G-A-Y Bar owner Jeremy Joseph has put the venue up for sale following a difficult few years for the venue. Joseph announced the news via a statement on his social media on Friday (January 24).
In the heartfelt post which delved into the owners justification behind the “tough decision”, Joseph stated: “This isn’t an easy decision, to me this is more than just a bar, it’s also my home, I’ve lived above it for over 15 years, but it’s now time to make some changes”.
G-A-Y opened in 1976 and has since served as a vital pilar to the LGBT community by bringing individuals together with live music, club nights and culture to vibrantly exist and celebrate their identities.
The decision to close such a historically iconic LGBT venue came after Heaven nightclub’s temporary closure last year left Joseph at crossroads while fighting for the re-opening of the venue. The temporary closure of Heaven came after it was discovered a security guard allegedly sexually assaulted an 18-year-old who had been in the queue for the venue for over two hours.
In the social media post, the G-A-Y owner reflected on Heaven’s closure, stating: “I was clear to Westminster CC’s Licensing committee that if they closed Heaven for even a short time it would potentially put G-A-Y Bar at risk financially, & I was clear & transparent with everyone as to the financial & mental damage which the fight to reopen Heaven had on me. Even now after Heaven’s re-opening, the damage financially & mentally has been irreparable”.
Furthering the decision to permanently shut G-A-Y Bar, Joseph pinpointed the “constant up hill battle” surrounding the socio-economic issues caused by the Cost of Living crisis and the lack of assistance available for those within the hospitality and the late night sector, which has already resulted in substantial closures in the last year.
Joseph argued: “it doesn’t feel like anyone with power cares about hospitality & it definitely doesn’t feel like they care about LGBT venues, Old Compton Street has lost its queer identity”.
He continued: “I firmly believe Soho has lost it vibrancy […] Old Compton street is not the same anymore, it has a new identity & when you look down the street, you see restaurants, cafes, take aways but the street that was the LGBT capital, is no more”.
As the legendary LGBT venue’s life comes to an end, Joseph has urged fans of the venue to be reminded of G-A-Y’s original purpose and the difficulty of his decision: “Making tough decisions but for the best. Making the changes I need to find peace of mind”.
