372 Kennington Lane,
Vauxhall,
London,
SE11 5HY
0872 148 2512
The ViewLondon Review
The historic Royal Vauxhall Tavern plays host to comedy, cabaret, jazz, gay, bingo and club nights seven days a week, treating London’s alternative gay and his friends to endless evenings of unadulterated fun.The VenueThe rotund, red-painted Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Kennington Lane is just over the road from Vauxhall tube station. It’s easy to find, standing proud and alone at the end of the road in a patch of grassland on the corner of the South Lambeth Road, looking like a pub from a bygone era. The venue that gave birth to Lily Savage has refreshed and revitalised in recent years, with a paint job and new sound and lighting systems breathing life into the place.
The AtmosphereAttracting mainly thirtysomething beardy alternative gays and their straight friends, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern is consciously uncool. The crowd is here for pure, unadulterated fun, whether they want to boogie to the eclectic tunes, see a live music act or catch the hysterical cabaret, with stars throughout the week such as Amy Lame and the Dame Edna Experience hosting different evenings such as the infamous Saturday night shindig, Duckie. The staff follow the approachable lead of the management, keen to chat and keep the punters coming back to the bar for more.
The MusicThe Royal Vauxhall Tavern is nothing if not diverse, with a fine selection of indie, glam rock, '80s pop and electro pop dominating the club nights, and jazz and live music alongside comedy and drag acts making up the cabaret. This attitude free, fun-loving venue always has something different going on, and it’s worth a visit to the website to see what’s coming up. Expect to see brilliant chart-bothering DJs Readers Wives every weekend.
The DrinkThis venue has a well-stocked bar, so long as you’re not expecting anything too glamorous. It offers up everything you might expect at very reasonable prices, especially compared to some of the Vauxhall superclubs nearby, and the bar staff are friendly, efficient and eager to spark up conversation.
The Last WordThere’s nowhere better than the Royal Vauxhall Tavern for the more mature hedonist, eager to appreciate an attitude-free, diverse night out with lots of laughs and a sophisticated soundtrack. Leave the fake tan and muscles at home and enjoy a gay night out that’s not all about posing. A must visit.