Situated directly underneath bold east London arts space Guts Gallery and co-founded by its creator El Pennick, this new Hackney Downs day-to-night bar-slash-cafe bills itself as east London’s ‘FLINTA*-gay living room’.
Offering hot drinks, speedy wifi and ample plugs, it’s a chill spot for coworking in the afternoons, while its cosy corners, low lighting and cool but low-key vibe make it a great date spot – just as long as you’re cool with running into half the lesbians in east London at the same time. On the menu is a selection of classic cocktails at pretty reasonable prices (the dirty martini is especially good) plus European low-intervention wines, draught beers from east London’s Queer Brewing, and an entire separate menu of well-considered no/low options, including Lucky Saint on tap.
It’s no surprise this place has fast become a favourite haunt of London’s coolest art gays, who flock here in their droves after every private view in the gallery upstairs. But don’t be fooled by the chic interiors, art-covered walls and natty wines; it also offers a healthy dose of self-aware sapphic silliness, with recent events including a Friday night ‘Julia Fox hour’, where patrons could sip their spicy margs while listening along to the first chapter of the actress’s memoir ‘Down the Drain’, and a pirate-themed night called ‘Scissor Me Timbers’.
A welcoming, fully accessible space with friendly staff, the Saloon clearly takes its community responsibilities seriously; in its first few months, it has collaborated with a bunch of queer collectives and clubnights, hosting pre-drinks for Butch, Please!, singles mixers and speed-dating nights with Lez Girls and LinkTing and fundraisers for queer bookshop The Common Press and local football team Hells Bells.
All in all, a very welcome addition to London’s queer landscape. Yeehaw!