11 lgbtq+ worth the night across United Kingdom, editor-ranked. All United Kingdom guides.
Royal Vauxhall Tavern ★ 4.7 · London
Vauxhall · 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, London SE11 5HY
The Grade II listed Victorian pub on Kennington Lane is the oldest surviving LGBTQ+ venue in the country, with the Friday Duckie cabaret since 1995 and a programme that protects what Vauxhall used to be.
Tip: Duckie on Saturdays is the institution. The Sunday Bingo Lingo and panto seasons sell out months ahead.
Dalston Superstore ★ 4.6 · London
Dalston · 117 Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London E8 2PB
The Kingsland High Street two-floor bar and basement club is the east London queer institution, with a calendar that runs from Horse Meat Disco-school disco nights through underground techno parties.
Tip: The upstairs bar is the warm-up, the basement does not really get going until midnight. Sundays are the lock-in.
Eagle London ★ 4.6 · London
Vauxhall · 349 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, London SE11 5QY
The Kennington Lane gay bar established in 2004 is home to Horse Meat Disco on Sundays, the long-running global disco residency that defines what Vauxhall sounds like at 3am.
Tip: Sunday Horse Meat Disco is the night, not Saturdays. Get there by 22:00 or queue down the road.
Heaven ★ 4.5 · London
Charing Cross · Under The Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, London WC2N 6NG
The 1979 club under the railway arches by Charing Cross remains the central gay nightclub in London, hosting both club nights and a live programme that runs from MUNA through G-A-Y Saturdays.
Tip: G-A-Y Saturday is the long-running pop room, Porn Idol on Thursdays is the institution night for first-timers.
The Regent Bar ★ 4.4 · Edinburgh
New Town · 2 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5DL
Edinburgh's gay real ale pub at the top of Abbeymount runs a rotating Cask Marque cellar and CAMRA Good Beer Guide listing in a quiet local pub well away from the Pink Triangle.
Tip: The walk up from the Playhouse is steep, the rotating five cask lines and friendly regulars are the reward at the top.
Two Brewers ★ 4.4 · London
Clapham · 114 Clapham High Street, Clapham, London SW4 7UJ
The Clapham High Street double-room bar and cabaret club is the south London institution, with nightly drag shows in the front room and a club floor in the back that runs until 4am at weekends.
Tip: The Friday and Saturday late shows are the draw, get a wristband for the back room before midnight.
She Soho ★ 4.4 · London
Soho · 23a Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 5JL
The Old Compton Street basement is the only dedicated lesbian bar on the Soho strip, run by Ku Bar with a vaulted basement sound system and a calendar of community nights for women and non-binary people.
Tip: Wednesday Butch Please and the weekend basement parties are the regular highlights, the upstairs bar is the chat room.
CC Blooms ★ 4.3 · Edinburgh
New Town · 23-24 Greenside Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AA
Open since 1994 next to the Edinburgh Playhouse, CC Blooms is Scotland's longest-running gay bar and club, drag cabaret and dance floor under one roof in the Pink Triangle.
Tip: Pre-theatre cocktails upstairs are quiet, the downstairs dance floor only really fills up after midnight on a Friday or Saturday.
The Street Bar ★ 4.3 · Edinburgh
New Town · 2b Picardy Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JT
The glass-fronted independent on the corner of Picardy Place is the daytime cafe end of the Pink Triangle, with outdoor seating, that turns into a busy bar and dance floor.
Tip: Sunday brunch with bottomless mimosas pulls a queue, the downstairs club opens around 22:00 if upstairs feels too bright.
Planet Bar and Kitchen ★ 4.2 · Edinburgh
New Town · 6 Baxter's Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AF
Edinburgh's longest-running gay bar sits next door to CC Blooms in the Pink Triangle, reasonably priced drinks, a snooker table, an arcade and nightly drag and DJ sets.
Tip: The Tuesday drag bingo regularly outdraws the Saturday DJ for laughs, arrive by 21:00 to get a booth in the back room.
The Dog House ★ 4.2 · Edinburgh
Newington · 18-24 Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9HX
The Clerk Street bar in Newington runs a queer-friendly alternative programme with eclectic decor, regular drag nights and a quieter dance floor than the Pink Triangle clubs.
Tip: The Saturday alt-rock DJ is the standout, arrive by 22:00 to grab one of the upholstered booths near the bar.