Photo by Thomas Hoang
In a powerful show of unity, eight of London’s leading LGBTQIA+ nightlife collectives have issued an open letter urging the UK government to take immediate action to protect the city’s rapidly declining grassroots queer venues. Led by INFERNO, and joined by RIOT, Queer House Party, Riposte, BUMPAH, Coven, U Haul Dyke Rescue, and PLASTYK, the coalition warns of a mounting “venue crisis” that threatens the cultural, social, and community fabric of queer nightlife.
The letter highlights the devastating statistic that London lost 58% of its LGBTQIA+ venues between 2006 and 2017—falling from 125 to just 53—and argues that without intervention, the future of queer nightlife will be defined not by care and community but by commercialisation and displacement. As collectives representing sex-positive spaces, dyke nightlife, trans femme communities, and soundsystem culture, they call on the government to recognise these venues as essential “cultural infrastructure” deserving of public support. They also urge venue owners and the wider nightlife industry to adopt fairer hire models that enable grassroots organisers to survive.
Accompanied by a group photoshoot to mark this unprecedented act of solidarity, founding London Trans+ Pride member Lewis G Burton captures the urgency at the heart of the message:
“These spaces are a lifeline. It’s where we build chosen family, find community care, and survive.”
