The Joiners Arms
The Joiners Arms was an LGBT pub and nightclub on Hackney Road in East London.[1]
| The Joiners Arms | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Joiners' Arms | |
  The Joiners Arms  The Joiners Arms | |
| General information | |
| Address | 116-118 Hackney Road |
| Town or city | London, E2 7QL |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°31′47″N 0°04′29″W |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Closed | 2015 |
The original pub, which closed in 2015, had been central to the East London gay scene since it was opened in 1997 by David Alexander Pollard.[2] It had been described as "Britain's trendiest gay dive"[3] with gay public figures including Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane and Patrick Wolf known to have frequented the venue, and with events hosted by gay entertainers Scottee and Jodie Harsh.[4] The venue had been open to a range of gay subcultures such as the bear scene and drag queens. Due to its late night opening and free entry, the Joiners Arms had a reputation for being a "last chance saloon" and sometimes having a rough crowd,[5] but this has also been described as part of its appeal.[3]
Plans were announced in 2014 to demolish the venue and replace it with a block of flats,[6] but supporters of the venue successfully campaigned to have it recognised as an Asset of Community Value.[7] Tower Hamlets Council only allowed the construction to proceed if the development included a pub that would "remain a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-focused venue for a minimum of 12 years". This was believed to be the first time that the sexual orientation of a venue's customers had been included as a condition of planning approval.[1]
References
- Neate, Rupert (4 August 2017). "You must include gay venue on site of Joiners Arms, planners tell developers". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- Pollard, David (16 December 2013). "GAY PUB WINS CASE TO KEEP LATE HOURS". Joiner's Arms.
- Henderson, Bob (January 2009). "Britain's Trendiest Gay Dive". Gay Times Magazine.
- Lismore, Daniel (3 March 2008). "JOINERS ARMS - WETYOURSELF".
- "Joiners Arms Review". Time Out London. Time Out. 20 June 2012.
- Joannou, Cliff (4 November 2014). "The Joiners' Arms is Closing and It's a Travesty". Vice News.
- "Legendary gay pub The Joiners Arms "back in business" with events on Hackney Road". Hackney Citizen. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
