Boozers

with EJ Scott

Wednesday 2 September 2026

Doors 6pm, Action 7pm, Carriages 9.30pm

Wheatsheaf Hall, South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall, London, SW8 2UP

(Opposite Holiday Inn Express, 6 mins walk from Vauxhall tube)

In the late 20th century the ‘Vauxhall Gay Village’ was coined as the leading locale for south London’s hedonistic queer folks to seek comfort, culture and community. With their blacked out windows, spit and sawdust atmosphere and late night opening hours, three infamous backstreet boozers were all 5 minutes stroll apart. This event explores the history of these venues: the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (1968 - now), the Market Tavern (1982 - 1997) and the Elephant & Castle (1972 - 1996). Each pub had its own distinct character; within the walls of these watering holes there is a lot of subcultural homo-history to uncover.

Social historian EJ Scott chews the fat with landlord-turned-old-bill Jason Dickie (TBC), artist Robin Whitmore and legendary bar steward BJ Mortimer, as old punters come out of the woodwork and rare film clips are screened. Starting with the Molly Houses, bent boozer boffin Magnus Coops puts pubs into historical context, and the ghosts of Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett appear in a cameo because it ain’t over until the big-boned drag queen sings.
Were you a regular? Come down and share your memories.
London’s queer pub culture continues to unfold through the years, but with generation Z getting sober, gentrification making commercial rents unaffordable, the lure of the dating apps and seven quid a pint, can we still get a round in?