Iconic Soho bar G-A-Y is closing down for good this weekend

In a major loss to London’s LGTBQ+ nightlife, Soho’s legendary G-A-Y bar will shut its doors for good this weekend.

The Old Compton Street venue was opened by Jeremy Joseph in the mid-1990s and has been a cornerstone of the capital’s queer nightlife for decades – Madonna even performed there 25 years ago.

Joseph, who also owns Heaven nightclub, told Metro this week that rent issues, the area’s dwindling gay identity and NIMBYs encouraged him to make the difficult decision. 

In a statement on Instagram Joseph said: ‘When I opened G-A-Y Bar it was to be on one of the safest and most proudly LGBT streets, a place where you could be who you are and feel safe. For me, Old Compton Street has lost that LGBT identity.’

He has been locked into a years-long challenge with Heaven’s landlord ArchCo, which apparently wanted to raise the rent. A figure has finally been agreed, and Joseph has decided to close G-A-Y to keep Heaven open.

He said in an Instagram post: ‘I hope my future now will be Heaven. However the last few years have been tough. G-A-Y has been my life.’

Heaven was temporarily closed in 2024 after a security guard was charged  – and then cleared – with rape. Joseph said the financial pressure meant that both venues would struggle to stay open, and G-A-Y was put on the market at the start of the year. 

In a post on Instagram Joseph said he will ‘never forget’ when Madonna performed at G-A-Y, when it was based in the Astoria nightclub. Customers formed a long queue overnight to secure a ticket.

‘But this wasn’t a queue, it was a party,’ Joseph said. ‘All night people were singing Madonna songs, the street was alive and electric and queer. Imagine that happening today, residents would be on the phone complaining ‘the gays are singing too loudly’.’

You can raise a glass to G-A-Y for the last time this weekend. It will be fully open on Saturday, and partially open on Sunday before it closes.