The Arzner proudly bills itself as London’s first dedicated LGBTQ+ cinema. Named after Dorothy Arzner, a pioneering queer female filmmaker who became the first woman to direct a talkie with 1928's Manhattan Cocktail, the cinema-cum-cocktail bar is independent and queer-owned.
The Arzner sits in the space formerly occupied by Kino Bermondsey, and has a modern feel, combined with the classic comforts of plush red carpets and gleaming faux-leather seats. Pictures of Liza Minnelli adorn the bar’s walls, while the cocktails are named after Hollywood legends like Rock Hudson, Bette Davis and Marlene Dietrich. Programming is an eclectic mix of camp classics, new queer cinema, and films that explore every stripe of the LGBTQ+ rainbow.