave him my wine. He chugged it. Then we left and found a drinking establishment for Men.

If you want an unpretentious, dance happy gay bar that leans on the young side of the demographic scale, then G-​A-​Y is perfection. We found the drinks to be relatively cheap by London standards, the bartenders were very friendly, and the crowd was loose and fun.
I agree with those that state the music can be bi-​polar. It’s all over the place… from current top 40 to obscure brit-​pop. Having no cover and entry bands into Heaven were a nice bonus. After visiting a few of the trendy gay bars, this was a much appreciated breath of fresh air and a great place to let our guard down a bit.

Soho’s cheap thrills and spills gay bar. One of the most well known gay bars in town, but, for what reasons one may ask…
If you’ve ever been to Soho or just had a wander down Old Compton Street then you’d be no stranger to know of or spot this bar. The big G-​A-​Y logo outside the front and the pink setting visible outside as well it being inescapable inside is bound to plant a memory in your mind… especially if you’ve ventured inside.
Biggest Win (s):
— Sunday to Thursday has a selection of 8 cheap drinks ranging from ciders to beers to mixers to shots only costing you £1.70 all day and night and the same applies on Friday’s between the hours of 6pm and 8pm but for £2 a drink.
— The bouncers are friendly and thorough but swift when they are searching you as well as remembering who you are and are always striking up a quick convo or a joke as well as the bar staff always enjoying the moment and I don’t think I remember a time that they’ve forgotten my large orders or gave me different drinks. The bar staff do look as if they are enjoying the musical moment whilst they lipsync and dance around the bar whilst conjuring up your drinks and shots.
Downfalls:
— The inescapable pink that I have mentioned before is everywhere apart the bathrooms and the smoking area but to also add to the situation I must mention that any photos you take around the venue will consist of a pink backround ensuring that the bar has left it’s DNA for you to be constantly reminded.
— The toilet attendants who bug you for your small change after them giving you a tissue to dry your hands who chant their made up songs like «you touch it, you wash it» are both a big issue and a huge annoyance.
— Half the music choice and half the customer base: if you want a mature down to earth atmosphere then steer clear as half of its customers range from to 18 24 and you never know what the next track on the playlist will hold. (check out G-​A-​Y Divas on Spotify or iTunes and you’ll get the gist of it)
— Queues for the drinks on a night out can have you waiting from 10minutes to 30minutes, so it’s always advisable to buy in bulk.
**G-​A-​Y Bar is well recognised for the cheap drinks hence why many others and myself have been there on countless occasions (Moreso during the weekdays than the weekends for obvious reasons). 3 stars due to the downfalls outweighing the highlights but I have had some good nights out in this bar after a couple of money saving drinks have been consumed and taken effect ensuring the music becomes more enjoyable and you forget about all the downfalls.**

I just been in first time in G A Y club and so nice Friday night out. I’m so happy! I will come back again and again! Well done!!!

Friends brought me here to drink and party and show me a gay London bar. First impression wasn’t good, the place, but after a few drinks, the place grows on you! The cheesiness and tackiness of both the venue and people make for a very fun night out

Absolutely embarrassing and horrifying. How much longer until this business is no longer in business? The smart money says months or weeks.
Tried to go have a pint this evening and was harassed by a rude man in an unusual uniform who didn’t bother to say hello, but gruffly barked, «SEARCH!». beckoning me to open my arms in the search position.
I’m a 6′ tall guy dressed in preppy clothes — no back pack, no awkwardness, obviously not there to cause any trouble for this sad-​sack business. Alas, advised again to open my arms for «SEARCH!». I told the gentleman that I’ll take my business — and simple desire for a pint — elsewhere.
Would tell you dear readers, there’s nowhere else in the world where you’ll be treated like this in a small pub just to walk inside and have a drink. Take your business elsewhere.

Ok

My favourite place to pop to with friends — the hours are perfect and there are always people dancing. It’s fun, the bar staff are lovely, and even the bouncers are cool!
Has been one of my favourite places since I was 18, and I had a nice drink here until closing on my 21^st birthday.
Only issue is how loud the music is, but it tries to emulate a club so it’s expected, and you can’t really fault them for it — and £1.70 drinks Sunday-​Thursday? YES PLEASE!

Quick! Put them down there! Out of Sight.
Like most gay and lesbian friendly establishments, G.A.Y bar likes to hide the lesbians in the basement.
This really is a Soho staple and I regularly pop in when I’m on a night out /​meeting with friends /​need a drink /​want to hide and wallow in the pits with the rest of the sad regulars and apathetic bar staff.
Saying that, when money is tight, (which it inevitably will be when you do a degree in the arts) at £1.50 a pint of Calsberg or glass of vino, there’s really no argument here.
If your a girl and want to get served at the busy bar on the top two floors (or even sometimes in the dyke basement) good luck. Typically the bar staff will go for the pretty boys flinging themselves over the bar. This however is standard practice at busy gay bars in the city.
Just like the when people go to China Town for it’s infamous terrible service, so must you to G.A.Y bar. It’s an institution and must be experienced.
Give in to your destiny.

If you’re looking for a cheap place to drink and cheesy tunes then this is it! Fully wheelchair accessible on the main floor (including toilet once you’ve got the key from the bar) and friendly staff.
Upstairs holds a smoking area, dancefloor, bar and seating so aside from the loo you could easily go up there at 6 and stay till close! Then downstairs it’s the womens bar which is fully staffed by only women which is quite nice if you’re going there to escape the guys!

Being on a hen party (a low key one, I guess, seeing as another reviewer says they’re not allowed) that involved almost 50% gay men, it was pretty clear this was a good choice. And we had So. Much. Fun.
Even when it got busy we didn’t have to wait long for drinks and could focus on dancing to every single awesome track. There was a lot of Rihanna and Lady Gaga, there was classic Madonna. And there was the Spice Girls. I loved it.
I also like the fact the the décor is quite rubbish and basic. What more do you need? It reminds me of the places I used to go when I first started going out. The walls are black, there is a bar. Job done.
I’ve just seen another review describe G-​A-​Y as the «polar opposite of cool, hip and trendy.» That’s because this is the Fun Pole.

drinks are pretty cheap which is good, because you’ll need them! basically there are screens all over playing music videos, bars on all three levels, 2 levels for the guys and 1 for the girls and a smoking area. the location is prime though, and when in soho somebody always suggests going here
* the best way to entertain yourself here (if you’re not checking out the meats) is to text the screen saying your friends have herpes, etc. it always brings the lol when it flashes up in big letters, but it does cost dolla

Super fun except when my friend and I got our umbrellas stolen. Which SUCKED as it was raining when we headed out around 3am.
Got there close to midnight and the bouncer was hilarious.
Walked in with my boyfriend and my friend.
Dialogue to my boyfriend (that happens to be tall and black.)
Bouncer: Hey you can’t come in here. You’re obviously not gay and this is what is going to happen. Some gay guy is going to hit you and you’ll knock him out.
My boyfriend: No it’ll be fine i’m from San Francisco
Bouncer: Okay come in
Fun music, busy but not super crowded on a Monday night.
Accepted cards for drinks.
Lots of gay guys if you are looking for one– mostly friendly. :)
Right outside is a great tasting falafel place which is perfect for your drunk munchies.

A large-​ish venue with good drinks (as in there is actual alcohol in them that you can taste).
Clientele have changed since I used to venture into G A Y, seems now it is a younger crowd (with the odd 50 year old sitting with a pint) who generally cannot figure out where to stand.
Very crowded, hot, extremely limited seating (go upstairs to front windows), and impossible to wrestle up to the bar.
I have to say… AWESOME music/​music videos!

Je rejoins ma camarade du dessous: le G-​A-​Y bar est parfait pour une petite before, avant d’aller à la déclinaison «late» à quelques mètres de là (question de licence certainement) ou au Heaven. Situé sur Old Compton Street, la rue principale qui traverse Soho, vous né pourrez pas le louper: musique à fond et néons fluos attireront inévitablement votre attention.