New London gay club to open in bid to remedy ‘slow decline’ of capital’s LGBTQ+ venues

Mar 22 2018
Written by Jasmine Andersson

A new 750-capacity LGBTQ+ nightclub will be opening in central London.

The venue, formerly known as Opal Bar, will occupy the Hungerford House building, a 7000 square foot site on Victoria Embankment.

The building, which has been purchased by the owners of Circa Bar in Soho, will be renovated in a bid to revamp the “slow decline” of London’s LGBT+ nightlife scene.

Circa’s Facebook page is currently suggesting the club’s name will be Circa: The Club.

“After working on the London gay scene for over a decade and witnessing its slow decline I am very proud and excited that Circa is here to say that the London LGBTQ+ scene is far from over,” said owner and founder of Circa Alan Winter.

“We look forward to giving our community a sparkling new space that’s safe, stylish and most importantly fun.”

“The popularity of Circa has illustrated a demand for more LGBT-friendly venues in the capital,” said Emma Cousins at property firm CDG Leisure to the Evening Standard.

London’s Night Czar Amy Lamé, who has fought against the closures of LGBT+ venues after 50% of the city’s venues have disappeared over the last decade.

“The Mayor and I are clear that LGBT+ venues are a fundamental part of London’s vibrant nightlife and culture. Over the past decade the capital has lost more than half of its LGBT+ venues, which is why I’ve been tasked with stemming the flow of closures across the city,” said Night Czar Amy Lamé to Gay Star News.

‘I’m delighted that Hungerford House will soon be throwing open its doors as London’s newest LGBT+ venue. I can’t wait to visit,” she added.

The venue is a seven-minute walk away from Heaven, which is one of the most popular LGBT+ nightclubs in the country.

Circa The Club will open in the Spring.