Unpretentious gay in Vauxhall

Soho used to be the only gayborhood in London, which is not surprising considering the place’s connection to the LGBTQIA+ movement’s history in the UK. Compton’s, as an example, surfaced there to provide people like us safe space in the 1980s, when expressing your LGBTQIA+ self was policed.

Nowadays, however, Soho – being in the tourism center of London – can be… stereotypical. You like Muscle Mary? You’re into lumberjacks? You are into twinks? You’re searching for the yuppies? Yep… you can find them, and more, in Soho.

Existing as counter-gayborhood is Vauxhall, which is a few stops by train from Soho.

And right in the middle of Vauxhall is the historic Royal Vauxhall Tavern, or RVT, which I checked after paying the £10 cover charge.

How did I find the place?

1. The bar is in a historic building built around 1865 as the gateway to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens that dates back to 1661.
2. It has a long history of being gay-related – e.g. in the 1950s, it hosted drag performers, prior to the decriminalization of homosexuality in England and Wales in 1967. Drag performances continue to be the specialty of this place.
3. So many famous people were said to have visited the place, from Freddie Mercury to Princess Diana to Dame Helen Mirren.
4. Inside, the place doesn’t look special – i.e. there’s a small stage facing a small dance floor that’s beside the bar and a seating area (segregated by balustrades).
5. Crowd-wise, the people here are more varied… and definitely more relaxed. Consider this: one of the bartenders dressed like Ron Weasley’s mom, which would be a no-no in more lookist bars in Soho.
6. The music (at least what was played while I was there) was pop and plastic pop; good enough for dancing while engaging with people.

Buod: If you want to party sans the attitude, check out RVT. You may just like it. But then again, even if you won’t, then at least you’ve checked one of the gay venues that London has to offer outside of Soho.

But off we go, rampa pa more!

The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is located at 372 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5HY, UK.