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The best of 2011: gay & lesbian

Time Out's Gay & Lesbian editor Paul Burston selects his highlights of the year

The best of 2011 in London

The Time Out editors have all picked their favourite events and moments of 2011. See if you agree with them.

See all of our best of 2011 lists

Most viewed gay & lesbian events

  1. Sweatbox Foam Party
  2. Men's Underwear/Naked Cruise Night
  3. Hard Up Mondays
  4. Trannyshack
  5. Monster
  6. Popstarz
  7. Room Service
  8. Horse Meat Disco Diamond Drag Jubilee
  9. Orange Trade Party
  10. Prick Up Your Ears
More most viewed gay & lesbian events

£3 off Gay & Lesbian London guide

The latest Time Out Gay & Lesbian London guide features gay-friendly attractions which go beyond the capital's commercial gay scene

London’s gay nightlife is still second to none. But while the commercial scene has been hit by the recession and the impact of online social networks like Gaydar and Grindr, 2011 saw the growth of community based events, a resurgence of political activism, the continued success of major fundraising parties and the launch of a new prize celebrating queer writing and culture. Here are some of the events that made 2011 a year to remember


The best of 2011...

  • 1
    UK Black Pride 2011 preview

    UK Black Pride

    Sat Aug 20, Torrington Square

    The sixth annual UK Black Pride event took place in August, and to say it’s continually improving is no overstatement. In fact, it’s now Europe’s largest celebration of African, Asian, Caribbean and Middle Eastern LGBT people. The organisers won the Black LGBT Community Award for Community Development in 2006 and 2007, were nominated for a Stonewall Community Award in 2009, and won the award in 2011. What’s even more impressive is that this award-winning, rapidly growing event is run entirely by volunteers.

  • 2
    © Pride London
    World Pride 2012 listing

    Pride London

    Sat Jul 2, Central London

    This was a challenging year for London’s LGBT community, with a reported increase in anti-gay hate crime and several high profile homophobic attacks on people in the heart of the West End – among them gay socialite Phillip Salon, who was severely beaten in Piccadilly Circus. It was in this context that this year’s Pride took place. There was a strong focus on community and politics, with speakers including Lynne Featherstone, Nick Herbert and Chris Bryant and Caroline Lucas. It was encouraging to see that Pride hasn’t gone the way some feared and turned into just another circuit party/bloated pop festival with added pink balloons. In 2012, London plays host to World Pride, and if this year is anything to go by, indications are that it’ll be an event we can all be proud of.

  • 3
    © ChrisJepson.com
    Wig Party 2011 blog post

    Wig Party

    Sat Oct 1, One Mayfair

    This annual fundraiser for HIV/Aids is now a key event in many a clubber’s calendar. A party with a purpose, it attracts celebrity endorsements from the likes of Dannii Minogue, Beverley Knight and Pet Shop Boys, while raising much needed funds for National Aids Trust. This year’s event was widely considered the biggest and best yet. And where else can you expect to see so many muscle boys with such elaborate barnets? This is one night to drop the attitude, don a wig and party like your life depended on it – all in the name of ‘charidee’.

  • 4
    © Rob Greig
    Candy Bar review

    Candy Bar

    4 Carlisle St, W1D 3BJ

    It seems hard to believe, but the Candy Bar turned 15 this year. Part of the proliferation of gay venues that opened in Soho in the mid ’90s, it’s still London’s only full-time women’s venue, catering to a crowd that isn’t adequately served elsewhere. Originally launched by promoter Kim Lucas, who painted the walls pink and introduced lap and pole dancers, it’s been through several owners and in 2011 the venue was relaunched as part of the hugely successful Ku Bar group, owned by leading Soho gay businessman Gary Henshaw. This year also brought the bar national fame as the reality show ‘Candy Bar Girls’ aired on Channel 5.

  • 5
    © Rob Greig
    Polari First Book Prize shortlist

    Polari First Book Prize

    Mon Nov 21, Southbank Centre

    Named after ‘London’s peerless gay literary salon’, which celebrated its fourth birthday this year, the Polari First Book Prize is for a first book by an LGBT author and attracted great press coverage from the maintream, gay and trade press. Founded by our own Paul Burston and backed by the Southbank Centre, the prize helped raise the profile of all ten longlisted authors, giving a much needed boost to LGBT publishing in what is widely considered a testing time. This year’s winner was singer James Maker, for his wonderful memoir ‘Autofellatio’.

...and the worst of 2011

  • The Owls The Owls
    London's gay film festival needs you!

    Cuts to the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

    Mar 31-Apr 6, BFI Southbank

    The decision to cut this year’s festival to a mere seven days was deeply unpopular with programmers and punters alike. With such a wealth of LGBT films out there, and such a dedicated audience, the idea seemed strange, to say the least. The fear is that, with fewer screenings, there will be less diversity – something the LLGFF has always prided itself on. And despite reassurances from the BFI, some fear that cutting the festival down is a step towards getting rid of it altogether. Please, say it isn’t so.

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