10a Brewer Street,
Soho,
London,
W1F 0SU

0872 148 3537

Note: Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras.

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This is definitely London’s dinkiest gay bar, but in the case of the Escape size definitely doesn’t count for everything.

Far from resting on the laurels of the Escape’s considerable popularity, the management have gone to a lot of trouble to keep things exciting for their large crowd of regulars.

From events like the alliteratively planned Wednesday Wedding Disco, complete with a fabulous bride and ‘nuff frou-frou decorating the bar, to more relaxed video nights, there is always something on.

It certainly makes a change to wander into a bar on a week night and be greeted with swarms of shiny pink balloons hanging from the ceiling, and white floral garlands festooning the bar.

VidTheeo hits, projected on a big screen – electro, retro and beyond - inject some technology into this vegetation, as well as supplying inspiration for dance moves should your imagination flag.

The crowd are friendly and trendy, mainly in the 20-30 demographic, inevitably better dressed that their heterosexual contemporaries, and girls are most welcome. (Although I did notice how invisible you can become when no-one’s interested in sleeping with you. I suppose Darwin could have told me that…).

It’s laid back earlier in the evening but it gets pretty frenzied under that disco ball later on. They pull the crowds in with some great DJ’s who play a wide variety of music on different nights of the week, and the ever changing programme of amusements on offer.

It’s quite funkily designed without being over the top or too kitsch. Faintly suggestive pointy white chairs provide lower seating, high stools at counters for perching give a bit more altitude, and there’s an alcove by the video for more horizontal lounging.

It is deservedly one of London’s landmarks on the gay scene, and makes a varied night out any evening of the week for anyone.