Jeremy Joseph, the owner of the legendary G\u2013A-Y Bar in Soho, has announced its closure.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Metro<\/em>,<\/a> Joseph explained that long-running rent struggles, particularly during COVID, combined with Soho\u2019s fading queer identity and safety concerns, led him to close G-A-Y Bar. He said these issues made his decision to concentrate on keeping Heaven open \u201ca lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I opened the Old Compton venue, it was the gayest street in London, but now it has lost its identity,\u201d he said. \u201cThis weekend half of Old Compton Street was closed because there was a crime scene up. Most of the pride flags have been taken down, it\u2019s really sad to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite living above G-A-Y Bar, Joseph said he was forced to choose between it and Heaven when landlords ArchCo sought to increase Heaven\u2019s rent. He explained that it was \u201cbetter to protect one venue that\u2019s got more history than another which is an area I cannot see improving.\u201d<\/p>\n Joseph expanded on the difficulties with rent: \u201cWe underwent arbitration with ArchCo which was nearly two years of hell. But we didn\u2019t let them bully us – we have come out the other side. I will say this to all business owners – never let your landlords bully you.\u201d<\/p>\n He also posted an impassioned message on social media, recalling some of his fondest memories of G-A-Y Bar.<\/p>\n \u201cI will never forget when Madonna performed at G-A-Y at the Astoria,\u201d he wrote. \u201cAll night people were singing Madonna songs, the street was alive and electric and queer. Imagine that happening today, residents would be on the phone complaining, the gays are singing too loudly!\u201d<\/p>\n Another moment that \u201cwill always stand out\u201d for Joseph was the 2019 Pulse Nightclub shooting \u2014 the deadliest attack on LGBTQIA+ people in U.S. history, when 49 lives were tragically taken \u2014 which, he said, \u201cbrought everyone together and the focal point was Old Compton Street.\u201d<\/p>\n Joseph reflected on how venues, artists and charities, devastated by the loss of life, wanted to \u201cdo something special\u201d to bring people together and pay tribute to the LGBTQIA+ community and their \u201cfamily in the US.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A post shared by Jeremy Joseph (@jeremy_joseph)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n