To paraphrase a famous saying: after a nuclear holocaust, all that will be left are cockroaches, Cher and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Dating back to 1863, this pub-cum-legendary queer performance venue has been threatened for years by greedy property developers. But with public support (including from the RVT Future campaign) the venue has won the twin legal protections of ‘Asset of Community Value’ status and a Grade II listing. Business owner James Lindsay signed a new 20-year lease with the RVT building’s landlords in 2018.
People care about this place because it mixes a rich history – Princess Diana is rumoured to have visited with Freddie Mercury, and Lily Savage got her start behind the bar – with cutting-edge queer club nights Duckie (run by London’s ‘Night Czar’, Amy Lamé) and Bar Wotever. It’s a stalwart of London’s LGBTQ+ scene and an essential stop for anyone seeking the capital’s finest cabaret and performance – or just a bloody good time.
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