Your Region - East Midlands

“When I became a rep. for Proud, I had no experience of the Gay Scene, not being a clubby sort of person. So I was, frankly, stumped when it came to having any idea about where to hold meetings in a gay friendly environment. But then I met Dave Shaw at the PROUD Crouch End Training Event, and my life was changed! Dave seemed to know all of the places in the region, and I have also come to trust his taste and judgement on this matter. So I made a suggestion that it would be helpful to people like me to have some sort of ‘Rough Guide’ to Gay bars and pubs in the region, how about it, Dave? And the following is his response!….” Jude Jackson (former) PROUD East Midlands Regional Rep.

Pink & Pinkish water holes of the East Midlands
- A beginner’s guide to the Lesbian & Gay bars in the region
2nd Edition – September 2004

This is the 2nd Edition of my guide to the Pink and Pinkish ‘watering holes’ in the region and includes reviews of all the venues I am aware of as at 1 September 2004. Apologies for any omissions, however it’s nothing a couple of free guest passes / drinks wouldn’t rectify!

Now a couple of points by way of introduction; firstly this guide is primarily aimed to help those who are venturing out on the scene for the first time. Consequently it does not set out to cover details of all the different theme nights that may take place at the various venues, whether drag fetish or anything in between! However, if you fear you may be too straight to be gay, then this guide is for you!

Secondly, a quick note, by way of background. I work as a management consultant, for a big government department. The practicalities of the job mean that I spend a fair amount of time on the road (or more usually train) travelling the length and breadth of the UK.

Now, as a consequence of Dr Beeching taking his axe to the main north-south rail line through fair Nottingham town, I frequently find myself at one of the major interchange stations in the region awaiting a connecting train for the last leg of my journey home.

This last stage of my journey is often delayed (sometimes for far longer than the average late train!) as a result of my nipping into one of the local gay establishments for a quick pint!

So, for those of you that get out and about a bit (and some of you are virtually permanent fixtures on the scene – you know who you are!) and especially for those of you who ought to get out a bit more, here is my beginners guide to the regions’ pubs and clubs.

Starting on home turf; Nottingham – Queen of the Midlands (!) – home of Robin Hood & the wicked Sheriff, along with two famous football grounds, one famous Cricket ground and the National Water Sports Centre (and we’re talking boats and skis here!).

Nottingham’s scene has vacillated between extremely good to pretty poor over the last two decades. Indeed, it’s not so long (In terms of straight years) since Nottingham’s scene was vastly superior to Manchester’s and for those of you that remember Part II and Deluxe (way, way before my time!) the current situation must appear to pale somewhat by comparison.

However, that said, the current scene in Nottingham is vibrant. Nottingham’s student population of around 60k sees to that and the students’ presence has a significant impact on the scene. Indeed, when those young pink students head back to those sleepy hamlets from whence they came, the scene in Notts. visibly shrinks. So at Christmas us locals enjoy the relative peace and quiet and prepare ourselves for their return, which is normally with a vengeance!

Beyond the ‘gay’ pubs there is an increasing population, by the gay community, of the arty and trendy bars of the nearby parts of the city around Hockley. Consequently I’ll give a few of these a mention as well.

For more info ring Lesbian & Gay Switchboard on 0115 934 8485 (Mon – Fri 7-10pm) or log on at www.nottinghamgayscene.co.uk.

This rates in my books as one of the most accessible gay pubs in Nottingham. It is like your typical local, with a friendly bunch of gay bar staff and a light and airy atmosphere. The art deco curved windows facing the street allow you to take a furtive look inside before you commit yourself to going in! However, you can always be assured of a warm welcome. There are normally always a few people here throughout the day, however the lunchtime crowd is more mixed (the LR does advertise itself as a ‘theatre bar’ rather than gay) however there is never any problems with homophobia because of that fact. Light bar snacks are served between 12-2.30pm (no food in the evening unfortunately). The food quality is good and excellent value for money. The pub can become very busy Friday and Saturday evenings and there can even be a big crowd in on Wednesday & Thursday evenings. Wednesday night is a fun night with quizzes and competitions, however there’s no compulsion to join in and it won’t spoil the evening if you’re not into that kind of thing. There is normally some music playing but not so loud as to inhibit conversation. Sit at the bar and you’ll soon be drawn into discussion. Thursday is a popular night here, and at The Central, for trans people. Open usual pub hours.

For those of you that remember the old Admiral Duncan (and I can hear a few of you muttering about formative experiences on it’s packed dance floor!) it’s re-incarnation as @d2 will come as quite a shock. The sleazy toilets and dark dance bar have gone to make way for a trendy bar that is now inhabited by Nottingham’s young and beautiful (and a few not so beautiful) things. The unisex set up of the clean loos is imaginative and the wash area often becomes a bit like the proverbial farmhouse kitchen, a hive of news and gossip. Despite the venue’s good ambience it tends to be a bit on the quiet side during the day and early evening, but livens up as a pre-clubbing venue to NG1, which is next door. Good drink offers on during the early part of the week and the staff drag act on Sunday can be quite a laugh too. Open till 12.30am every day of the week.

This gay-friendly venue serves excellent food and drink, with a wide range of tastes catered for. The menu is great value and quality of food is excellent. The staff are friendly and helpful, as well as professional and good-looking! Such are the qualities of this place that it attracts a fair number of people who are not on the way in or out of the cinema upstairs. The Mezz is the no smoking cafe upstairs, serving the same menu. However for those of you who go to the movies and are a bit fed up of the Americanisms of expensive movies, popcorn and diet Pepsi the cinema here maintains a rare bit of English tradition and is well worth a visit. In particular, you can buy a combined meal and cinema ticket for eight quid which includes a main course meal and is excellent value. Details of the current cinema programme and facilities can be found on the website.

This gay-friendly venue, opposite The Lord Roberts, proclaims to be the world’s smallest cinema with 21 seats. You can buy delicious Carrot cake and other home-made fare to munch while the movie is on and there are weekly 2 4 1 film offers (for when spending the whole of a sunny Sunday afternoon in the dark appears preferable!). You can also hire the cinema and request a film for a birthday bash or other celebration.

Café bar with a great ambience and very contemporary décor. Good daytime venue, which attracts a mixed crowd, more straight in the evenings. Well worth a visit and you can sit under the fronds of the coconut tree in the middle of the joint and pretend you’re in the Seychelles.

Gay-friendly café bar run by the one and only Georgina - a fab owner & a larger-than-life character! Pretty friendly joint if you fancy an alternative to the bars. 2nd Tuesday in the month is the Women’s Café – a women’s only night – so you gay boys, who think the place is divine, will just have to stay home that night of the month!

This clubbing venue has now been open about 3 years and provided a welcome replacement for ‘the Duncan’. It has a pleasant and contemporary ambience and attracts a majority of the young and trendy late night crowd in Nottingham. A good number of slightly older people too at weekends, but those wanting chance to chat in a quieter environment tend to head for The Central. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, although Thursday nights can be a bit on the quiet side. Arrive before 11pm (Thurs & Fri) and you can go in for nowt as Bar Soba, which forms the quieter area in the club, is open from 8pm. After 11pm, admission costs between £3 & £6, depending on the day of the week. There is a Café area that serves fast food Friday and Saturday nights when the club can be extremely busy. For you serious dancers the upstairs dance bar is the place to be at the weekend when the main floor is seriously chocca. However for a shot at conversation try the front of house bar as the quieter area, Bar Soba, isn’t really conducive to good conversation. In fact, entering Bar Soba can be like talking to the catwalk when the place is inhabited by a crowd of bitchy queens! (Though for some of you that might be a challenge you relish!) Look out for the make-over of the front bar into a stylish chill area in late Sept 04.

Most of you old timers will fondly remember this venue, situated on the corner of St Edwards Street and Huntingdon Street, as Gatesby’s. Indeed this is now one of Nottingham’s oldest gay venues. In 2003 the place had a thorough make-over (about time I hear some of you call) and it is now very smart and inviting. During the day the bar has a bright and airy atmosphere, whilst at night it becomes warm and inviting. The new dance bar is great for either a pre-club warm-up or if you’re having a cheap night out (the venue is open ‘till 2am Friday and Saturday). The quieter bar has a seated area, as well as a pool table. The bar staff are friendly, although tempted at times to ham it up and play to the crowd when serving us regulars! The pub is now under new management and attracting an increasing number of female customers. Food is now served during the day. The menu lists basic snacks, but at least it’s a better choice than a bag of crisps! The regulars here are a good crowd and increasing popular with the leather boys, particularly when the East Mercia group are in town on the 3rd Friday of the month. I wish the girls all the best as they take over the incumbency of this (in)famous venue!

Formerly the Forester’s Arms, this pub is slightly more popular with Lesbians. It provides a great place for a quick pint if you’re shopping in the Vic Centre. It’s right next door and you can nip in between purchases in Envy and Tesco! This pub is great in the summer, on days when you can sit outside in the new beer garden or on the little veranda catching a few gay rays. There is also a pool table. The pub is open usual hours although increasingly of late it has hosted special nights when it has stayed open late. The beer is good and they serve lunchtime snacks.

Confusingly this pub is situated just across the road from The New Foresters. It is a traditional pub, open normal hours. There is a pool table and they serve a food menu at lunch.

This gay-run pub hosts a mixed crowd but there is a nice patio area for summer evening drinks, away from the crowds and loud music. A good range of traditional ales are served.

This is a great late night venue, chilled, trendy and great for when you can’t decide whether to do the straight or gay thing, or just to give you time to make up your mind before heading for NG1! However be warned – as with Georges up the road, many punters have decided to pop in here for a cheeky one and, seduced by the company and chilled sounds, have never made it on to the club. Consequently it’s best not to call here if you’ve arranged to meet your mates in NG1!

Wednesday 29th September. New gay night at this fashionable chill-lounge playing Studio 54 & 80s Electro sounds. Part of evening will include a fashion show from local city establishments.

Leicester is a thriving city with a lively shopping centre and nightlife, helped by the presence of the two universities. There is a strong Asian community here and this is reflected on the Lesbian & Gay scene. In fact the illuminations celebrating Diwali in north Leicester usually outshine the local Christmas trimmings.

Additionally Leicester is host to the National Space Centre, with it's massive full-sized rockets, and the preserved main line of the Great Central Railway (excellent evening dining experience) - both unique and well worth a visit.

The scene venues are clustered in two groups around each end of Charles Street and a quick visit to either Quebec or the Rainbow and Dove, at either end of this street, will enable you to locate the other venues.

Starting on the south side of town – and closest to the rail station for all you day trippers – is one of Leicester’s newest gay bars. James the landlord runs a very fashionable joint which has made a big impact on Leicester’s gay scene since it opened 2 years ago now. Whether you’re visiting Leicester by day or night it’s worth dropping in for a pint. The coffee is great too and they do food weekdays until 3pm, which is reasonably priced. Thursday evening is curry night and food is served from 5-8pm. On Sundays lunch is served from 12-6pm. In the evenings the music ranges from laid-back to pumping house & R n B, but the mood is always friendly. The pub has just undergone its first refurb – no drastic changes, just a need to keep things smart and build on a winning formula. The boss has also added a smart patio area at the back of the place – apparently it’s so he doesn’t have to look at my ugly fizhog at the bar all the time!

This cosy little bar is something of a fascination to me. I never fail to be amazed by the unusual items of food and drink on sale from the little shelves behind the bar. Among the nibbles for sale are olives, Twiglets and - for the chocoholics among you – bags of Revels. This gives Bossa a unique character that defies the ever-prevalent corporate imaging on our high streets. The selection of hot food may be limited but the toasties are good and the combo with the soup very tasty and reasonably priced at £2.50.

This venue opened around the same time as the R&D, with a broad appeal to anything from drag to screws (across the road from the prison!). However like the fabled Pineapple it had it’s ups and downs and has now been sold to become a Leicester City supporters establishment – ironically (on a number of counts) called The pride of Leicester. The recent short-lived gay nights at The Clubhouse have also now finished.

This is Leicester’s oldest gay venue and allegedly one of the oldest gay pubs in Britain. It is a good drinking venue both day and evening. The beer prices are reasonable and the different areas of the pub offer a variety of ambiences, including a sun (or rain!)-drenched patio area if you choose the right day! During the winter the ‘front room’ area is more enticing. Music on a Friday & Saturday normally includes all the favourite club anthems with a more laid back approach during daylight hours. There is a pool table here and the venue is open ‘till 2.oo am at weekends, including midnight on a Sunday.

I have to say that my first experience at Mine wasn’t a pleasant one and I left feeling that the food was overpriced and the service inadequate. However, a second visit with friends was more satisfactory and went a long way to restoring my confidence in this chic eatery on the trendy west side of town. The ambience is relaxed and very pleasant, tending towards the minimalist approach. The range and taste of the food is excellent and with the right choices a meal here needn’t be too expensive. With a little more attention to what happens, when things don’t quite go right, this could become a high-prized venue indeed. And with a number of other fab gay-friendly venues in the area Mine is certainly worth a visit.

Quebec
www.quebecleicester.co.uk
Belgrave Gate 0116 251 3811

This bar has been a personal favourite of mine in the past and a place where I’ve enjoyed conversation, coffee & a quick toastie before heading to Streetlife. The venue has recently been extended and the size of the bar on the ground floor has doubled. A dance floor and bar have also been opened on the first floor. These developments have certainly changed the feel of the venue and the ground floor feels spacious to the point of feeling somewhat vacuous. The snacks also appear to have disappeared and on my last visit there was a noticeable increase in the number of straight couples present who seemed oblivious to the fact that Quebec aims to cater for the gay community. However none of these issues are major and it wouldn’t take much to re-capture some of the old magic of Quebec, while enjoying the brilliant new space that has been created. The music played wasn’t brilliant on my most recent visit, however with a few improvements it’s possible that Streetlife could have some serious competition on it’s hands! There have also been some memorable Bangra nights here in the past and the only place where I have seen an Asian man in drag.

It’s two years since I wrote the first edition of this guide and I still maintain that Streetlife is the best all-round gay clubbing venue in the region. Friendliest bouncers on the planet – yet ever-present in times of trouble, courteous and attentive bar staff, young djs playing progressive tunes, along with some established favs. Drunken PCS Proud members have been known to take the dance floor by storm, by the light of the silvery laser, and subsequently end up sleeping in three different county towns by the end of the night! I could tell of the male friend caught snogging the face off some bloke on CCTV and the subsequent reassurance he received from one of the bouncers that this activity was ok and shouldn’t be hidden away! Yes, while I would have to agree that the Mancunians and Cockneys among you have access to far trendier gay clubs (along with the attendant lack of dance floor space and inflated drinks prices) and some unkind locals refer to the club as ‘Pondlife’ or ‘no-life’; I personally think that good old Streetlife gives excellent value for money, a friendly crowd and altogether one of the best gay night outs around.

If you fancy somewhere trendy / studenty for a drink, rather than the gay scene per se, you could do worse than carry on past Left Bank (also does nice food) & Mine and down the Narborough Road. The likes of The Flying Cupz, Murphys & Muse all offer a relaxed and stylish ambience for a drink and are quieter at weekends than main city-centre venues. However best not to carry on past The Lost Bar or you really will be! This interesting venue (which cosily feels like it’s a hidden gem of a bar in someone’s garage!) is worth a visit. The atmosphere ranges from bohemian to positively straight, but if your pink pom poms don’t go down a treat, on your first visit risk giving it another chance.

– Part 3 Peterborough

Peterborough is one of Britains’ smaller cities and has a lively shopping and historic centre. The town is surrounded by a number of satellite communities which form self-contained suburbs. Consequently the city-centre used to have a reputation of being a ghost town after six at night! That’s not so true these days and Peterborough has two venues which seek to serve the gay community, both of which are close to the centre of the town.

This is the town’s main gay venue and is open until 1am all week. The entrance to the bar is from at the car park, at the rear. This provides some privacy in a location which is part-residential. A friendly crowd hangs out here and the bar staff are friendly and welcoming. The décor is a bit od a mis-match but drinks prices are reasonable. Wednesday is karaoke with the attendant occupational hazards! I gather the place is scheduled for a makeover next year so watch this space! If you are in the area, pop in and have a drink with the Peterborough crowd (and for some of you, try to resist the temptation to act like ‘new meat’ – these boys and girls may not get a lot of visitors but you won’t fool them!)

This pub has a space-themed décor, inspired by the novel by H. G. Wells – hence the name! The place is largely straight by day and gay-friendly by night! This is due in-part to the venue’s location just off the main town square and next to the city’s main shopping centre. It can be very busy on a Friday night when there is usually a male stripper and on Saturdays for the cabaret. However a word of warning, I have witnessed some homophobic behaviour there during the week and the junior staff present have not seen fit to intervene. However, if you can still play it straight (and for some of you that’s a big ‘if’), the lunchtime grub is pretty decent!

Lincoln has one of the most striking skylines of any UK city. Regardless of which direction you approach from, it’s Cathedral & Castle are prominent reminders of the city’s importance from Roman times onwards. Sadly the gay scene doesn’t score so highly in terms of prominence, but in line with most gay life in the provinces, Lincoln does has a scene which is pretty friendly.

This is the only full-time gay bar in the city. It is open Thursday to Sunday from 8pm. The club has a slightly gothic feel and a fairly small dance floor. However the bar staff / bouncers are friendly and the prices reasonable. Thursday is Karaoke night, Friday is Cabaret, Saturday a night to enjoy all your favourite club anthems and Sunday is the weekly quiz night. The club is currently seeking to extend at ground floor level, which should go some way to relieving the crowded dance floor at weekends! Don’t worry if Pat, the bouncer, rumbles you as being a newcomer, or from out of town. He’s a pretty friendly bloke and is just doing his job to make sure you all enjoy good, clean (!), fun. This lad, having come out to colleagues at Angels as being straight, has never-the-less been taken to the bosoms of the resident drag queens (often literally I hear!). The poor lad is often the focus of some light-hearted fun, for instance, the last time I visited was quiz night and the bonus question was, ‘Which ABBA song reminds you of Pat and Why?’ Suggestions ranged included, ‘Dancing Queen’, Take a chance on me’ and ‘The day before you came’! He’s been on staff for about a year now, I gather, and seems to be lasting the course pretty well! Consequently if you’re feeling cynical about the scene thing and feeling that it’s lost all sense of community then give Angels a try – you’ll probably find it quite an enjoyable experience.

Scream, Lloyds, Bar Med – these gay-friendly venues are neighbours along the city’s fashionable waterfront. They are all pretty good for weekday / early evening drinking and popular with student / trendy / gay-friendly crowd. However, as is the case with a lot of these kind of places; at weekends / Bank Holidays they can become pretty boisterous places. So, boys - snog the face off some guy here at your peril! Girl on girl action probably more acceptable – as long as you don’t mind being watched by the straight lads!

Derby is a lively town and gateway to the Peak District. The city has good transport links (road, rail & air) and an extensive shopping area and market. There are a good number of LGB community initiatives taking place in the city and Derbyshire Friend is a good source of up-to-date information 01332 207704. Sunday is traditionally the busiest night on the scene here.

This is the busiest gay bar in the city. It is open Monday – Thursday, 7-11pm & Friday to Sunday, all day. The bar has recently had a make-over and looks pretty smart now completed. This pub has a fairly strong sense of community and the staff are friendly and approachable. Curzon’s is just across the road from here so the pub catches most of the crowd on their way to the club. There is a pool table here and a jukebox. This is a good place to sit and chat with mates or if you out by yourself, on a Friday / Saturday / Sunday night, you can just mingle with the crowds without being noticed (too much!).

This is the city’s only full-time gay club and is close to all the other gay venues. The frontage is a bit unassuming and inside it can feel a bit like a rabbit warren at first (cue jokes about being at it like rabbits etc.). However, like Streetlife in Leicester, the club has a number of different areas including; the downstairs bar and dancefloor; a lounge bar, upstairs, where they play music videos or films with a gay theme; a room with a pool table; a café area & a small downstairs lounge, near the entrance – a good place to sit and watch the world and his husband go by! The music is usually well-known club anthems and keeps the dance floor pretty full at weekends. The regular Sat night DJ has got better at mixing his records but still persists in the annoying habit of talking over them at times. Great club to go if you’re not quite up to dancing the whole night away as you can retire to the lounge bar and chill out for half an hour!

This is the town’s oldest gay venue and it’s themed interior keeps alive the memory of the former lead singer of Queen. It’s a traditional bar and looks nicer inside than out! There’s a pool table here and the pub is open trad hours, Wednesday to Sunday. The crowd here is predominantly male and the average age is slightly higher than down the road. Bar staff are usually fairly young and pretty friendly so try and include Freddies on your itinerary.

This bar is open till 1am Monday to Saturday and 12.30am on a Sunday. There are two bars – one of which is almost exclusively used by women. There is regular live music and reasonable drinks prices. However, as Derby has fewer late night venues than other East Midland cities, the Late Bar can become quite a mixed crowd later in the evening. Useful to grab a cab from the station to here (saves the walk across the town centre) and have a cheeky one on your way to the Crown.

Well that’s about all from me now. I’m still hoping to catch up with events in Boston, Lincs, Northampton, Chesterfield and BOT (Burton upon Trent!) as I hear gay life has recently re-emerged there, after a short (alleged!) absence. So if anyone feels like sending me an invite, or updating me on the info above then contact me via our good site editor – dave@pcsproud.org.uk.

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