![sunday night gay bars london sunday night gay bars london](https://gaycities-listing-images-production.s3.amazonaws.com/originals/bars-2015-xxl-(at-pulse)-davidoperson-1e49b.png)
Raids meant that queer culture was forced further and further underground. Feel the legendary weekend vibes when you join us for spectacular nights hosted by some of London’s best queer DJs. Our gorgeous interior is the perfect place to enjoy fabulous celebrations, sip mouth-watering cocktails or chill out people-watching with a glass of Champagne. Police were a consistent presence at LGBTQ+ spaces, with homosexuality being illegal until 1967. Welcome to Rupert Street, the chicest LGBTQIA+ bar in Soho. We delved into Jean Fredericks' legendary Drag Balls in this piece here.
![sunday night gay bars london sunday night gay bars london](https://marylineg1.sg-host.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Berlin-LGBT-nightlife-5.jpg)
These Balls continued even after homosexuality was de-criminalised, and were more explicit about being Drag Balls. This includes events like The Chelsea Arts Ball, which was a costume ball that ran from 1908 – 1958 and celebrated gender and sexual experimentation and expression. Though LGBTQ+ venues did exist while homosexuality was criminalised, they weren’t always advertised as so, but still became a home to the community. The first recognised lesbian bar was the famous Gateways Club on King Road, which opened in 1931.
![sunday night gay bars london sunday night gay bars london](https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2017/03/Police-raid-on-a-queer-venue-in-Fitzroy-Square-1024x775.jpg)
Film screenings, experimental art, workshops and parties. Fringe Queer film and arts fest in East London. Closing event with speeches and stage shows on Saturday afternoon on Trafalgar Square. Venues specifically for LGBTQ+ people started to open, with The Cave of the Golden Calf, which was considered the first gay bar, opening in 1912. London Gay Pride 2022 : parade through central London as well as lots of parties, cultural and sports events and political debates across London. One of the most famous Molly Houses being Mother Clap’s in Holborn, which ran from 1724 until 1726, when it was raided. These were where gay men would meet one another, with there being mock marriages and births, singing, and sex. Eighteenth century Molly Houses were the first LGBTQ+ spaces that we'd recognise as a "modern" night venue.