G-A-Y Bar in City of London, Westminster

The woman on the door wouldn’t let me in even though I did nothing wrong. There was another guy who was happily going to let me inside but the woman went up to him and told him not to let me in. Me and my friend asked them why they wouldn’t let me in but they completely ignored us, avoided eye contact, and tried to pretend like we didn’t exist until we walked away. I could not believe how rude the door staff were I’ve never experienced that before.

Extremely rude and mental toilet lady. Ready to attack people. She needs to be fired. I will never go to this place again.

Este bar es lo mejor en GAY friendly en Soho. EL ambiente es perfecto y amistoso además de los tragos y música! Todo maravilloso! Si van a Londres no pueden olvidar pasar por este bar en Soho.

I was waiting for the Met police to get back to me and was personally very depressed after the incident because of which I couldn't reach out to you earlier. The cleaning lady at GAY at Soho physically assaulted me on the 25th of November. I had reported this to the police the very next day. I had gone to the washroom to clean my face. The lady was initially rude to me, asking me to take tissues from the loo instead of giving them to me, as she was to everyone else. There were no tissues elsewhere in the washroom area apart from the ones she was handing to people and the ones in the washrooms. When I requested again, she handed it to me. However, a man came to the washroom area afterwards and asked me to put lipstick on his mouth. My hands were dirrty by the time I was done and the lipstick marks on them weren't going with just water. The lady had previously passed some racist remarks about my Indian ethnicity. This time, I requested her to give me a tissue, but she replied with more rude remarks in front of multiple other people there. I couldn't understand the reasoning behind it. She went on to hand tissues to everyone else who was white, but me. Many of the white people there looked at me as if to say that I wasn't at the same level as them. I looked at the lady again saying I needed to wipe my hands and she said some more racist things about Indians and their toilet practices asking me to get tissues from the loo. I did as I was asked because it was all getting too overwhelming for me. When she passed tissues to a white man who happened to be a staff worker at GAY in front of me, I told her she was being racist and took my phone out to record her conduct. I had just captured her image to report her to the manager when she rushed to me and grabbed me aggressively while attempting to break my phone. She grabbed me with so much force that I got bruises on my hand and back (I will attach the images on this email). The white people were all standing and watching, not coming in to stop her in any way. Thus, the only thing left for me was to scream loudly, which I did. The next thing I remember is the manager and the security person coming to that area to intervene. I walked out of the washroom and started crying in front of the security person because I'd never been attacked physically anywhere, let alone at a gay bar which is supposed to be a safe (or at least, safer) space for queer people like me. The manager came out after that and began gaslighting me saying that I was wrong to have asked for a tissue. He went on to make gaslight-y statements like, "in the past 7 years, I've never gotten a single complaint against my staff." That was a lie because even when we check the reviews of GAY on the internet, numerous people have pointed out that the staff members have been racist towards them.

Went in in the afternoon, only two people in there on a bank holiday. Only downstairs open. Seating very uncomfortable and the bar person was rude and dismissive.

They say you should never go back; really wish I hadn’t. In its hey day this place was incredible. Sadly today it comes across as a homophobic, hostile and RUDE venue. Went last Saturday afternoon; barely anyone in there and decided to use the bathrooms; suddenly accosted by a staff member who had forgot to rope the top floor off and felt it ok to rip into my partner and I for OUR mistake… promptly left for a proper bar opposite (Bar Soho!)… such a shame; this place used to be inclusive and incredible 20 years ago. Frankly Mr Jospeh and these apparent homophobic cronies in the venues ought to hang their heads in shame!!! Never to return…..

If I could give this place minus points I would - so my score of 1 star is a lie. Pretty much the same as this so called venue being LGBTQ+ friendly! What an absolutes joke, never have I felt so intimidated by security staff - homophobic at it’s worse, ageist as well, not just against me, as an older lesbian who has fought all of her life to be brave enough to be herself, but also, don’t dare try and go there to celebrate your 18th birthday and be brave enough to be yourself!! Apparently you have to be 18 and 1 day to enter this awful hateful place! Don’t dare challenge the “bouncers”, (they do not deserve the title security guards!), they will just quote“policy” and then personally insult you!! I wonder if the vile female “bouncer” would talk to her Nan the way she did to our family! Do not go here if you want to experience the LGBTQIA+ life in London - The Admiral Duncan, KU bar and Circa beat this god forsaken place hands down. #homophibicbouncers, #ageist #hatecrime

Vile, nasty homophobic bouncers on a gay nightclub door! One of them actually tried to start a fight with one man while the women door staff laughed and swore at the ladies that were with him. These people were not drunk and the door staff absolutely started this argument. Our party were so appalled that we left the queue and went to Circa bar round the corner which was amazing. We were scared to go into a gay bar because of vicious staff. DO NOT GO THERE!

bouncer wouldn’t let us in because we were irish. bouncer wouldn’t accept any form of irish id, other bouncers said we could enter but anytime we tried to go in she stopped us because they she said they don’t accept irish id

Don’t go!! 926184665 Avoid! If I could give 0 stars, I would! Tonight, I arrived around 9.30pm with some colleagues after work. They searched me as normal and then said I was “too intoxicated” to go in even though I had only 2 drinks prior to going. The bouncers didn’t want to listen (and even asked if I was deaf) and told me to “go have food and come back”. They are so rude and up themselves so much that they make you feel excluded (even though I am gay). Other people were going in who were obviously more drunk and after going to another bar, the bouncers there said they were known for this so be very cautious if you don’t want to ruin your night. This has happened to other people I know as well. Avoid! Don’t waste your money in this place! I will make sure I tell everyone I know and definitely won’t be getting my money in the future! They should be ashamed and a terrible representation on the gay community.

I’m not entirely sure how this place is still open. Staff are terrible! There are lots of great venues to choose from in London so do yourself a favour and don’t go here… it will only end in disappointment if you do!

The overall experience was fantastic, the only disappointment was the bartender who’s customer service was absolutely awful, the bar was empty and he completely ignored me until I kept making eye contact, he was extremely unpleasant and I even offered to buy him a drink, he rolled his eyes and clearly didn’t take one but didn’t say thank you either. He was walking around with a face like a smacked bum. He needs some manners

Went in with friends. Celebrating birthday. After spending £200 and then going out for a cigarette - bouncer comes up to me and says “mate you need to go, been told you’re drunk!” With an attitude problem!! Like WTF!! Not drunk at all!!!! Just spent all that money having a good time and then being told to just leave. Have heard about the bouncers there being “rude and aggressive” - just plain untrained!”. If you’re visiting London. Please AVOID - spend your money somewhere else!! If you’re the owner of G-A-Y, shame on you for hiring such horrible bouncers. It’s supposed to be an inclusive and welcoming place. Not somewhere where you feel as a gay person - somewhere unwelcoming and intimidating. What’s the point of having a place like that but having such horrible bouncers that damages and make your business look 💩

Ótimo lugar para dançar, beber e conhecer pessoas Fica próximo a outros bares gays e é uma opção boa para as gays que curtem pop music.

Disgraceful door men. Completely discriminated me and my friends because of our age and sexual orientation. We were 2 couples meeting up in London and just wanted to enjoy a few different bar experiences but because of our age and sexual orientation refused entry. Absolutely appaled with our experience.

Went for a drinks night out with friends. Person at the cloakroom said my sunglasses were going to be looked after without a number as it was quiet. Tried to leave at some point with security shouting asking me to leave premises. Never left a review on trip advisor but I have no choice. Security screaming at me for no reason threatening to kick me out just because I was asking for my items. At this point a lawsuit will eventually follow

Had a really fun time - Benjamin on the bar was a delight and very friendly. We will definitely continue to come here when out in London!

I’ve been with openly gay for years now and truly I’ve never felt more discriminated against by a club than I do by G-A-Y. Membership cards and accusations of drunkenness (when you’re stone cold sober) are their way of saying ‘you don’t look gay enough’. When I told the bouncer I was gay in a defeated manner he shushed me as if I was lying and told me to ‘never say that’. Once again an establishment that makes money off the word ‘inclusive’ is the complete opposite. Never going again.

Door staff so rude, make up rules as they go along. Last night they decided it was regulars only. It’s a shame the place used to be pretty good.