Council pledges £1.5million for new queer venue at the site of former gay club

Plans have been revealed to open a new queer venue at the former site of one of London’s biggest gay nightclubs.

Southwark council has pledged £1.5million to go towards the new LGBTQ+ venue in Bankside, which is due to open in 2026 and will include a theatre and workspace.

Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development said: “Our LGBTQ+ community will massively benefit from the new space and the facilities on offer.”

Southwark has the fourth-highest density of gay, lesbian and bisexual people of any UK borough, according to the latest census records.

The new venue will take over the site of the former gay men’s club, XXL, which closed in September 2019 despite a petition with 5,900 signatures opposing the move.

Although the venue was not saved, the council agreed that the site would be kept as an LGBTQ+ space.

The £1.5million pledge forms part of a broader £4million investment from Southwark council’s Community Infrastructure Levy, which developers pay towards improvements and services when they build in Southwark.

Almost £2.4million has been allocated towards the development of a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme in Old Kent Road. 

Southwark council’s Cabinet also agreed £50,000 from the levy to improve accessibility at Nunhead Station.

Cllr Dennis said: “These are major projects that will directly benefit residents and businesses and help us to build a better and fairer Southwark for all.

“Making sure money from developers is reinvested back into our communities is a vital part of what we do and we’ll keep ensuring that money goes towards making a real difference and improving life for the people of Southwark.”

The funding was agreed at Southwark council’s cabinet meeting on January 6.

Picture: Generic image of nightclub (Picture: Pexels/Harrison Haines)