No more G-A-Ys at the Astoria (G.A.Y @ Astoria)

Member Name: funkimunki

Product:	G.A.Y @ Astoria
Date:	29/10/08 (124 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A new venue has been found!

Disadvantages: The loss of a great venue and club night

I decided to review this place for one reason - G-A-Y is no longer! Well, not at the Astoria anyway. The sad news came a few years ago that the Astoria building was being sold off for offices/accommodation meaning that one of the most gig/club venues in London was disappearing forever. Add to that the fact that the club synonymous with the gay community would have to go too and the sadness was felt all around! The club finally played its plast night at the Astoria in July of 2008.

Rather unsurprisingly, G-A-Y has found a new venue under the arches at Charing Cross Railway Station where Heaven (another gay club) lives - or lived! Its unclear at the moment what exactly is happening to Heaven as it would be a shame to lose this place as well.

Having been to Heaven a number of times, its difficult to imagine how G-A-Y will retain the same atmosphere it had at the Astoria.

The Astoria was originally built in the 1920s as a cinema and converted to a theatre in the 70's. The space is huge and lends itself incredibly well to the live performance acts of a Saturday night that usually paraded the stage. Heaven on the other hand is a sprawl of rooms and partitions, low ceilings and less space. I'm not saying it cant work, but the crowd frequenting G-A-Y are going to have to change their perceptions a little.

I don't live near too close to London myself but no doubt I will find myself there again at some point so I guess I'll review the new club then! In the meantime, I am left with great memories of a truly camp evening - chart and disco music more generally the status quo - eying up the boys and dancing like nobody was watching!

I would definitely recommend this place if it hadn't just closed!

Summary: A big loss but lets see what the new venue is like....