A new venue for lesbians in Soho - it's coming!

We popped in for a quick chat with Gary Henshaw, current owner of the Candy Bar that will close in January, which Henshaw describes as the "End of an era". All the current events on the regular Candy schedule will have one last blast throughout January until the venue closes, including big plans for New Years Eve.

The new evening venue in Soho for lesbians will open in mid January. It is going to be like nothing we've had before - bringing the best of the current scene taste of lesbian, bi and queer women to Soho. Whilst running in the basement space of Ku Bar Frith Street, the space is being completely remodelled, and will be designed to incorporate existing (and new) events from the old Candy venue. 

There will be take over nights, where big events will use the whole of the Ku Bar Frith Street space and incorporate a 3am venue.

Ku Bar Frith Street will stay open as a mixed LGBT day time cafe-style venue.

Henshaw is committed to maintaining a women's venue and women's events. Ruby Tuesday's has run successfully at Ku Bar for ten years and there is a commitment to uphold what women want. The new venue will continue to offer free space to LGBT community and not-for-profit groups for meetings and socials.

Share your ideas of the best ever lesbian, bi & queer venue with us below!

Planet London at Pride London/WorldPride 2012

Well, despite the politics and last minute, changes and plenty of rain showers, nothing could keep us and 30,000 other marchers from showing London what Pride is all about.

We had our banners, our placards telling the world what we thought about the declassification of the event, and of course our giant planet.

But, as good as we looked, and as much fun as we had giving out oyster wallets and stickers and cheering with the crowds, it's important to remember why we were there and what the main theme of Pride was this year.

It was about supporting the decriminalisation of homosexuality around the world. There are still at least 80 countries where it is illegal to be gay (around 40 of these are Commonwealth Countries. What is our Head of State doing to try and change this? Nothing.)

In Russia they are passing a law to make it illegal to even talk about homosexuality.

It's the 21st Century people! I can't understand why people get so upset about the thought of same sex relationships when, frankly, there are much more clear and present threats to the survival of the human race, that are also far more disgusting than thinking about who's sleeping with and loving who.

Surely we need to focus, globally, on how to pull the global economy back together; generating ideas about how to save the world from the enviromental crises we are heading towards, and how to avoid world war 3 which will blow us all up in nuclear type warfare anyway. And what about levelling the playing field in a world where people are still either homeless and suffering from starvation.

I don't mean to be glib, I just get frustrated that there's far more important things that have actual impact on people's lives than who I sleep with, or love, or choose to spend the rest of my life with.

And I find it shocking that in 2012 we not only have to march in London to show our frustrations and sympathies with those who have it a lot worse than us (some countries are still PUTTING in PLACE laws to criminalise homeosexual or homosexual friendly behaviours), we have to fight to be able to march about such an important issue.

So there we were, in all our glory, being proud of who we are, because we can whilst some of our friends across the world cannot, in the rain. Let's hope people take notice.

(c) Abby Chicken

(c) Abby Chicken

Abby Chicken took photos for Planet London, take a look at what you missed out on if you weren't able to join in with us: Pride Photos

Don't mind if I Bijou



Robin and Lauren (Photo: Laura Cunliffe)

June sees Bijou’s second date at new residence Cos Bar and if last month’s £5 cocktail special is anything to go by, a twist on the traditional Cosmo called ‘Lost and Delirious’ – pomegranate flavoured with a dash of lime – sounding delicious, and making guests delirious Bijou guests are in for a treat in June (Sat 9 June).

Elysion Events run by Robin & Lauren hosts Bijou

Bijou, the cocktail night for gay women, and run by the lovely, beautiful hosts Robin and Lauren of independent events company Elysion Events is renowned for its relaxed and friendly yet luxurious ambiance, as well as its classy cocktails and sexy, groovy, eclectic dance beats (everything from pop, indie and rock) for later in the evening. This no-attitude club night mixes the right atmosphere of a classy cocktail bar early on in the evening but with the right music and lighting to turn it into a sophisticated club night.

It’s not just us who think Bijou is the place to be on the second Saturday of the month; Bijou was nominated for 'Club of the Year' in the G3 Reader Awards and has received outstanding reviews in DIVA Magazine, Time Out and Planet London. 

The guest list is always sold out before the night, and the venue is always comfortably full of gay women you’d be very happy to spend your Saturday night with.

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Planet London has previously reviewed a couple of Bijou nights, you can read the reviews here: Bijou at Tart Bar, 10 Sep 2011 | Bijou at Carter Rooms, 10 Dec 2011

Bijou is on every second Saturday of the month at:

Cos Bar, 148 Queen Victoria Street, City of London, EC4V 4BY

E: elysionevents@ymail.com to purchase advance £7.50 guestlist tickets 

Limited tickets available on the door £10 (it is recommended you buy tickets in advance to guarantee entry for this popular night)
Website: www.elysionevents.co.uk
Bijou Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/190597247656128/
Elysion Events on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Elysion_Events

Dyke March London

Date: Saturday 31 March 2012

What is Dyke March London?

Dyke March London is about dykes. We support dyke visibility and celebrate our love and passion for women and all dykes. Dyke March London is for everyone: dykes, queers, bisexuals, transwomen, genderqueers and allies. This is a grassroots, non-commercial, anti-racist, community-centred, accessible, inclusive event: we welcome all folk who want to support dykes to march with us.

Who will be speaking in Soho Square?

• Lady Phyll Opoku is the co-founder and Managing Director of UK Black Pride.
• Kirsten Hearn is a prominent disability campaigner; she is the chair of Inclusion London, the Deaf and Disabled People’s organisations community interest company, a non executive member of the Office for Disability Issues Disability Delivery board and provides disability equality advice to the very heart of government as a member of Equality 2025, the UK Advisory Network on Disability Equality.
• Paris Lees is founding editor of META magazine, a digital magazine by, about and for trans and genderqueer people. She is Project Manager of TransMediaWatch and writes for the BBC, Guardian, DIVA, Gaytimes and Attitude.
• Shi tou is an artist, painter, film-maker and one of China’s most prominent lesbian activists. She was the first lesbian to come out on national Chinese television and co-founded and organises the Beijing Queer Film Festival.
• Clare B Dimyon is a solidarity LGBT activist who received an MBE in 2010 for her work supporting LGBT people in Central & Eastern Europe as they engage with homophobia in the particular circumstances of the post Soviet era. Clare is also a Lesbian Strength organiser, organising Oxford’s Lesbian Strength parade in 1986.

Will Dyke March London be accessible?

We are aiming for the march to be as accessible as possible and a safe space for people with disabilities and mobility issues. We've consulted with LGBT disability charity Regard and our stewards have received accessibility training from them. People with disabilities or mobility issues are invited to walk at the front, to set the pace for the rest of the march. BSL signers will be available for the speeches and also during the march. 

There will be manual wheelchairs available and an accessible vehicle at the back of the march for anyone who is tired or needs a lift. An accessibilty leaflet will be available, this will include a list of accessible toilets on the march route. The march route (http://g.co/maps/vddfv) is approximately 1.2 miles; the Met Police advise it will take around 1 hour to complete it. If you have any specific access questions, please do not hesitate to email us dykemarchuk@gmail.com. 

Are children welcome?

Dyke March London is child-friendly and welcomes queer families.

Is there a meeting point for those who'd like to march but don't know anyone (yet)?

Look out for the flowery umbrella in Soho Square, where a volunteer will be greeting and introducing people. For more details, please check the FaceBook Group or send us an email, you are welcome to make contact before the march if you are feeling shy. We want all dykes to feel welcome and would love to make new friends. 

How is Dyke March London funded?

Dyke March London is funded entirely by donations. We're currently 50% of the way to our funding goal: can you help? 

Please donate here: http://www.indiegogo.com/Dyke-March-UK.

Where do I go for more information?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/158131484294423/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dykemarch
Email: dykemarchuk@gmail.com

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Feature by Naomi, 20 March 2012