London’s iconic G-A-Y to close down after owner says area has ‘lost its identity’

An iconic LGBT club is closing in London in another blow to the city’s dying nightlife.

G-A-Y on Old Compton Street is shuttering due to issues with rent and the area ‘losing its identity’.

Owner Jeremy Joseph previously told Metro: ‘When I opened the Old Compton venue, it was the gayest street in London, but now it has lost its identity.

‘During last year’s Pride

Issues with landlords and rent appears to have been the final nail in the coffin for the bar.

Jeremy said in a statement: ‘Sadly it’s time to say goodbye to G-A-Y Bar.

‘I cannot put into words the anxiety and stress that I’ve been put through these last 23 months.’

A rent review has been underway for Heaven and has increased, meaning G-A-Y needs to close so the future can be ‘focused on Heaven’.

Jeremy said: ‘We knew the date for Heaven’s rent review, we asked the landlord, ArchCo, to start the process a month before the review date but they waited until the date itself to serve notice that gave us no time to agree or budget before an increase took effect.’

It comes after a Heaven nightclub security guard was cleared of raping a 19-year-old woman in his car during a shift at the venue, forcing the venue to temporarily close.

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