Bars & Pubs

In Soho's trendier gay bars, cruising takes second place to posing. Not so at the Admiral Duncan, which still flies the rainbow flag of unashamed Friday night fun. Indeed, the Duncan is one of the scene's most 'unpretentious' (downmarket) pubs. The naff drinks set the tone: sex on the beach, screaming orgasm and blow job; the decor is butch, cosy and camp all at once (beige brick walls, beamed ceilings, fuchsia walls and a fluorescent pink sign outside). The crowd is just as mixed: screaming queens with drunken female friends, and balding geezers. Despite its raucous spirit, the Admiral has known tragedy: in 1999, three people were killed by a bomb, and in 2004, bar manager David Morley was murdered.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9