JAN 2014
CONTENTS
GSCENE magazine www.gscene.org @gscene GScene.Brighton
WHITE PARTY AT CHARLES STREET
PUBLISHED BY Peter Storrow TEL 01273 722457 EDITORIAL info@gscene.com ADS+ARTWORK design@gscene.com EDITORIAL TEAM James Ledward, Graham Robson ARTS EDITOR Michael Hootman SUB-EDITOR Graham Robson DESIGN Michèle Allardyce MODEL Adam James Knight Represented by MBA www.mbagency.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Dean Stockings www.deanstockings.co.uk
LEGENDS
FRONT COVER
POISON IVY
NEWS
CONTRIBUTORS Jaq Bayles, Jo Bourne, Nick Boston, Suchi Chatterjee, Craig Hanlon Smith, Enzo Marra, Netty, Carl Oprey, Eric Page, Kat Pope, Del Sharp, Keith Sharpe, Gay Socrates, Darren Sole, Brian Stacey, Glen Stevens, Craig Storrie, Duncan Stewart, Roger Wheeler, Mike Wall, Morham White, Kate Wildblood
6 News
SCENE LISTINGS 22 Brighton Listings 36 Solent Listings
ARTS
PHOTOGRAPHERS Phil Bailey ukmomentcatcher.com, Michael Hootman, James Ledward, Liam Cottam @ Quick Pics Photos www.facebook.com/Quickpicsonline?fr ef=ts & www.quickpicsonline.com, Ian Mager-Playford, Natasha ParkerSmall, Portraits4Fun, Toms Udris
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REVENGE
REGULARS
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FEATURES
18 SEVENTH TIME LUCKY Dave Rigby talks to Gscene about his new book and coping with the surrogacy process
LEGENDS
Arts News & Listings Art Matters Book reviews Classical Notes Film reviews
19 SURROGACY Family lawyer Susan Eskinazi on whether surrogacy is for you.
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Dine With Morham Dance Music DJ profile: Hayley Pons Geek Scene Shopping Craig’s Thoughts Homely Homily Duncan’s Domain Heart & Sole Netty’s World Queerying Queenie Keith Sharpe Brighton MCC Suchi’s World Charlie Says Allsorts Mitchell’s Musings Sam The Trans Man Keith’s Corner
INFORMATION 58 Services Directory 59 Classifieds 62 Advertisers’ Map
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WWW.GSCENE.COM Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, added: “I’m delighted that from March 29, couples in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven will have the option of getting married, regardless of their sexuality. It has been a long road to legalising equal marriage, and I am very proud of the efforts that have gone into securing this date. MP SIMON KIRBY
DATE ANNOUNCED FOR FIRST SAME-SEX WEDDING Equalities Minister, Maria Miller MP, has announced that the first same-sex wedding will take place on March 29, 2014.
“This is just another step in the evolution of marriage and I know that many couples up and down the country will be hugely excited that they can now plan for their big day and demonstrate their love and commitment to each other by getting married.”
BEN SUMMERSKILL
Couples wanting to convert civil partnerships into marriages and married people who want to change their legal gender while remaining married will be able to do so later in the year. Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive of gay rights campaign group Stonewall, said: “This historic step will mean that, for the first time, every gay person in England and Wales will finally
CAROLINE LUCAS MP
Under the terms of the Bill, religious organisations can 'opt in' to offering weddings, but the Church of England and Church in Wales are banned in law from doing so. Ben concluded saying: "This historic step will mean that, for the first time, every gay person in England and Wales will finally enjoy exactly the same rights as their heterosexual friends and family."
Rev Michael Hydes from MCC Church, said: “Metropolitan Community Churches have been celebrating same-sex marriages since 1968, a year before Stonewall. As a member I'm proud to have done my part, testifying at senate committee hearings in the United States and as a part of the movement that made same-sex marriage in Maryland legal. I have been married to my husband, Chris, since marriage became legal in Maryland in January this year. REV MICHAEL HYDES
Maria Miller MP, said: “Marriage is one of our most important institutions, and from March 29, 2014 it will be open to everyone, irrespective of whether they fall in love with someone of the samesex or opposite sex.
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, concluded, saying: “This is wonderful news and long overdue. Having long campaigned for LGBTI equality, and having always believed in the human right to same-sex marriage, I’m delighted that this is finally happening. Congratulations to Philip and James, and to all the same-sex couples who will finally see their partnerships recognised.”
"It’s particularly resonant for us at Stonewall that this announcement has been made on UN Human Rights Day. As we celebrate the progress made in Britain, we’re marking the day by launching new guidance for equality activists worldwide."
Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove & Portslade, first raised the issue of marriage inequality with David Cameron back in 2011 and felt that it was right for the government to make same-sex marriage a priority. Mike said: “The passing of this legislation was a historic step forward for gay rights, so it is now with great delight that my constituents and I can look forward to the first marriages taking place on Saturday, March 29, 2014. It was completely at odds with an open and democratic society to exclude gay couples from the important institution of marriage. I know that allowing gay couples to marry will mean a huge amount to thousands of residents in Brighton & Hove.”
“As a minister I've married more than a few people over the years. What I've found is that same-sex couples and opposite sex couples want to be married for the same reason. They want to acknowledge publicly their love and commitment to each other. They want to hold life in common, two people living lives which combine to create something greater than the sum of the parts involved. I wanted to marry my husband Chris because I love him. I wanted to publicly pledge everything I have and everything I am to him. Love is the reason people get married and sexuality and gender are simply irrelevant.”
BRIGHTON COUPLE WILL MAKE HISTORY ) The first people to make history and tie the wedding knot at Brighton Town Hall will be Philip Robathan and James Preston who are the first couple booked in at Brighton Registry Office on Saturday, March 29 at 9am. Philip hails from Dorking and has lived in Brighton for 10 years, while James comes from Nelson, East Lancashire and has lived here for the last three years. Philip is registered disabled while James works in customer service within the LGBT community. Asked why it was important for them to be married, Philip said: “Marriage is important to us both because we both believe that it’s the ultimate gesture of the love we have for each other and we want to share that with all our close family and friends.”
DR KEITH SHARPE
MARIA MILLER MP
Couples wanting to be among the first to exchange vows will need to give formal notice of their intention to marry on March 13, 2014.
“I look forward to attending many same-sex wedding ceremonies in the years ahead!”
enjoy exactly the same rights as their heterosexual friends and family.
MIKE WEATHERLEY MP
) The announcement was much earlier than expected and comes after the coalition government’s controversial legislation received Royal Assent last July. The Bill had the support of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaderships.
Dr Keith Sharpe, Chair of Changing Attitude Sussex, commented: “I am delighted that the first gay marriages will be taking place earlier than originally thought. This is an important step in the provision of equal human rights for lesbian and gay people and it is wonderful that we will have this in time for Easter 2014. This brings the UK into line with an increasing number of other countries. My hope now is that the Church of England will change its hardline teaching and authorise services of blessing for same-sex couples. Many gay people of faith wish to make their vows before God and the national church of this country should support them in doing this.”
GSCENE 7
PEER ACTION
‘FREEDOM TO LIVE’ IS THE
THEME FOR BRIGHTON PRIDE 2014 ) Brighton Pride Community Interest Company have announced Freedom to Live will be the umbrella theme for the Pride Festival in 2014. Brighton Pride will continue to put the spotlight on the plight of LGBT all over the world who do not have the same freedoms as we enjoy in the United Kingdom. Politics returned to Brighton Pride in 2013 with organisers highlighting the plight of LGBT people in Russia following the introduction of new antigay 'propaganda legislation' that makes it illegal for Russians to talk positively about LGBT people and their relationships. Brighton's gay businesses produced 100 posters supporting the local 'Brighton Supports LGBT Russia' campaign produced by Kate Wildblood and Karol Michalec, which were carried on most floats and walking tableaux on the Pride community parade.
PAUL KEMP
PETER TATCHELL @ PRIDE 2013
To recognise that it is still illegal to be LGBT in 76 countries, 76 people had their faces painted by artist Vince Laws with the names of those countries. Pride organisers also banned the sale of vodka distilled in Russia from the festival site at Preston Park in protest at the new legislation. One highlight of Pride for many in 2013 was Peter Tatchell's impassioned plea from the main stage for worldwide equality following the screening of James Brooks‘ inspirational film From Russia Without Love, a stirring video message accompanied by music from Russia's 2013 Eurovision entry, What If?, which explained the situation in Russia for LGBT people and their friends and called on everyone attending Brighton Pride to support campaigns to highlight the issue. Peter has agreed to return to Brighton Pride in 2014 to highlight from the Main Stage the plight of LGBT all over the world who are being persecuted because of their sexual orientation. Paul Kemp, Pride Director, said: "2013 was a defining year for Pride as a celebration of diversity and a return to Pride's campaigning roots. In 2014 we want to widen the focus to highlight countries all over the world where LGBT people are denied their freedom to live" For more information about Brighton Pride, view: www.brighton-pride.org
JANUARY DIARY SUN 5th: PEER ACTION LUNCH SOCIAL 1pm: 112 Church Street, lunch & a drink for £10. Places limited please book on the Peer Action website.
TUE 7th, 14th, 21st: SWIMMING 12:20pm: one hour swim with Ian at quiet, Kemptown pool, £4.
TUE 7th, 14th, 21st: YOGA 6pm: qualified Yoga practitioner Dan Noquet invites all abilities to join him at Hampshire Lodge, mats provided, session fee £3.
FRI 10th: FILM NIGHT 8pm: at Mikes (St Peters area), The Hobbit - An Unexpected Adventure (2012), limited spaces, bring your favourite drink/snack www.peeraction.co.uk/activity/filmnight
WED 15th: BINGO 6.15pm & 7pm: Gala Bingo Hall with Ian, admission £6.
SAT 25th: HOLISTIC THERAPIES 1:50pm: THT Ship St. Half hour sessions £5. See available therapies and book via: www.peeraction.co.uk/activity/therapyday
WED 29th: SOCIAL GAMES NIGHT 7:30pm: with Chris & Julia at the Barley Mo Pub, Kemptown. Peer Action would like to thank everyone who helped in 2013, including: Rainbow Fund for grant of £5,000; Bear-Patrol and Camelford who raised £180 at Santa Patrol on World AIDS Day; Adam from Bedford Tavern who raised £250 at 3rd Annual Xmas Quiz. All funds will help Peer Action to continue to develop health and wellbeing activities in the coming Year. For more information about Peer Actions social/health activities and how to get involved please visit: www.peeraction.co.uk
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WORLD AIDS DAY: CANDLELIT VIGIL ) The lives of those lost to HIV/AIDS were remembered at the 25th Anniversary World AIDS Day Candlelit Vigil at the Brighton AIDS Memorial on Sunday, December 1. Representatives from the voluntary sector, council, police and politicians from all political parties read the name of those who had been lost to HIV/AIDS over the last 25 years.
BRIGHTON’S LGBQI MUSIC GROUPS RAISE £1,812 FOR LUNCH POSITIVE A cheque was officially handed over on December 13 to Lunch Positive during their weekly lunch at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church by a number of representatives from the various music groups that took part in the concert.
The 2013 World AIDS Day Concert: We All Live Together, organised by Brighton Gay Men's Chorus and featuring all the city's LGBTQI music groups performing together, raised an amazing £1,812 for Lunch Positive, the HIV charity and lunch club who provide a healthy meal for HIV positive men every Friday. The We All Live Together concert is an annual event with music, songs and mince pies donated by the Co-op supermarket, which took place on World AIDS Day at St Mary's Church in Kemptown, Brighton. For the first time in a number of years, all of the local LGBTQI music groups (and a few of their friends) were able to take part including the Actually Gay Men's Chorus, Actually Gay Women's Chorus, Brighton Belles, Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, Rainbow Chorus, Resound Male Voices, Qukelele and special guest for the evening, The Theatre Workshop. It was a magnificent event.
GARY PARGETER
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Gary Pargeter from Lunch Positive, said: “A huge and heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in the concert. The ‘We All Live Together’ theme is incredibly relevant to our work at Lunch Positive, and especially poignant for World AIDS Day. Lunch Positive is all about being together, and the support this provides for one another. Knowing that members of our LGBT communities support us and help raise such valuable funds makes a massive difference.”
The event was staged with help of a grant of £1,985 from the Community Development Fund through the Communities First Queens Park Ward programme, awarded to Lunch Positive, the HIV charity who provide a weekly lunch club for people with HIV. The funding was spent on improving wheelchair access, signage and promoting the event.
Picture taken by Nick Ford Photography
LUNCH POSITIVE CELEBRATE WORLD AIDS DAY WITH FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS ) Lunch Positive, the HIV charity, hosted a special lunch on November 29 to commemorate World AIDS Day.
Methodist Church, MindOut, CRI LGBT Brief Intervention, Gscene and Sussex Police LGBT Liaison.
The HIV lunch club welcomed 72 people, including guests from partner organisations, who support the LGBT community. Guests included: Lawson Unit, Public Health, HIV Community Specialist Team, East Sussex Avenue Clinic, THT, HIV Chaplaincy, Peer Action, Dorset Gardens
Gary Pargeter, Volunteer Project Manager, said: “It’s important that we continue to recognise that despite improvements in HIV treatment, isolation, loneliness and stigma are still experienced by many people with HIV. There are still huge social and psychological challenges for people with HIV, and many still experience poorer health and well-being. “We all enjoyed a fantastic gathering. It was hugely uplifting to have so many people join with us who celebrated the value and importance of togetherness. Our volunteer team did a fantastic job on what was one of our busiest lunch sessions.” For more information about Lunch Positive, view: www.lunchpositive.org
Lunch Positive supports World AIDS Day events as a member of the Brighton & Hove World AIDS Day Partnership, which is formed from a wide range of local charities and organisations which include the Sussex Ecumenical HIV Chaplaincy, Sussex Beacon, THT, CDO Sussex, Bear Patrol, Gscene Magazine, Peer Action, Brighton & Hove City Council Community Safety Team and AVERT.
GSCENE 9
ACTUALLY GAY MEN’S CHORUS
BRIGHTON'S LGBT CHOIRS PERFORM TOGETHER ON WORLD AIDS DAY ) For the first time ever all of Brighton's LGBT choirs came together on Sunday, December 1 at St Mary's Church, Kemptown to perform a concert of the very highest quality on World AIDS Day. It has taken many years to have a single event to celebrate World AIDS Day, but the wait was well worth it. The concert was sold out, the performances were excellent, and queues stretched outside St Mary's Church as people waited patiently to get in. It is almost inappropriate to deliver a critique of the individual choirs who all contributed to a magnificent event, but the theme We All Live Together said everything that needs saying and helped Brighton & Hove's diverse LGBT communities and their friends come together in one building to celebrate the 25th anniversary of World AIDS Day. However, for the record I think it is fair to say the Actually Gay Women's Chorus almost stole the show with their beautiful rendition of Secret Love from Calamity Jane. It was a perfect choice for the event, the acoustics of St Mary's Church and the diverse audience. Doris Day would have been very proud. BRIGHTON GAY MEN'S CHORUS
LGBT choirs performing included: The Rainbow Chorus, the south’s only LGBT-mixed choir; Brighton Belles, a new women's choral group; Resound, a male voice ensemble specialising in close harmonies; the Actually Gay Men's Chorus; Brighton Gay Men's Chorus; and Qukulele, the queer ukulele band. Special guests were the Theatre Workshop Chorus, made up of young people from theatre schools all over Sussex, who were given a thunderous reception by an appreciative audience. COMBINED CHOIRS
The choirs returned to the stage at the end of the evening to sing Howard Alexander's anthem You Make Me Proud, which had won an international competition run by the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir to find an anthem to create the OutPostChoir project, the world's largest virtual choir. The evening was a fundraiser for Lunch Positive, the HIV charity who provide a healthy meal once a week for people who are HIV positive.
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WWW.GSCENE.COM YOUNG PEOPLE’S VOICE LGBT CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES DAY
OLDER & OUT 2 ) Somerset Day Centre & Lifelines hosted a get together for the newly formed Older & Out group on Friday, November 29. It was well attended by the LGBTQI community who enjoyed the venue, the opportunity to meet others, and the cake!
Jess Wood, Co-Founder and Director of Allsorts, said: “We warmly invite you to share with us in promoting this idea of a dedicated LGBT Children, Young People and Families Day on the first Tuesday of every LGBT History Month in your own context and in your own way! You could put on a Tea Party for parents of LGBT children; show a film about trans young people in a school; put on an event about diverse families; enable a faith group to hold a Q&A session with some LGBT young people; design some fun and engaging stickers to distribute across your networks; use social media to generate interest throughout the day, etc, etc, etc!" To show your support for the day by ‘liking’ and sharing the official page and to join the global event, view: www.facebook.com/LGBTCYPFDay
SUSSEX POLICE SEEK VOLUNTEERS TO ADVISE ON LGBT ISSUES ) Sussex Police are seeking more volunteers from the community to help officers gain a better understanding of issues facing LGBT people across Sussex. A group of people from across the county, including councils, LGBT charities & support groups and also independent members of the public already exists, but police would like the group to become even more representative. Sussex Police have put together an action plan to make sure that the Force provides the best possible service to the LGBT community. If you are interested in contributing, contact the Sussex Police Diversity Team on 101 extension 540584, or email: lgbt@sussex.pnn.police.uk
COMEDY CABARET DINNERS RETURN TO QUEENS HOTEL ON FRIDAY NIGHTS ) Davina Sparkle is producing a series of Friday evening cabaret dinners at the Queens Hotel starting Friday, January 3 at 7pm. The evening starts with a bubbly and canapé reception followed by a three course Comedy Kings & Queens Gala Dinner with waiter service and entertainment from the outrageous Davina Sparkle, comedy impressionist Frank Sanazi and Tom Mones, Midland IT girl drag queen Tiara Thunderpussy and top UK comic Geoff Jukes. Ideal for birthdays, couple nights out, office parties or nights out with friends. Tickets: £29.50, for bookings call 01273 321222. Accommodation packages are also available. For info on future events email: david@davinasparkle.co.uk
LGB PATIENT SURVEY
MARINE TAVERN RAISES £3,122.86 FOR CHARITY ) The Marine Tavern raised £3,122.86 last month from activities including a raffle, auction, lucky dip, lemon challenge, hair cut and bonus ball. The money was donated to: Help for Heroes, £1,722.86; Lunch Positive, £800; THT, £350; and £250 towards the Jennie Castelle Philippine Fundraiser at Legends.
) East Sussex Healthcare, a Trust providing NHS hospital and community services, has launched a survey in partnership with Stonewall's Healthcare Equality Index for lesbian, gay and bisexual patients in East Sussex. The questionnaire takes five minutes to complete and will be an opportunity for patients to give feedback on the Trust's healthcare services to LGB people. All information provided is completely confidential and will go to Stonewall's Health Team, not to the services discussed. Those surveyed are asked to use the code 302 to identify the Trust when prompted. To complete the survey, view: www.stonewall.org.uk/patients urvey
At a previous event, held to gather information about what the older LGBTQ community want, concerns were expressed about the lack of support networks in older age; ‘As you get older the worry is that the support networks aren’t there – and not everyone has children.’
Volunteers manned the decks and provided a mouth watering selection of cakes, washed down with tea and coffee. There was a very friendly atmosphere and attendees and volunteers are all hopeful that this will become a regular gathering with other activities and social events also being organised. The intention, moving forward, is for older people to also be able to use this as an information service and for confidence building to enable the formation of lobbying or other groups. The next event, on February 14 is keenly awaited. For more information telephone 01273 699000, Mon-Thur.
DAVID & SHEILA WATKINS
JESS WOOD MBE
) Young People’s Voice, a campaigns action group based at Allsorts Youth Project, are organising 'LGBT Children, Young People and Families Day' on Tuesday, February 4 during LGBT History Month. Last year Allsorts ran a successful LGBT Tea Party, LGBT Youth Champions Dinner and LGBT Youth Prom. This year they’re holding a conference in Brighton Exploring Intersectionality to educate and celebrate our complex and diverse identities and the connections between them. If you would like to attend view: www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/cypf14/ or email: info@allsortsyouth.org.uk
) David Watkins, former Lib Dem Councillor for Brunswick & Adelaide, celebrated his 80th Birthday with a reception at the Cornerstone Community Centre in Hove last month.
GSCENE 11
We are an independent LGBT Forum working with the Community to address and improve safety issues in Brighton & Hove. Please sign up for our news letter at: www.lgbt-safety-forum-brighton.com/newsletter
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REPORT IT! For info on reporting hate crime go to: www.lgbt-safety-forum-brighton.com/reporta-crime/ For a list of local support groups please visit www.lgbt-safety-forum-brighton.com/support-groups
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WWW.GSCENE.COM GAY. LET'S GET THE MEANING STRAIGHT!
NEW GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONAL EQUALITY ACTIVISTS
BEN SUMMERSKILL
) Stonewall, the LGB equality charity, launched a new campaign in November 2013, with pop star Will Young and Mumsnet, to tackle homophobic language in Britain’s schools. The campaign, devised by young people, is in response to research conducted for Stonewall by the University of Cambridge that showed that 99% of gay young people still regularly hear phrases like ‘that’s so gay’ and that 84% of those young people are distressed by it.
) Stonewall, the LGB equality charity, has launched a guide for equality activists worldwide on how to engage with the UK government. It provides the practical information they need to work effectively with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development to advance the human rights of LGB&T people in their countries. The guide, being sent to over 1,500 activists as well as British High Commissions and Embassies around the world, features case studies of how the UK government has supported LGB&T activists to date.
Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive of Stonewall, said: “Homophobic language has a devastating impact on gay young people’s self-esteem. With your support, we’ve already been able to send our resources to over half of all secondary schools in Britain. But we know there’s still much more to do. We want to ensure that every secondary school can access our posters and new guidance for teachers and young people. To help Stonewall make this possible: • Make a donation – just £5 allows Stonewall to send these materials to a secondary school, ensuring that hundreds of pupils understand why it’s wrong to say ‘that’s so gay’. Simply text GAY to 70500 or to donate £5 online, view: www.stonewall.org.uk • Buy a ‘Gay. Let’s Get The Meaning Straight’ t-shirt to show your support to young people. • To take action to help tackle homophobic language in your local school or workplace, view: www.stonewall.org.uk
Stonewall has worked with activists in over 35 countries worldwide since 2011 to support them in their own campaigns and share their expertise from over two decades of campaigning. JASMINE O’CONNOR
Ben concluded: "Since launching the campaign we have received cross-party support and commitments from schools up and down the country to tackle the problem. With your support they will be able to turn those commitments into real action so they can realise their ambition that every single child in Britain should be able to reach their full potential – regardless of their sexual orientation.”
GAY HUMANISTS DISMAYED AT INDIAN COURT RULING
George Broadhead, PTT’s Secretary, said: “This ruling is a terrible setback for the struggle to secure equal rights for LGBT people, not just in India, but in many of the Commonwealth countries that still enforce colonial era draconian restrictions on rights of LGBT people. It will inevitably provide encouragement to the many African states like Nigeria and Uganda which are viciously hostile to LGBT relationships and rights.
GEORGE BROADHEAD
) The Pink Triangle Trust (PTT), the UK gay Humanist charity, has expressed its dismay and outrage at the news that India’s highest court has upheld a colonial era law which criminalises gay sex. The Supreme Court threw out a 2009 New Delhi High Court decision that ruled the law was unconstitutional and this change could see gay people jailed for up to 10 years.
Jasmine O’Connor, Stonewall’s Senior International Officer, said: “We know from our work with dozens of LGB&T organisations globally that they look to the UK as a beacon of gay equality and therefore a key ally in their own campaigns for fundamental rights. The UK government has said it wants to work with activists in their own countries and we hope that this guide will help bring activists and the UK government together on the ground.”
“As in these countries, where religious organisations, including the Anglican Churches, strongly support anti-gay legislation, the ruling in India has been welcomed by religious groups, particularly leaders of India's Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities, who had challenged the 2009 New Delhi High Court ruling which described Section 377 as discriminatory and said gay sex between consenting adults should not be treated as a crime.
ZAFARYAB JILANI
“The PTT fully endorse the statement made by G Ananthapadmanabhan of Amnesty International India, who said ‘This decision is a body-blow to people's rights to equality, privacy and dignity. It is hard not to feel let down by this judgement, which has taken India back several years in its commitment to protect basic rights.’” Zafaryab Jilani, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, added: “The Supreme Court has upheld the century-old traditions of India. The court is not suppressing any citizen, instead it is understanding the beliefs and values of the large majority of the country.”
The guide is free to download. To see further details of Stonewall’s work with international LGB&T activists, view: www.stonewall.org.uk/what_w e_do/7976.asp
TORY MP DELAYS ALAN TURING PARDON ) John Leech, the Lib Dem MP for Manchester Withington, has spoken of his disappointment that a Tory MP's objection to the Bill to pardon Alan Turing, made during its second reading in the House of Commons, has delayed its progress until the New Year. John Leech MP, Lord Sharkey and William Jones, who started the Pardon Alan Turing e-petition, are pictured below.
Alan Turing played a key role in cracking the German Enigma Code in WW2, an act which helped swing the advantage in Britain’s favour and bring an end to the war. In 1952 Turing was convicted of “gross indecency” because of his homosexuality and chemically castrated by the state. He took his own life two years later. John Leech has led the campaign for Alan Turing to be granted a posthumous pardon describing him as “a Manchester hero and a national hero”. The Parliamentary Bill, introduced by Lib Dem peer Lord Sharkey, passed through the House of Lords in July of last year. Manchester MP John Leech has been taking the Bill through its stages in the House of Commons. John said: “I’m very disappointed that one solitary objection has delayed this Bill. The persecution by the state for being gay is a scandal that shouldn’t be allowed to stand and it is only right that we are pushing for this posthumous pardon. Alan Turing was a Manchester hero and a national hero. He helped shorten the war and was then persecuted by the state for his sexuality. He should be pardoned and this would be a fitting way of saluting his memory. I will continue to push for a posthumous pardon for Alan Turing because I believe it is morally right.” The Bill will be heard again for its second reading on February 28.
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TOM DALEY CONFIRMS HE’S IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GUY
TOM DALEY
) Tom Daley, Olympic bronze medalist, confirmed the world's worst kept secret to his two million followers on YouTube last month, revealing he is “in a relationship with a man and could not be happier”. Whilst not using the word 'gay' he said: “In spring, my life changed massively when I met someone, and they make me feel so happy, so safe and everything just feels great. That someone is a guy.” Angry at being mis-quoted in an interview with a journalist, he had decided, with the support of his close family, that it was the time to talk about his relationship. He said: “It wasn’t until spring that everything just clicked, felt right and my world just changed. Of course I still fancy girls but right now I’m dating a guy and couldn’t be happier. People are going to have their own opinions and make a big deal of this. Is it a big deal? I don't think so. I just wanted to say something. I feel ready and I wanted to do it.” He said his father who died of a brain tumour when he was training for the London Olympics in 2011 always told him the most important thing was that he was happy. Tom said: “Right now I could not be happier. I am still Tom, I still want to win an Olympic gold medal in Rio in 2016 for Great Britain and it would be great to have you guys on that journey with me too.”
DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWING GAY CYCLIST GRAEME OBREE NEEDS FURTHER FUNDING ) Journey Pictures Ltd need additional funding if a documentary they have been making, following the gay cyclist Graeme Obree, is to be released. Over 200 hours of material has been filmed for the documentary, which has been two years in the making and follows the twice world record holder and twice world champion who came out in 2011. The film covers Graeme’s entire story; from the fight with his demons, to his cycling victories. GRAEME OBREE
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Tom was named as the 'Sexiest Man in the World' ahead of David Beckham in this year’s Attitude awards. This year, Tom returns to TV with the second series of his hit TV show, Splash.
NINTH BLAGSS ANNUAL BOWLING EXTRAVAGANZA AT BRIGHTON BOWLPLEX
BRIGHTON BEAR PATROL @ BLAGSS BOWLING EVENT 2013
) BLAGSS, the LGBT sports group, will take over the entire Bowlplex at Brighton Marina on Tuesday, March 18 for their ninth Bowling Extravaganza. Last year’s challenge was a huge success, attracting over 200 bowlers from a wide range of Brighton & Hove's community groups.
The format of the competition will be as in previous years – 2 games on different lanes; with glorious prizes for the winning team. To enter, send an email registering your team’s name and interest to: viv@vivwoodcockconsulting.co.uk and turn up on time with your team on the evening. Places are limited to 26 teams so don't delay in contacting Viv for details for how to pay the entry fee of £60 per team. Ninth BLAGSS Bowling Extravaganza, Bowlplex, Brighton Marina, BN2 5UT: Tuesday, March 18; 6.30pm for registration and a chance to practice; 7pm start; £60 per team of eight players.
Zoe Lavoie-Gouin, Production Manager, said: “In the light of the recent revelations concerning Tom Daley, we feel that it is fundamental to keep trying to bridge the gap between homosexuality and sports. Graeme’s fear of coming out was enhanced by the homophobia still present in sport and it is our duty to share his story so the future can be brighter for the new generation of athletes.” To complete the process an additional £20,000 must be raised to cover the cost of a craft editor, an editing suite, the sound mix, the completion of the final big screen version, colour corrected with titles and graphics as well as the master for the streams, downloads and DVDs. To donate, view: www.kickstarter.com/projects/ 369066676/the-outsidergraeme-obrees-story-in-hisown-words
) Persia West signed copies of her new book, Just Be Kind, at a launch event at Breeze Brasserie, Brighton last month. The book costs £6.99 and is available on Amazon. For more info about Persia, view http://persiawestwords.net/
LOCAL ESTATE AGENT WINS TOP AWARDS ) Justin Lloyd Estate Agents received top awards for both sales and lettings at the 2013 International Property Awards last month. The UK’s finest estate agents and property consultants gathered at the glamorous Grosvenor House Hotel in London to attend a glittering gala and to hear the long-anticipated results of the competition. The International Property Awards are the world’s richest competition when measured by the value of the projects entered. The award winners’ logo is recognised as a symbol of excellence throughout the global industry. A high calibre of international experts identify the most significant building projects as well as the highest quality UK estate agencies.
Justin Lloyd said after the event: “I’m delighted to receive these prestigious awards which are testament to our fantastic team and recognise the great feedback we receive from our clients every day. As members of The National Association of Estate Agents, The Association of Residential Letting Agents and The Property Ombudsman, we operate to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. We look forward to 2014 being another year of successful sales and lettings on behalf of our clients and building even further on our already exacting levels of service.”
DAILY NEWS UPDATES ON
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AUSTERITY AND THE IMPACT ON LGBT PEOPLE
'YOUNG PEOPLE’S VOICE' WIN SECTOR STAR AWARD
BRIGHTON DJS HEAD UP NEW FRIDAY NIGHTS ON GAYDIO RADIO
Report identifies cuts to health and housing services are pushing LGBT people to the margins of society.
) Young People’s Voice (YPV), the LGBT youth campaigning and engagement project at Allsorts, has won the Outstanding Volunteering Contribution for Young People category at the Sector Stars Community and Voluntary Sector Awards 2013.
) Local DJs Jonesy and lil Alex have taken up residency on Gaydio every Friday night between 8–10pm. The station’s relaunch of Friday nights is the latest in a series of changes to both the image and sound of Gaydio over the past year. Jonesy and lil Alex are renowned for their unique 'party house' sound, blending anthemic samples with body shaking basslines and beats alongside the latest trends in house music. Jonesy and lil Alex (aka Steve Jones and Alex Ryan) have been DJing around Brighton and the South of England for the last six years. Jonesy is no stranger to music or radio, having hosted the lunchtime show on Juice 107.2 for several years and more recently founding Brighton's biggest music festival, Shakedown. He is also now Promotions Manager and resident DJ at the South Coast's number one LGBT club, Revenge.
Carola Towle, UNISON National Officer, said: “It is very worrying that LGBT people are being hit so hard. We can’t be turning back the clock to a time when people were frightened to come out. It seems anti-LGBT discrimination is regaining a hold in society. The growing sense of isolation among LGBT workers is another real concern. And we are in a situation where young people are being kicked out from home and have to sofa-surf, live in squats or be homeless.
The data also reveals that the closure of specialised health services could trigger a rise in the number of undiagnosed sexual infections as some participants admitted they would be reluctant to use general health services. Some expressed a fear in the rise of unsafe and risky sexual behaviour and were worried fewer people would be tested for HIV. This was particularly true for people of minority ethnic background, whose communities may not accept homosexuality. There is also a growing perception of feeling ‘less safe’ in the streets and more vulnerable to discrimination. The cut or loss to initiatives that help LGBT people report hate crimes meant some raised concerns that LGBT discrimination was ‘creeping back into society’. The police cuts on equality and diversity advisors for example made this feeling worse. Some participants described an increasing sense of isolation due to a perceived rise of homophobia. LGBT people said they felt gradually disconnected from public services and less engaged with their local community. Others felt marginalised, but described a feeling of guilt for asking for their needs to be met when there are other groups needing support. Similarly to other groups, LGBT people talked about earning less from zero-hour contracts, having their pay frozen for years, struggling to meet basic costs such as household bills, travel costs, making them more likely to use payday loans and food banks. One participant said he: "had gone without medication on occasion because cost has become prohibitively high".
EAST SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST MEETS WITH HASTINGS & ROTHER TRANS* GROUP ) East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust recently met with the trans* group from Hastings & Rother Rainbow Alliance (HRRA) to discuss their views on healthcare. Concerns raised included changing gender on health records, recognising trans* peoples' needs within care, and single-sex accommodation. These points will be responded to formally by the Trust with a plan to improve services in the New Year. HRRA supports the LGB&T communities of Hastings and Rother. For more information about HRRA, view: www.hrra.org.uk/ For more information about the HRRA Trans* Group, view: www.hrra.org.uk/trans/trans-group/
Hosted by the Brighton & Hove Community and Voluntary Sector Forum (CVSF), Sector Stars is a way of recognising community groups and voluntary organisations for all their dedication, hard work and enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, lil Alex claims to have played every decent dance floor in the UK, with a list of credits including the infamous Wildfruit dance tent at Brighton Pride, Ministry Of Sound, Fire, Hed Kandi and has played alongside acts like Freemasons, Laidback Luke and Fatboy Slim.
YPV was announced as a winner at the CVSF Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, November 27. The award panel included representatives from Sussex Police, American Express and Brighton & Hove City Council. Jess Wood MBE, CoFounder and Director of Allsorts, said: “LGBT young people need a voice and the youth volunteers at Allsorts have done an amazing job in schools and elsewhere in articulating what we need to change to make their world safer. The award recognizes this work and carries forward our vision that we are all in it together and that we must just connect.”
JESS WOOD MBE
“All the advancements achieved through the years, the expertise developed, are being wasted and staff morale is low from being unable to help service users. This in-depth study is a first of its kind and it gives us a snapshot of the devastating impact of the government’s austerity measures on LGBT people.”
For more information about youth volunteering at Allsorts, view: www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/yout h-volunteering/
LIL ALEX & JONESY
) Austerity measures imposed on housing, health and police services are pushing LGBT people to the margins of society, according to a report by NatCen Social Research, for UNISON. The reduction of specialist services means users miss out on key support and protection. Interviews with 113 LGBT people, revealed that the young, in particular, were on the verge of homelessness because of issues surrounding their sexuality or gender identity, and a lack of safe and supportive housing options. ‘Coming out’ for some young people, resulted in being kicked out of the family home, with no family support and nowhere to go.
CAROLA TOWLE
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Jonesy said: “We can't wait to get back on the airwaves playing the music we love. House music has had a huge resurgence and this is an exciting opportunity to lead the way and entertain both gay and straight alike!" Lil Alex added: "The world of clubs, bars and house music can be a hard one to navigate, but both Jonesy and I have worked hard to keep our sets fresh and original. We’ll be hunting out the best remixes, mash-ups and bootlegs exclusively for our show on Gaydio.” Gaydio claim audiences of 850,000 listeners a month following the acquisition of DAB Digital Radio licences formerly operated by GaydarRadio. The station is available on DAB in Brighton and across the Sussex Coast, in London and also in Manchester on FM. To listen, view: http://gaydio.co.uk/
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DAILY NEWS UPDATES ON
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WWW.GSCENE.COM RAINBOW FUND CELEBRATES AWARDS OF GRANTS TO LGBT/HIV ORGANISATIONS WHO PROVIDE FRONTLINE SERVICES TO LGBT COMMUNITY
Service users from the Clare Project, a project for transgender people; MindOut, the LGBT Mental Health Project; and Brighton GEMS, the Gay Elderly Men's Society, explained how the services provided by the groups were a lifeline for them in their everyday lives. Their contributions were the highlight of the evening.
organisations are needed and services are not being duplicated.
The Hilton Metropole donated the use of the Regency Room for the night, along with tea and coffee, Moshimo provided sushi, and Sonia Marmite donated the sound system and lighting.
“Both myself and our chair (Maria) received the invitation to the ceremony on November 13 – both myself and Maria were unable to attend due to us both having regular work commitments on Tuesday evenings – unfortunately between November 15 and 25 I was unwell and off sick from work and Maria was on holiday. This meant that the invitation was not circulated amongst our trustees, staff and volunteers until the day before the event. At that point when I returned to work I did my best to get somebody to represent us at the event, however with such short notice no-one was available to attend. Our non-attendance was therefore purely circumstantial. As a small charity with very few staff and relying on volunteers, capacity issues are sadly a reality.”
PEER ACTION BRIGHTON GEMS
LUNCH POSITIVE
ALLSORTS
In his opening speech, Paul Elgood, the Chair of the Rainbow Fund, explained how the Fund operates and how decisions are made as to which organisations get grant funding. He also announced that money had been set aside from last year’s fundraising to fund a needs assessment of LGBT/HIV organisations during the next year to make sure that the grants given to
LGBT Switchboard did not turn up on the night to collect their grant. Following the event, the Director of Switchboard released this statement. “I would like to apologise to anyone offended by us not being present at the Rainbow Fund Grant Awards ceremony. This was certainly not deliberate rudeness or an intended snub to the Rainbow Fund or the LGBT community and nor was it motivated by any particular mindset.
He finished by saying that the Pride team were committed to developing the event into an international event the city could be proud of but that could not be done without direct financial support from the city council. He acknowledged the ‘visionary contribution’ his fellow Director Paul Kemp brought to the event and said he was particularly proud of the political focus of Pride 2013 and looked forward to more politics in 2014.
LGBT SAFETY FORUM
Gary Pargeter, the volunteer project manager from Lunch Positive, the HIV charity who provide a healthy meal once a week for HIV positive people, opened the evening by explaining why the Rainbow Fund grants were important to the future of Lunch Positive and to the services they deliver.
David Hill, Director of Brighton Pride Community Interest Company, explained how important the council’s £25,000 grant is to the success of the Community Parade. He revealed that just two weeks before the 2013 event, there wasn’t enough money to stage the event and that sponsorship for the event was the lowest it had ever been. Finances would have been much easier if the council’s £25,000 grant had been in place. He went on the record and challenged the assertion of Councillor Geoffrey Bowden that the grants to the Rainbow Fund were being paid out of a surplice of Pride money. He explained the £1 a head donated to the Rainbow Fund was a fixed cost for Pride, guaranteed in the budget: “It is an expenses like any other Pride expense.”
SUSSEX BEACON
) LGBT and HIV voluntary sector organisations, cabaret entertainers and community fundraisers attended the Rainbow Fund grants ceremony on Tuesday, November 26 at the Hilton Hotel, which was hosted by Lola Lasagne.
CLARE PROJECT
) Allsorts - £5,000 for a youth engagement worker to support the Transformer group for young Trans* people, presented by Cllr Bill Randall, Deputy Mayor of Brighton & Hove. ) Lunch Positive – £7,000 towards food, venue hire and lunch club running costs for people with HIV, presented by Jennie Castelle. ) LGBT Community Safety Forum – £7,000 towards hate crime advocacy, presented by Davina Sparkle. ) Sussex Beacon – £4,000 towards a new occupational therapy project, presented by David Raven aka Maisie Trollette.
MINDOUT
GRANTS AWARDED WERE:
) MindOut – £7,000 towards peer support groups and housing advice for people with mental health issues, presented by Mark Romany-Bruce. ) Peer Action – £5,000 for health and wellbeing activities for those living with HIV, presented by James Ledward. ) Brighton GEMS – £4,000 towards support
costs for befriending & support work for older gay men, presented by David Harvie of Brighton Bear Weekender. ) Clare Project – £4,640 to extend for psychotherapy and speech therapy sessions for Trans* people, presented by Philip Marini from the Rainbow Fund.
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SEVENTH TIME LUCKY David Rigby decided he was going to have a baby, but he had no idea just how difficult it would be. Gscene talks to David about his determination to be a parent and 7th Time Lucky, the book he wrote about his experiences. ) What is 7th Time Lucky about? The book does stet by giving some background to me, who I am, and my long-standing desire to become a parent. But, the main part of the book is all about the hoops we had to jump through, the challenges we faced, the people we encountered and those who let us down during out struggle to have a child. It’s a very personal story, and one which I’m proud to have been able to put into print. What inspired you to write the book? I started writing a diary early on in the whole surrogacy process. My initial thought had been that I would have this real positive story to tell my child when they were old enough to understand, and I thought a diary of events would be an ideal way to capture all the steps of the process, and the excitement of it all. I hadn’t intended to turn the diary into a book - this idea only came once things had settled down after our daughter was born. Whilst the book probably describes a unique set of circumstances, I hope it inspires other people who want to become parents, just to keep plowing ahead and keep their determination at the forefront of their mind. Legally, UK based surrogacy organisations now have to help gay as well as straight couples, so all being well, the types of challenges we faced would not be too common from now on. Why surrogacy? I had always wanted to be a dad, even though being was gay would be a bit of a hurdle. Back in 2003, I had a relationship with a woman who fell pregnant, but then decided she couldn’t continue with the pregnancy. At that stage, I thought all chances of becoming a dad were over. But, in 2007, I had reached a point in my life where the circumstances were right for me to try for myself to have a child. I had considered adoption, but for me, it didn’t feel like the right thing to do at the time. Surrogacy would give me a child that was genetically linked to me, and that was the route I wanted to follow first. What did you learn through the process? Apart from learning about all the legalities of surrogacy, I learned so much about myself as well. There were so many setbacks, disappointments, challenges, and times when many people may have just given up. I surprised myself a number of times by just seeing these as minor glitches - I never resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t ever be a parent, and my determination really did help me to see it through until my little
girl was well and truly on the way. Sadly I also learned some hard lessons. I’m inclined to take people at face value, trust and believe them. Going through this whole process, I should have let my head rule my heart a lot more than it did, and that would probably have saved a lot of the heartache. How did you cope emotionally with the uncertainty of the surrogacy process? This was the real difficult thing. Through the whole process, we had agreed that we weren’t going to announce anything until we knew a baby was on the way. I had confided in a couple of friends, and it wasn’t until further down the line that I told my family. But, every time something went wrong, I needed support, to talk, scream and offload all the emotions I encountered. Sometimes the stress was hard to bear, but we got through in the end.
responsibilities in relation to the process, which was probably the primary cause for the initial surrogates not working out. It was probably a blessing when he was jailed in relation to criminal activities linked to another company, as I think otherwise we would never have become parents at all. What did you look for in a surrogate? I wanted very simple things: that we could build a relationship with her and trust her and I made clear early on that I wanted to ensure she had her own family and support network so that she felt comfortable going through the process. Because we used an eggdonor, physical attributes for the surrogate weren’t important at all, although obviously she would have to be healthy and a good candidate for the IVF treatment. Any advice for other budding fathers-to-be? Yes - if you want to be a dad, and you know you are capable of being a good one, then just go for it. Even nowadays, it won’t be easy women who are prepared to carry a child in the UK for someone else aren’t ten-a-penny, so it will take some time. But, it’s worth the wait. Being a dad makes me feel complete, it gives me a real purpose in life, and I have loved every minute (apart from the nappies)!
Did you get much support? The support I received when I knew we had a child on the way was only ever from our families - they were all so excited about this child coming along, and having another little Rigby in the world. You mention ‘surrogacy fraudster’ John Gonzalez. Tell us about your dealings with him. John’s involvement came about because his was the only organisation I could find in the UK which, apparently, could help a gay couple through the surrogacy process. From my initial conversations with him, he had done this before, and made it all sound so simple and straightforward, that I agreed to hire him to help us. You’ll see from the book that John wasn’t quite true to his word in a number of respects, and he failed to fulfill a number of
) David Rigby’s book 7th Time Lucky is out at the end of January. To pre-order your copy, visit: www.amazon.co.uk/7thTime-Lucky-Dave-Rigby/dp/1846249562
GSCENE 19
“Although surrogacy is legal in the UK, a surrogacy commercially arranged by advertising or similar methods is not”
IS SURROGACY FOR YOU? Although surrogacy has provided a great opportunity for many same sex couples to have children, is it something you should consider and is it right for you? By Susan Eskinazi ) Surrogacy in simple terms is an arrangement in which a couple or a single person arrange for a woman to carry and deliver a child for them. Traditional and gestational surrogacy are the two types of surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate’s egg is used making her the genetic mother, whereas gestational surrogacy is when the intended (also referred to as the social) parent or parents may provide sperm, eggs or sometimes an embryo or they may use donors to provide these. In these cases the surrogate is not related to the child in any way. Should you choose to have surrogacy in a country other than UK there is an international surrogacy agreement to cover this. Although foreign surrogacy may seem the easier option be aware that it can be more complicated. Seeking prior advice is crucial both in the UK and the country of your choice, certain legal complications can arise over immigration rights, nationality status and payments involved. The surrogacy agreement has to comply with the legal requirements of both the UK and the country of surrogacy which may create other problems.
Although surrogacy is legal in the UK, a surrogacy commercially arranged by advertising or similar methods is not. Surrogates cannot be paid for anything other than reasonable expenses such as loss of earnings, travel, maternity clothing, medications or vitamins, plus any extra expenses incurred for twins or more. Other expenses to consider will be surrogacy fees to the clinic, which vary from clinic to clinic and depend on what is involved in the arrangement - insemination or IVF and how many attempts you have.
To become a legal parent you must apply for a Parental Order following the child’s birth. There are strict criteria that need to be met before a Parental Order is applied for and once again you need to seek specialist legal advice before embarking on a surrogacy arrangement to make sure you are entitled to apply for a Parental Order. Parental Orders are designed especially for surrogacy, providing an alternative to adoption, and they can only be made by the court and with the permission of the surrogate mother and her partner. A Parental Order confirms full parental rights upon the intended parent or parents and at the same time extinguishes those of the surrogate and her husband or civil partner. Once an order has been granted a new birth certificate is issued with the intended parents names. Although the process of someone else carrying your baby may seem quite overwhelming it is also an exciting time. Being in great shape mentally and physically as well as being armed with the necessary legal information should make for a smooth passage into parenthood.
It is important to remember that surrogacy arrangements are unenforceable by law and before making any decisions you should seek legal advice. The birth mother of a child born through surrogacy is always considered, under The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act 2008, the legal parent until this is changed by the court. This applies even if the surrogate mother is genetically unrelated to the child. She will be named as the child’s mother on the birth certificate, and if she is married or in a civil partnership her partner will be considered the other legal parent even if there is a biological one. But the biological father will be considered the legal father in cases where the surrogate is not married.
) Susan Eskinazi is a family lawyer at Eskinazi & Co, London, a firm with specialist knowledge of all aspects of family law. They have successfully represented people throughout London, Greater London and the surrounding areas since January 1998 when the firm was established.
WITH MORHAM BY MORHAM WHITE ROUND-UP FOR 2013 ) I’m back on these chilly shores after my annual tour of inspection in the USA. Restaurants there are experiencing a similar challenge to those closer to home. Regular haunts seem to manage to weather any storm and new ones are hanging onto their new found opportunities. On this trip I found four new locations, two of which will be revisited; one for the deal and the second for the style and welcome I received when I returned to properly sample the wine list! Closer to home the year started with a visit, to Betty La La’s (22 St James’s Street). Our experience was promising at the time but too early to assess whether things would bed in. A year on and I’ve made a further visit and had a delightful culinary experience (see review opposite). We sampled the new menu which will be rolled out fully in February after the temporary closure for refurbishments over January. On this visit I found the dishes more sophisticated, beautifully presented and for me a more interesting choice. I really hope that support can be generated for this fast improving venue.
- but I passed by in early December it was locked up and a mess inside, so must be closed as there’s no info in the window; and Harrisons Of Hove (11-13 Montefiore Road, Hove). The former for its style; the latter for the deal. On the seafront, The New Club (133-134 Kings Road, west of Regency Square) provides a stylish alfresco option and more recently the elves have visited the newly opened IBIS Hotel (88 92 Queens Road), £8 for all you can eat and drink and no tip necessary as it’s self–service, really quite stylish and comfy! August reported lunch prior to the Golden Handbags where we ‘camped out’ at the Regency Tavern (32-34 Russell Square, northeast of Regency Square), for yet another Sunday lunch, with portions of size and a really relaxing stay as we staggered out around 6pm!
The battle of the Sunday Roasts is hotting up in the Village so an invitation to Legends (31-34 Marine Parade) for the September issue was a new venture that started a round of local visits. All in, a good performance with some stunning puddings, unparalleled locally. KOBA
Charles Street (8 Marine Parade, opposite the Sea Life Centre), has a new menu, so there was an evening out mid-week to sample an array of dishes; something completely different for your intrepid punter. No bill here, so prices on the menu have to be fully appreciated as being extremely keen for what might be described a less formal array of dishes. In December I lost it with a complete rant – ‘Things I’d like for Christmas’; well there’s no harm in hoping, is there? Décor, comfort and attracting clientele is nearly as important as the delivery of the food. So I offered some thoughts on how venues could improve, enhance their settings, find new offerings, and new client groups, as many seem caught up in the past and new ideas are essential for development. It will be fascinating to see if any of the ideas are taken up!
LEGENDS SUNDAY ROAST
COME DINE
CHARLES STREET
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When I eat alone, or indeed with a crowd, the setting can be ‘all important’, whether it be alfresco, a place with a view, or a dark interior with no view, when one may then focus on the staff, or as last year, their garb, oops, cat out of bag (or was it a Cow)!
Some ideas from last year (and beyond); In February I was on a search for Sunday lunch and, with the demise of my favourite Steak House, I found a corner in Koba (135 Western Road, adjacent to Waitrose). For many years I had wrongly assumed it was a mere wine bar. How wrong I was and how impressive was the offering. A ‘tardis’ of a place, the meal was most enjoyable.
) BREAKFAST £££: The New Club (worth it when alfresco); £: The Ibis Hotel; £: Harrisons. ) LUNCH ££: Browns (3-4 Duke St, in the Lanes); £: The Café in the Park, St Ann’s Well Gardens (for summer alfresco).
March saw me develop a habit of visiting The Cow (95/97 Dyke Road, at the southern end of Seven Dials). I have to admit I was so impressed I made three trips in 10 days and it has since become one of my regular haunts for supper and Sunday lunch. In May I had a round-up of breakfast haunts, with my enduring favourites: the Hub in Hove
NEW STEINE
THE COW
) SUNDAY LUNCH All ££: The A Bar, with ‘mein host’ Alex on Marine Parade; Wickwoods Country Club
A BAR
) COFFEE Small Batch Coffee Company on Seven Dials roundabout or north-west corner of Norfolk Square (the two I’ve tried to date).
(north off the road to Henfield, seven minutes drive from A27); and The Cow. ) SUPPER ££: The Cow and £: Charles Street. ) DINNER £££: Coalshed (8 Boyces Street); ££: L’Eglise (196 Church Road, Hove, just west of Hove Library); ££: Betty La La’s; and £: New Steine hotel & Bistro (10-11 New Steine, off St James’s Street just down on the right hand side as you face the sea). So that was last year; wishing my reader Joy (it’s a boy’z name and an ‘in’ joke) for the coming New Year. Morham xx.
GSCENE 21
BETTY LA LA’S 22 St James’s Street, Brighton, 01273 693444, www.bettylalas.com ) An invitation out… with our hostess, Sandy, at the helm, securing an impressive 4.5 out of five on Trip Advisor; four out of six local ‘LGBT’ hotels delivering an impressive five out of five points! Eleven months on from my last visit and this stylish venue has indeed settled in. The menu and delivery thereof has matured and the dishes we sampled were well executed and major successes. For starters we chose grilled marinated sardines (£6.95) which my dining companion said were “properly executed” and for me, the prawn cocktail (£6.95), an old favourite which I wondered how might they deal with. Well, a complete surprise with a delectable mousse of avocado, another of beetroot, both in shot glasses, a dressed bowl of leaves with the prawns, separately served in a delicate sauce. With a dash of black pepper, we were off and both of us greatly impressed. The main dishes included chicken or fish bouillabaisse (£13.95 or £16.25), sea bass fillet (£14.25), beef bourguignon, duck confit, beef fillet, roasted venison, marinated lamb chops or grilled kebab of beef and chicken, rigatoni and spaghetti dishes (£12.95), and a vegetarian tartar (£12.95). We had the chicken bouillabaisse and the confit of duck; again we were both more than satisfied. Clearly there is sufficient variety and interest on the menu to warrant many further visits. For dessert I had a chocolate brownie (£5.95) with a dollop of vanilla ice cream which was more than enough for me but my dining companion came to my aid. That, after his sticky toffee pudding (£5.95), which didn’t linger long on the plate! My glasses of house Pinot Grigio Blush (£6) and Shiraz (£6.50) were a delight as was the Prosecco, which finished off the evening. As an entrée to the new menu, I feel sure it will be a success when it is fully floated in February after a full makeover of the premises during January when it will be temporarily closed. (Look out for the grand re-opening party). I’m really impressed at the development and maturity of their menu, which has moved on some distance from the start of last year. Well done Betty La La’s.
22 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM A BAR, BAR 7 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY + BRIGHTON SAUNA
JANUARY
LISTINGS
A-BAR
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed is the OPEN MIC PIANO BAR with Mark
Hodge; sing your favourite tune with Mark or just listen at 8.30pm.
l REGULARS Fri is LIVE MUSIC at 9pm. l Sat is Pre-Club with drink promos l FOOD bar food served Mon–Sat noon–7pm (last orders 6.30pm); Golden
Handbag award winning Sunday roasts served from noon–5pm (last orders 4pm), to book call 01273 696691. l DRINK DEALS double-up on spirits for an extra £1.50 on Fri & Sat. Wed & Thur are cocktail nights from 9pm; buy one get the other half price. l OPEN Sun–Thur noon–midnight; Fri & Sat noon–2am. Unrivalled sea view, large heated smoking terrace and all big sport events.
Information is correct at the time of going to press. Gscene cannot be held responsible for any changes or alterations to the listings
WEDNESDAY 1
l A-BAR limited food noon-5pm l BAR 7@CRAWLEY open 6pm l BAR REVENGE New Year’s Day Bloody Mary Party; open 2pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice Recovery Party: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am l BULLDOG 48-Hour Non-Stop NYE Party: cabaret: Dave Lynn 9.30pm; DJ Marcia 9pm l CAMELFORD ARMS New Year Hangover Party; food noon-8pm; open noon l CHARLES ST New Year’s Day: Mrs Moore Is Hungover 9.30pm; open 5pm l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS New Year’s Day; open 3pm
BAR 7
l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR New Year’s Day Cabaret 3.15pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l PARIS HOUSE New Year’s Day; open noon l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Taboo At The Ivy: amateur strip night, £100 cash prize; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Betty’s New Year’s Day Hangover Karaoke 6pm; open till midnight l REGENCY TAVERN open noon l SUBLINE closed l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS closed for New Year’s Day l ZONE open 10am
THURSDAY 2
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; cocktail night; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Party Night: DJ 6pm l BAR REVENGE Girls On Top warm-up 9pm;
l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; Friday Club 6pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm; food noon-7.45pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH CLUB 70s/80s/90s Revival: DJ Aky 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Friday Night Live with Lady La Rue, 2 floor party 9pm; DJ Peter Castle in club 11pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Camp Attack: tunes & karaoke 8pm; open noon l QUEENS HOTEL Davina Sparkle’s Comedy Cabaret Lunch: canape reception, 3 course gala dinner, raffle & entertainment from Davina Sparkle, Frank Sanazi, Tom Mones, Tiara Thunderpussy & Geoff Jukes 7pm; tickets £29.50, call 01273 321222 to book l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open 11am l REVENGE Shameless: DJs Trick & Lee Harris 10.30pm l SUBLINE THT Grand Prize Draw: great prizes l A-BAR live music 9pm; bar food noon-7pm; to be won, £1 per entry 9pm open noon l ZONE live music: Back Beat 9pm; open l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Claire Fuller 6pm 10am l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up 9pm; open noon-6am l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Friday Night l A-BAR Pre-club music; food 12-7pm; open Live with Lady La Rue: 2 floor party, DJ Peter noon Castle in club 11pm l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Waynsie Rudeboy l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon 6pm l BULLDOG DJ Grant Knowles 10pm; cabaret: l BAR REVENGE Sweet Revenge Warm-Up Lady Imelda midnight; open 11am 9pm; open noon-6am
open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm; food noon-3pm & 6-9pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tea pot cocktails, ‘drink me’ shots, fab decor, tunes & win bar tabs 8pm; open 12 l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Thirsty Thur; open 3pm l ENVY Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tea pot cocktails, ‘drink me’ shots, fab decor, tunes & win bar tabs 8pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY cabaret: Lady La Rue; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine: alt cabaret night 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l REVENGE Girls on Top: DJs 10.30pm l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm l ZONE karaoke 5pm; open 10am
FRIDAY 3
SATURDAY 4
CRAWLEY
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (31) is CABARET with Drag With No Name, joined by DJ Magic. l REGULARS Sat is PARTY NIGHT with drink promos and DJs: Waynsie Rudeboy (4 & 25), Rob (11) and Claire Fuller (18). l Sun is Ray & Tyler’s KARAOKE, sing to win a shot. l Thur is PARTY NIGHT with a DJ. l Fri is PARTY NIGHT with DJs: Claire Fuller (3), Magic (10), Missy B (17) and Cozmo (24). l DRINK DEALS happy hours on Wed from 6–9pm. l OPEN Sun & Wed 6pm–12.30am; Thur–Sat 6pm–2.30am. Closed Mon & Tue. l www.7crawley.co.uk
BRIGHTON SAUNA
l ONE FOR THE DIARY New Year open 24 hours from 10am on Tue (31)
Dec–1am on Thur (2).
l REGULARS Every Wed is NAKED DAY all day, no towels to be worn. l DRINKS licensed bar: Sun–Thur 11–1am and Fri & Sat 11–2am. l OPEN For future listings visit: www.thebrightonsauna.com
24 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM THE BULLDOG + WORLD AIDS DAY & MINDOUT PUB QUIZ @ CAMELFORD ARMS
JANUARY
LISTINGS
BULLDOG
l ONE FOR THE DIARY New Year: Tue (31) Dec is the start of the 48 HOUR NON-STOP NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY with DJ Marcia at 10pm; Amy’s karaoke is upstairs at 10pm. Wed (1) cabaret with Dave Lynn at 9.30pm, hosted by DJ Marcia at 9pm. Closes Thur (2) at 2am. l REGULARS Tue is POPTASTIC with DJ Lee. l Wed is DIVA RUSH with DJ Marcia, all drinks £1.99 when select artist plays, 10pm–2am. l Thur is RELEASE with DJ Grant Knowles at 10pm. l Fri is DJ Grant Knowles at 10pm; CABARET in the top bar at midnight: Lady Imelda (3), Miss Dot-Com (10), Mary Mac (17), Miss Penny (24) and Titti La Camp (31). l Sat is with DJ V John at 10pm, DJ Lil Alex at 3am; KARAOKE upstairs at 10pm. l Sun is DJ SLIP MATT at 6pm, DJ Grant Knowles at 10pm, KARAOKE upstairs at 9pm. l Mon is DJ Marcia’s GLITTER BALL 70s/80s tunes at 10pm. l DRINK DEALS include: pints from £1.95, double spirit & mixer from £2.30, bottles from £1.85 (Terms & conditions apply). l OPEN daily from 11am–very late. www.bulldogbrighton.com
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Lee Harris 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ Lil Alex 3am; karaoke 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-7pm; open noon l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: all-male DJs Jonesy, Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy on rotation 9pm; food noon-7.45pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Sexy Sat: DJ Tony B 9.30pm; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH CLUB Old School Sat: DJ Sean Quinn 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Fusion 7pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l PARIS HOUSE live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful
Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm; open noon l POISON IVY afternoon karaoke & Betty Swollocks’ karaoke till midnight; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Stephanie Von Clitz 4.30pm; Betty’s Karaoke 6pm; Ultimate Party 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-6pm; open 11am l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJs 10.30pm l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Sally Vate 9pm; open 10am
SUNDAY 5
l A-BAR Sunday roasts: bookings 01273 696691 noon-5pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Ray & Tyler’s karaoke 6pm l BAR REVENGE Acoustic Sunday: live music 4pm; Karaoke Queens: LouBag & Smithy 8pm; open noon
CAMELFORD ARMS
l TWO FOR THE DIARY Wed (1) is the NEW YEAR’S DAY HANGOVER PARTY with food served noon–8pm. l Sat (25) is BURNS NIGHT with regular food served alongside haggis, neeps & tatties from noon–7pm. l REGULARS Thur is the £300 BIG CASH QUIZ at 9pm. l The FRIDAY CLUB is at 6pm. l Sun (5) & (19) is The BEAR BASH at 5pm. l FOOD Wed is SENIORS' LUNCH with two courses for £5.50 served 2–3.30pm; home-cooked menu & manager's specials served Mon–Fri noon–3pm & 6–9pm; Sat noon–7pm; Sunday roasts & selected menu served noon–till gone! l OPEN daily from noon. The Camelford is the most dog-friendly pub in town.
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Sunday roasts 12.30pm; Piano Bingo 5pm; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Slip Matt 6pm; DJ Grant 10pm; karaoke 9pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS Sunday roasts & select menu noon-till gone; Bear Bash 5pm; open noon l CHARLES ST cabaret: Maisie Trollette 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate, roll over jackpot 8.30pm; Sun lunch 12-7pm l 112 CHURCH ST Sunday Roast noon-late; open noon l DR BRIGHTONS Hangover Therapy; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR Sunday roasts noon-3pm; cabaret: Lucinda Lashes 3.15pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open 1pm l POISON IVY karaoke noon; cabaret 5.30pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Tammy Twinkle 6pm; karaoke 7.30pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN Sunday roasts noon5pm; Piano Bar 1.30pm; open noon l SUBLINE Come in Your Pants: DJ N.U.D.E, underwear party 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live jazz: The Jazz Roast 3pm; open noon l ZONE live music: Collusion 5pm; karaoke 7.30pm; open 10am
MONDAY 6
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR REVENGE Quiz with Liz: cash prizes 8.30pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN Mon Club; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; open noon l CHARLES ST food noon-8pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS open 3pm l ENVY Studio 150: student night 10pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Lola Lasagne 9.30pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Pete’s karaoke 8.30pm; open noon
PICS FROM WORLD AIDS DAY @ CHARLES STREET + ENVY
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 25
JANUARY
LISTINGS
CHARLES STREET BAR
l ONE FOR THE DIARY New Year’s Day Wed (1) is MRS MOORE IS HUNG OVER at 9.30pm; venue opens 5pm with drink specials. l REGULARS Wed is SALLY’S BINGO with a sweepstake cash prize jackpot at 9.30pm, £2 for two games. l Thur is The MAD COW'S TEA PARTY with Alice in Wonderland décor, tea pot cocktails, 'drink me' shots, pumping tunes & hostess Ms Joan Bond at 8pm; drinks from £1, win a bar tab for the night, entry £1. l FRUITY FRIDAY FIX is with DJ Leeroy spinning dance/funky house, plus discounted cocktails, at 9pm. l Sat is BOYS IN THE BAR with an all male DJ line up including Jonesy, Lil Alex, Grant Knowles & Leeroy on rotation at 9pm, free entry! l Sun CABARET at 7.30pm: Maisie Trollette (5), Nan (12), Drag With No Name (19), Rose Garden (26); TRANNY ROCK & ROLL BINGO with Sally Vate and rolling jackpot at 8.30pm. l FOOD served noon–8pm and till 10pm on Tue; two for £6.95 on select mains, 2-for-1 gourmet hotdogs at Dog Tails on Tue. Sunday Lunch: home roast beef, chicken or veggie served noon–7pm, £6.95, or two for £10. l DRINK DEALS JANUARY SALE: selected drinks £2.50 all day, every day, including: all WKD flavours, all 175ml glasses of Hardy’s wine, pints of Kronenbourg and single spirits and mixers. l AFTERWORK happy hours: All drinks 50% off Mon–Sat from 5–9pm, and on Sun from 8.30pm, right after the show. All deals excl sparkling wine & cocktails & not in conjunction with other offers. Cocktails: two for £8 on Tue & From from 9pm. l OPEN daily from noon. l www.charles-street.com
l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
TUESDAY 7
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR REVENGE VIP Tue: Harry’s Karaoke, DJ Fifi, 8pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN Theatre Bar; open 12 l BULLDOG Poptastic: DJ Lee; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Dog Tails; food noon-10pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Twisted Tue; open 3pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5.30pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm; open 12 l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Brenda Snap’s Gossip Show: guest Cherry & karaoke 8pm; open 12 l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon
l REVENGE Naughty Pop: DJs Trick & Alex Baker 11pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live music: The Pickin’ Circle 8pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
WEDNESDAY 8
l A-BAR open mic with Mark Hodge 8.30pm; bar food noon-7pm; cocktail night; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY open 6pm l BAR REVENGE Spice is Nice: DJ Dana 9pm; open noon l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS seniors lunch 23.30pm; reg food 12-3pm & 6-9pm; open 12 l CHARLES ST Sally’s Bingo: cash prizes 9.30pm; food noon-8pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Cocktail Clinic; open 3pm
ENVY
@ CHARLES ST
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Mon is the STUDIO 150 student night with singles
or bottles for £1.50 all night, entry £1.50.
l REGULARS Thur is The MAD COW'S TEA PARTY with Alice in Wonderland
décor, tea pot cocktails, 'drink me' shots, pumping tunes & hostess Ms Joan Bond at 8pm, drinks from £1, win a bar tab for the night, entry £1. l OPEN www.charles-street.com
l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Taboo at the Ivy: amateur strip night, £100 cash prize; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Midweek Mash-Up Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 8.30pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l SUBLINE Backlash: retro night 9pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Big Cash Quiz 7.30pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
THURSDAY 9
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; cocktail night; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Party Night: DJ 6pm l BAR REVENGE Girls On Top warm-up 9pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm; food noon-3pm & 6-9pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Joan Bond, 8pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Thirsty Thur; open 3pm l ENVY Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tea pot cocktails, ‘drink me’ shots, fab decor, tunes & win bar tabs 8pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY cabaret: Lady La Rue; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine: alt cabaret night 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l REVENGE Girls On Top: DJs 10.30pm
l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS comedy 8pm; open noon l ZONE karaoke 5pm; open 10am
FRIDAY 10
l A-BAR live music 9pm; bar food noon7pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Magic; open 6pm l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up 9pm; open noon-6am l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Friday Night Live with Lady La Rue: 2 floor party, DJ Peter Castle in club 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Krazy Kamikaze Karaoke 8.30pm; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Grant Knowles 10pm; cabaret: Miss Dot-Com midnight; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; Friday Club 6pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm; food noon-7.45pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH CLUB Back to the 80s 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Friday Night Live with Lady La Rue, 2 floor party 9pm; DJ Peter Castle in club 11pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Camp Attack: tunes & karaoke 8pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open 11am l REVENGE Shameless: DJs Trick & Lee Harris 10.30pm l SUBLINE Steam 9pm l ZONE live music: Stone & Street 9pm; open 10am
26 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM DR BRIGHTONS + FUNKY FISH
JANUARY
LISTINGS
DR BRIGHTONS
l TWO FOR THE DIARY Sat (18) is CHARLES’S BIRTHDAY PARTY at 9pm. l Sun (26) is a gathering of LGBT and non-LGBT bikers in aid of the Royal British Legion’s annual RIDE OF RESPECT at 3pm. l REGULARS FUNKY FRIDAY is with DJ Nick Hirst at 9.30pm, free entry. l SEXY SATURDAY with DJ Tony B is at 9.30pm, free entry. l DRINK DEALS from Sun–Thur all day and Fri & Sat from 1–7pm: Fosters & Carling £3.15 a pint, large Smirnoff & mixer £4, large Smirnoff & energy drink £5. Buy two cocktails for £11 from Sun–Thur. l Free game of pool every day with every round of drinks purchased during happy hour. l OPEN Mon–Thur 3pm–midnight; Fri & Sat 1pm–2am; Sun 1pm–midnight. l www.doctorbrightons.co.uk
SATURDAY 11
l A-BAR Pre-club music; food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Rob; open 6pm l BAR REVENGE Sweet Revenge Warm-Up 9pm; open noon-6am l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ Lil Alex 3am; karaoke 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-7pm; open noon l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: all-male DJs Jonesy, Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy on rotation 9pm; food noon-7.45pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Sexy Sat: DJ Tony B 9.30pm; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH CLUB Old School Sat: DJ Sean Quinn 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Fusion 7pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l PARIS HOUSE live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm; open noon l POISON IVY afternoon karaoke & Betty Swollocks’ karaoke till midnight; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Stephanie Von Clitz 4.30pm; Betty’s Karaoke 6pm; Ultimate Party 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food 12-6pm; open 11am l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJs 10.30pm l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Tammy Twinkle 9pm; open 10am
SUNDAY 12
l A-BAR Sunday roasts: bookings 01273 696691 noon-5pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Ray & Tyler’s karaoke 6pm l BAR REVENGE Acoustic Sunday: live music 4pm; Karaoke Queens: LouBag & Smithy 8pm; open noon l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Sunday roasts 12.30pm; Piano Bingo 5pm; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Slip Matt 6pm; DJ Grant 10pm; karaoke 9pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS Sunday roasts & selected menu noon-till gone; open noon l CHARLES ST cabaret: Nan 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate, roll over jackpot 8.30pm; Sun lunch noon-7pm l 112 CHURCH ST Sunday Roast noon-late; open noon l DR BRIGHTONS Hangover Therapy; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR Sunday roasts noon-3pm; cabaret: Lady Imelda 3.15pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open 1pm l POISON IVY karaoke noon; cabaret 5.30pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Mzz Kimberley 6pm; karaoke 7.30pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN Sunday roasts noon5pm; Piano Bar 1.30pm; open noon l SUBLINE Come in Your Pants: DJ N.U.D.E, underwear party 9pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live jazz: The Jazz Roast 3pm; open noon l ZONE live music: Gabriella Parish 5pm; karaoke 7.30pm; open 10am
FUNKY FISH
CLUB & BAR
l TWO FOR THE DIARY Fri (10) is BACK TO THE 80S with 80s hits & drink promos at 10pm, free entry. l Book your place now for Valentines GAY SPEEDING DATING on Fri (14) Feb at 8pm with complimentary wine on arrival, a Drag Host and drink deals all night. Tickets are £10, registration online or call/text Chris or Tracie on 07927 783180. l REGULARS Fri is the 70S/80S/90S REVIVAL at 10pm, with DJ Aky playing 70s/80s & 90s hits & a sprinkling of 'now'; drink promos, free entry. l OLD SCHOOL SATURDAY with DJ Sean Quinn playing the hottest hits of the 70s/80s & 90s at 10pm, drink promos, entry £5. l DRINK DEALS Fri promos include £2.50 Jagerbombs, £2 shots & bottles from £3, Sat drink deals al night in Jan. l FUNKY FISH BAR open daily from noon. l www.funkyfishclub.co.uk
MONDAY 13
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR REVENGE Quiz with Liz: cash prizes 8.30pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN Mon Club; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 6-9pm; open noon l CHARLES ST food noon-8pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS open 3pm l ENVY Studio 150: student night 10pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Lola Lasagne
9.30pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Pete’s karaoke 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
TUESDAY 14
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR REVENGE VIP Tue: Harry’s Karaoke, DJ Fifi, win drinks/VIP cards/bar tabs 8pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN Theatre Bar; open 12
28 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM LEGENDS BIRTHDAY PARTY @ LEGENDS BAR & BASEMENT CLUB
JANUARY
LISTINGS
LEGENDS BAR
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed (1) is New Year’s Day CABARET at 3.15pm. l REGULARS Mon (6 & 13) is CABARET with Lola Lasagne at 9.30pm. Mon (20 & 27) is Dave Lynn v Lola Lasagne, Live & Dangerous at 9.30pm. l FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE with Lady LaRue over 2 floors with DJ Peter Castle and drink deals. l Sat is Pre-Fusion with DJs at 7pm. l Sun CABARET at 3.15pm: Lucinda Lashes (5), Lady Imelda (12), Martha D’Arthur (19), Dave Lynn (26). l FOOD includes gourmet burgers, salads, specials and Nespresso coffee served Wed–Mon noon–5pm, Tue noon–5.30pm. Lisa's Sunday Roasts served noon–3pm with top quality locally sourced meat, poultry & vegetarian options. l DRINK DEALS Happy 3 Hour Drink Promos: Mon–Fri 6–9pm, selected drinks £2.50. l OPEN daily from 11am–5am. Heated smoking area, free entry and all-day terrace. l www.legendsbrighton.com
l BULLDOG Poptastic: DJ Lee; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Dog Tails; food noon-10pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Twisted Tue; open 3pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5.30pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm; open 12 l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Brenda Snap’s Gossip Show: guest Cherry & karaoke 8pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l REVENGE Naughty Pop: DJs Trick & Alex Baker 11pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live jazz 7.45pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
WEDNESDAY 15
l A-BAR open mic with Mark Hodge 8.30pm; cocktail night; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY open 6pm l BAR REVENGE Spice is Nice: DJ Dana 9pm; open noon l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm;
open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS seniors lunch 23.30pm; reg food 12-3pm & 6-9pm; open 12 l CHARLES ST Sally’s Bingo: cash prizes 9.30pm; food noon-8pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Cocktail Clinic; open 3pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Taboo at the Ivy: amateur strip night, £100 cash prize; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Midweek Mash-Up Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l SUBLINE Backlash: retro night 9pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Big Cash Quiz 7.30pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
THURSDAY 16
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; cocktail night; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Party Night: DJ 6pm l BAR REVENGE Girls On Top warm-up 9pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz
LEGENDS
BASEMENT CLUB
l FREE ENTRY to the Basement Club every day. l ONE FOR THE DIARY New Year’s Day Wed (1) is the ICE RECOVERY PARTY with DJ Claire Fuller playing chart/house/r&b at 11pm. l REGULARS Wed is ICE with DJ Claire Fuller playing chart, house & r&b; £2 drink deals all night, special shots £1.50. l FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE is over 2 floors with Lady LaRue, DJ Peter Castle, & drinks from £1.50. l Sat is FUSION with DJ Peter Castle house/chart. Sat (4) is with DJ Lee Harris. l Sun is POP!CANDY with DJ Claire Fuller recent/classic pop, drinks from £2. l OPEN Wed & Fri–Sun 11pm. Closed Mon, Tue & Thur. l Legends will host your party from £150, call 01273 624462 for info. l www.legendsbrighton.com
9pm; food noon-3pm & 6-9pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tea pot cocktails, ‘drink me’ shots, fab decor, tunes & win bar tabs 8pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Thirsty Thur; open 3pm l ENVY Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tea pot cocktails, ‘drink me’ shots, fab decor, tunes & win bar tabs 8pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY cabaret: Lady La Rue; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine: alt cabaret night 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l REVENGE Girls On Top: DJs 10.30pm l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm l ZONE karaoke 5pm; open 10am
FRIDAY 17
l A-BAR live music 9pm; bar food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Missy B; open 6pm l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up 9pm; open noon-6am l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Friday Night Live with Lady La Rue: 2 floor party, DJ Peter Castle in club 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Krazy Kamikaze Karaoke 8.30pm; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Grant Knowles 10pm; cabaret: Mary Mac midnight; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; Friday Club 6pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm; food noon-7.45pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm; open 1pm
PICS FROM LEGENDS BIRTHDAY PARTY @ LEGENDS BAR & BASEMENT CLUB + MARINE TAVERN
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 29
JANUARY
LISTINGS
MARINE TAVERN
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Tue is NAT’S QUIZ at 9pm. l DRINK DEALS Wed & Thur 7–11pm: pints of Carlsberg & Stowford Press £3, plus buy a single spirit and get the mixer free. l OPEN from Mon–Sat noon and Sun 1pm.
SUNDAY 19
l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH CLUB 70s/80s/90s Revival: DJ Aky 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Friday Night Live with Lady La Rue, 2 floor party 9pm; DJ Peter Castle in club 11pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Camp Attack: tunes & karaoke 8pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open 11am l REVENGE Shameless: DJs Trick & Lee Harris 10.30pm l SUBLINE Steam 9pm l ZONE cabaret: JJ & Co 9pm; open 10am
SATURDAY 18
l A-BAR Pre-club music; food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Claire Fuller 6pm l BAR REVENGE Sweet Revenge Warm-Up 9pm; open noon-6am l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ Lil Alex 3am; karaoke 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-7pm; open noon l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: all-male DJs Jonesy, Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy on rotation 9pm; food noon-7.45pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Charles’s Birthday Party 9pm; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH CLUB Old School Sat: DJ
Sean Quinn 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Fusion 7pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l PARIS HOUSE live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm; open noon l POISON IVY afternoon karaoke & Betty Swollocks’ karaoke till midnight; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Stephanie Von Clitz 4.30pm; Betty’s Karaoke 6pm; Ultimate Party 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-6pm; open 11am l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJs 10.30pm l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Sally Vate 9pm; open 10am
l A-BAR Sunday roasts: bookings 01273 696691 noon-5pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Ray & Tyler’s karaoke 6pm l BAR REVENGE Acoustic Sunday 4pm; Karaoke Queens: LouBag & Smithy 8pm; open noon l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Sunday roasts 12.30pm; Piano Bingo 5pm; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Slip Matt 6pm; DJ Grant 10pm; karaoke 9pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS Sunday roasts & selected menu noon-till gone; Bear Bash 5pm; open noon l CHARLES ST cabaret: Drag With No Name 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate, roll over jackpot 8.30pm; Sun lunch noon-7pm l 112 CHURCH ST Sun Roast noon-late; open noon l DR BRIGHTONS Hangover Therapy; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR Sunday roasts noon-3pm; cabaret: Martha D’Arthur 3.15pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open 1pm l POISON IVY karaoke noon; cabaret 5.30pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: La Voix 6pm; karaoke 7.30pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN Sunday roasts noon-
5pm; Piano Bar 1.30pm; open noon l SUBLINE Come in Your Pants: DJ N.U.D.E, underwear party 9pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live jazz: The Jazz Roast 3pm; open noon l ZONE live music: Back Beat 5pm; karaoke 7.30pm; open 10am
MONDAY 20
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR REVENGE Quiz with Liz: cash prizes 8.30pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN Mon Club; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; open noon l CHARLES ST food noon-8pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food noon-late; open noon l DR BRIGHTONS open 3pm l ENVY Studio 150: student night 10pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR Dave Lynn v Lola Lasagne: Live & Dangerous 9.30pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Pete’s karaoke 8.30pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
30 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM POISON IVY, PARIS HOUSE + QUEENS ARMS
JANUARY
LISTINGS
POISON IVY
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed is new TABOO AT THE IVY amateur strip night with hostess Stephanie Starlet and chance to win £100 prize for those who dare to bare. l REGULARS Thur is CABARET with Lady LaRue. Sun is non-stop KARAOKE at noon; CABARET follows at 5.30pm. KARAOKE 7 nights a week. l DRINK DEALS Non-stop happy hour all month. l OPEN daily from 11am. l BAR REVENGE Spice is Nice: DJ Dana 9pm; open noon l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; open noon l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ l BAR REVENGE Girls on Top warm-up 8pm; Claire Fuller 11pm open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon-3pm l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am l BULLDOG DJ Grant 10pm; Amy’s top bar l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm; karaoke 10pm; open 11am open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 6- l CAMELFORD ARMS seniors lunch 29pm; open noon 3.30pm; reg food 12-3pm & 6-9pm; open 12 l CHARLES ST Dog Tails; food noon-10pm; l CHARLES ST Sally’s Bingo: cash prizes open noon 9.30pm; food noon-8pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Twisted Tue; open 3pm l DR BRIGHTONS Cocktail Clinic; open 3pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5.30pm; open 11am l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm; open 12 l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Taboo at l QUEEN’S ARMS Brenda Snap’s Gossip The Ivy: amateur strip night, £100 cash prize; Show: guest Cherry & karaoke 8pm; open noon open 11am l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & l QUEEN’S ARMS Midweek Mash-Up 6-8.30pm; open noon Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 8.30pm; open noon l REVENGE Naughty Pop 10.30pm l REGENCY TAVERN open noon l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live music: The l SUBLINE Backlash: retro night 9pm Pickin’ Circle 8pm; open noon l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Big Cash Quiz l ZONE open 10am 7.30pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
TUESDAY 21
WEDNESDAY 22
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Party Night: DJ 6pm l BAR REVENGE Girls on Top warm-up 9pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 10pm; Amy’s top bar karaoke 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm; food noon-3pm & 6-9pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Joan Bond, tea pot cocktails, ‘drink me’ shots, fab decor, tunes & win bar tabs 8pm; open 5pm l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Thirsty Thur; open 3pm l ENVY Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tea pot cocktails, ‘drink me’ shots, fab decor, tunes & win bar tabs 8pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY cabaret: Lady La Rue; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine: alt cabaret night 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon
l REVENGE Girls on Top: DJs 10.30pm l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm l ZONE karaoke 5pm; open 10am
FRIDAY 24
l A-BAR live music 9pm; bar food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Cozmo 6pm l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up 9pm; open noon-6am l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Friday Night Live with Lady La Rue: 2 floor party, DJ Peter Castle in club 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Krazy Kamikaze Karaoke 8.30pm; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Grant Knowles 10pm; cabaret: Miss Penny midnight; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; Friday Club 6pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm; food noon-7.45pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm; open 1pm
l A-BAR open mic with Mark Hodge 8.30pm; cocktail night; open noon l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; cocktail night; l BAR 7@CRAWLEY open 6pm open noon
THURSDAY 23
QUEENS ARMS PARIS HOUSE
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat is free live JAZZ at 4pm; then it's TC'S JOYFUL NOISE with DJ Kenny at 9pm, free entry. l FOOD platter of French food to share & large carafe of wine £15. l OPEN daily from noon. l www.parishousebrighton.com
l ONE FOR THE DIARY New for Tue is BRENDA SNAP’S GOSSIP SHOW with guest gossiper Cherry & KARAOKE at 8pm. l REGULARS Sat is The STEPHANIE VON CLITZ SHOW at 4.30pm; BETTY’S KARAOKE at 6pm; then it’s THE ULTIMATE PARTY at 9pm. l Sat (25) is CABARET with Cosmic Stars at 4.30pm. l Sun CABARET at 6pm: Tammy Twinkle (5), Mzz Kimberley (12), La Voix (19), Sandra (26); KARAOKE follows at 7.30pm. See listings for all other regular events. l OPEN daily from noon.
32 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM BAR REVENGE & LUCY SPRAGGAN @ CLUB REVENGE
JANUARY
LISTINGS
BAR REVENGE
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed is now SPICE IS NICE with DJ Dana spinning pop, punk, ska, indie, alt, dub-step and chart at 9pm. l REGULARS Thur is the Girls on Top Official Warm-Up at 9pm. l Fri is the Shameless Warm-Up with DJ Alpha at 9pm. l Sat is the Sweet Revenge WarmUp at 9pm. l Sun is ACOUSTIC SUNDAY with live music at 4pm; KARAOKE QUEENS with LouBag & Smithy is then at 8pm. l Mon is QUIZ WITH LIZ with cash prizes at 8.30pm. l Tue is VIP KARAOKE with Harry & DJ Fifi at 8pm; win drinks, VIP cards and bar tabs in the club l DISCOUNT PASSES Free Revenge discount passes on Thur; buy a drink and get free entry into the club on Fri & Sat before midnight. l DRINK DEALS 2-4-1 cocktails Sun–Fri 5–9pm; drinks from £1.99 & get half price and reduced wines noon till late on Wed; from £1.50 Thur after 7pm; from £2.49 Fri, Sat & Sun; Jagerbombs £1.99 on Sat; all shots £1.99 Sun–Wed. l OPEN daily from noon–2am & 6am on Fri & Sat. l www.revenge.co.uk l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH CLUB 70s/80s/90s Revival: DJ Aky 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Friday Night Live with Lady La Rue, 2 floor party 9pm; DJ Peter Castle in club 11pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Camp Attack: tunes & karaoke 8pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open 11am l REVENGE Shameless: DJs Trick & Lee Harris 10.30pm l SUBLINE Steam 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Jennie Castelle 9pm; open 10am
SATURDAY 25
l A-BAR Pre-club music; food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Waynsierudeboy;
open 6pm l BAR REVENGE Sweet Revenge Warm-Up 9pm; open noon-6am l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ Lil Alex 3am; karaoke 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS Burns Night: food inc haggis, neeps & tatties noon-7pm; open noon l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: all-male DJs Jonesy, Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy on rotation 9pm; food noon-7.45pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Sexy Sat: DJ Tony B 9.30pm; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH CLUB Old School Sat: DJ Sean Quinn 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Fusion 7pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon
REVENGE
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat is SWEET REVENGE with 8 DJs on rotation; all drinks £2.50 before midnight, Jagerbombs £2.50 all night, double up for £1.50 all night, entry free/£5 l REGULARS Tue is NAUGHTY POP with DJs Trick & Alex spinning 90s/00s tunes; £1.50 shots, all other drinks £2, free entry. l Thur is GIRLS ON TOP lesbian night with all-girl DJs: Dana, Fifi, Trick & Smithy, drinks from £1.50, entry free/£4. l Fri is SHAMELESS with DJs Trick & Lee Harris fresh pop/guilty pleasures; double up on spirits for £1 all night, Jagerbombs £2.50 all night, entry free/£5. l FREE PASSES available all week from Bar Revenge or www.revenge.co.uk l DRINK DEALS All drink specials exclude champers & doubles (excl doubling up). l OPEN from 10.30pm Tue, Thur, Fri & Sat. l www.revenge.co.uk l PARIS HOUSE live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm; open noon l POISON IVY afternoon karaoke & Betty Swollocks’ karaoke till midnight; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Cosmic Stars 4.30pm; Betty’s Karaoke 6pm; Ultimate Party 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-6pm l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJs 10.30pm l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Burns Night: haggis, neeps & tatties l ZONE cabaret: Tammy Twinkle 9pm; open 10am
SUNDAY 26
l A-BAR Sunday roasts: bookings 01273 696691 noon-5pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Ray & Tyler’s karaoke 6pm l BAR REVENGE Acoustic Sunday 4pm; Karaoke Queens: LouBag & Smithy 8pm; open noon l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BEDFORD TAVERN Sunday roasts 12.30pm; Piano Bingo 5pm; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Slip Matt 6pm; DJ Grant 10pm; karaoke 9pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS Sunday roasts & selected menu noon-till gone; open noon l CHARLES ST cabaret: Rose Garden 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate, roll over jackpot 8.30pm; Sun lunch 12-7pm l 112 CHURCH ST Sun Roast noon-late; open noon l DR BRIGHTONS LGBT bikers gather in aid of the Royal British Legion’s Ride of Respect 2014 3pm; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR Sunday roasts noon-3pm; cabaret: Dave Lynn 3.15pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open 1pm l POISON IVY karaoke noon; cabaret 5.30pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Sandra 6pm; karaoke 7.30pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN Sunday roasts noon5pm; Piano Bar 1.30pm; open noon l SUBLINE Come in Your Pants: DJ N.U.D.E, underwear party 9pm
34 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM SUBLINE + THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS
JANUARY
LISTINGS
SUBLINE
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (3) is the Subline and THT GRAND PRIZE DRAW with prizes so far including a day’s sailing, a light aircraft flight, a weekend pass for the Brighton Sauna, meals from the Camelford Arms and Smokeys, a Nice & Naughty gift voucher with more prizes TBA; entry £1 a go. l REGULARS Fri (from 31) is DIRTY TACKLE, Subline’s new sportswear night; entry from £3 in kit/sportswear, £5 otherwise. l Sat is MEN'S ROOM with DJ Screwpulous, members get cheap drinks and free entry till 11pm. l Sun is COME IN YOUR PANTS underwear party with DJ N.U.D.E. l Wed is BACKLASH retro tunes and prices, including selected drinks £3 all night for members. l Thur is LEATHERED with free lockers. l DRINK DEALS members get selected drinks for £3 all night on Wed and cheap drinks on Sat. l OPEN Wed, Thur, Fri & Sat from 9pm, Sun from 8pm, Wed & Thur from 9pm. Closed Mon, Tue & Wed (1) for New Year’s Day. l www.sublinebrighton.com l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live jazz: The Jazz Roast 3pm; open noon l ZONE live music: Stone & Street 5pm; karaoke 7.30pm; open 10am
MONDAY 27
l ENVY Studio 150: student night 10pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR Dave Lynn v Lola Lasagne: Live & Dangerous 9.30pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Pete’s karaoke 8.30pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; open noon l BAR REVENGE Quiz with Liz: cash prizes 8.30pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN Mon Club; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; open noon l CHARLES ST food noon-8pm; open noon l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l BAR REVENGE Girls on Top warm-up; l DR BRIGHTONS open 3pm open noon
TUESDAY 28
THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Thur (9) is the COMEDY NIGHT at 8pm, free entry. l REGULARS Tue (7 & 21) is live bluegrass/old-time country with The Pickin Circle at 8pm, free entry. All other Tue is live music at 7.45pm, free entry. l Wed is the BIG CASH QUIZ at 7.30pm. l Sun is THE JAZZ ROAST at 3pm, free entry. l FOOD served noon–3pm & 6–9pm; two burger meals £15. Sat (25) is BURNS NIGHT with haggis, neeps & tatties served alongside the regular menu. l OPEN daily from noon, excluding Wed (1) when the venue is closed for New Year’s Day. l Private function room available for parties call 01273 608571. l www.3jollybutchers.com
l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG Poptastic: DJ Lee; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 69pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Dog Tails; food noon-10pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Twisted Tue; open 3pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5.30pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Brenda Snap’s Gossip Show: guest Cherry & karaoke 8pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l REVENGE Naughty Pop: DJs Trick & Alex Baker 11pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live jazz 7.45pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
WEDNESDAY 29
l A-BAR open mic with Mark Hodge 8.30pm; cocktail night; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY open 6pm l BAR REVENGE Spice is Nice: DJ Dana 9pm; open noon l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am
l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS seniors lunch 23.30pm; reg food noon-3pm & 6-9pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Sally’s Bingo: cash prizes 9.30pm; food noon-8pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Cocktail Clinic; open 3pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Taboo at The Ivy: amateur strip night, £100 cash prize; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Midweek Mash-Up Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 8.30pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN open noon l SUBLINE Backlash: retro night 9pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Big Cash Quiz 7.30pm; open noon l ZONE open 10am
THURSDAY 30
l A-BAR bar food noon-7pm; cocktail night; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Party Night: DJ 6pm l BAR REVENGE Girls on Top warm-up 9pm; open noon l BEDFORD TAVERN open noon l BULLDOG DJ Grant 10pm; Amy’s top bar karaoke 10pm; open 11am
PICS FROM ZONE BAR
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 35
ZONE BAR
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri is live ENTERTAINMENT at 9pm: Back Beat (3), Stone & Street (10), JJ & Company (17), Jennie Castelle (24) and Collusion (31). l REGULARS Sat CABARET at 9pm with Sally Vate (4 & 18) & Tammy Twinkle (11 & 25). l Sun is LIVE MUSIC at 5pm: Collusion (5), Gabriella Parish (12), Back Beat (19) and Stone & Street (26); KARAOKE at 7.30pm. l DRINK DEALS promos from Mon–Wed, day and night. l OPEN daily from 10am.
l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm; food noon-3pm & 6-9pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Joan Bond, tea pot cocktails, ‘drink me’ shots, fab decor, tunes & win bar tabs 8pm; open 5pm l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Thirsty Thur; open 3pm l ENVY Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Joan Bond, tea pot cocktails, ‘drink me’ shots, fab decor, tunes & win bar tabs 8pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l LEGENDS BAR food 12-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY cabaret: Lady La Rue; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine: alt cabaret night 9pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open noon l REVENGE Girls on Top: DJs 10.30pm l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm l ZONE karaoke 5pm; open 10am
FRIDAY 31
l A-BAR live music 9pm; bar food noon7pm; open noon l BAR 7@CRAWLEY cabaret: Drag With No Name + DJ Magic; open 6pm l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up 9pm; open noon-6am l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Friday
Night Live with Lady La Rue: 2 floor party, DJ Peter Castle in club 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Krazy Kamikaze Karaoke 8.30pm; open noon l BULLDOG DJ Grant Knowles 10pm; cabaret: Titti La Camp midnight; open 11am l CAMELFORD ARMS food noon-3pm & 6-9pm; Friday Club 6pm; open noon l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm; food noon-7.45pm; open noon l 112 CHURCH ST food 12-late; open 12 l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm; open 1pm l FUNKYFISH BAR open noon l FUNKYFISH CLUB 70s/80s/90s Revival: DJ Aky 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Friday Night Live with Lady La Rue, 2 floor party 9pm; DJ Peter Castle in club 11pm; food noon-5pm; open 11am l MARINE TAVERN open noon l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm; open 11am l QUEEN’S ARMS Camp Attack: tunes & karaoke 8pm; open noon l REGENCY TAVERN food noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm; open 11am l REVENGE Shameless: DJs Trick & Lee Harris 10.30pm l SUBLINE Dirty Tackle launch: sportwear night 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Collusion 9pm; open 10am
PICS FROM WORLD AIDS DAY @ THE LONDON HOTEL SOUTHAMPTON
36 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
SOLENT
LISTINGS PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BOULEVARD 1 Hampshire Terr, Southsea Tel: 02392 297509 Open: Sun 9pm-2am, Mon 9pm-2:30am, Tue closed, Wed & Thur 7pm-2am, Fri & Sat 7pm-3am, cabaret bar and club l OLD VIC 104 St Paul’s Rd, Southsea Tel: 02392 297013 www.oldvicportsmouth.co.uk Open: Mon-Fri: 11am till late, Sat: 5pm-late, Sun: noon-12,30am. Regular cabaret, food. l TROPICS SAUNA 2 Market Way Tel: 02380 296100 www.tropicssauna.com Open: 7 days a week, 11am-10pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l ISOBAR 100c St Mary’s Street Tel: 02380 222028 Open: Mon 5–11pm, Tue 3pm-11pm, Wed-Sat 3pm-midnight, Sun 4pm-midnight. l LONDON HOTEL 2 Terminus Terrace Tel: 02380 710652 www.the-london.co.uk Open: Mon-Wed noon-11pm, Thur noon12.30am, Fri & Sat noon-1.30am, Sun noon11.30pm. Friendly cabaret venue, serves food. l EDGE Compton Walk Tel: 02380 366163 www.theedgesouthampton.com Open: Tue, Thur & Sun 11pm-3am; Wed, Fri & Sat 10pm-5am. Club on 2 floors with 3 bars. l PINK BROADWAY SAUNA 797/80 East St Tel: 02380 238804 www.pink-broadway.com Open: Sun-Thur noon-10pm, Fri & Sat noonmidnight
WEDNESDAY 1
TUESDAY 7
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD open till 2am l OLD VIC NUS night 7pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Recovery Bar 150: DJ Lady Bex, Liam Searle, Cheeky Pete’s karaoke & WKD giveaways 10pm l LONDON HOTEL open 1-9.30pm
PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Mates Rates: video jukebox 11pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon-3pm
THURSDAY 2 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon-3pm
FRIDAY 3 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; party till 2am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Raymond Cole’s Birthday & Fairylea with DJ Ruby Roo, cabaret: Jacquii Cann 10pm; food noon-3pm
SATURDAY 4 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Neil Sackley 10pm
SUNDAY 5 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC Sun lunch 1-5pm; open noon SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Refuel: DJ Liam Searle 11pm l LONDON HOTEL closed for private event in memory of Graham Forster till 4pm; cabaret 6pm
MONDAY 6 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; open noon SOUTHAMPTON l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon-3pm
WEDNESDAY 8 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD open till 2am l OLD VIC NUS night 7pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Bar 150: DJ Lady Bex, Liam Searle, Cheeky Pete’s karaoke 10pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon-3pm
THURSDAY 9 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Tammy Twinkle 8.30pm; food noon-3pm
FRIDAY 10 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; party till 2am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo & cabaret: Scarlett Diamante 10pm; food noon3pm
SATURDAY 11 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Lucinda 10pm; food noon-3pm
SUNDAY 12 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC Sun lunch 1-5pm; open noon SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Refuel: DJ Liam Searle 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Miss Penny’s Jan Giveaway; cabaret: Tammy Twinkle 8pm; Sun lunch noon-3.30pm; open noon
LONDON HOTEL
SOUTHAMPTON
l ONE FOR THE DIARY Sun is MISS PENNY’S JANUARY GIVEAWAY, followed by CABARET at 8pm: Tammy Twinkle (12), CC Swan (19) and La Voix (26). Sun (5), venue is closed till 4pm for private event in memory of Graham Forster; cabaret follows at 6pm.
l REGULARS Thur (excl 2) is KARAOKE CRUISING with Tammy Twinkle at 8.30pm. l Fri is FAIRYLEA with DJ Ruby Roo and CABARET at 10pm: Jacquii Cann helps celebrate Raymond Cole’s birthday (3), Scarlett Diamante (10), Sally Vate (17), Connie Conway (24) and Miss Tiara Thunderpussy (31). l Sat is GUILTY PLEASURES with DJs at 8.30pm: Neil Sackley (4), Lucinda (11), Tiny (18) and Dazza (25).
l DRINK DEALS JANUARY SALE on all drinks Mon–Wed.
l FOOD traditional pub food served Mon–Sat noon–3pm; Sun lunch served noon–3.30pm. Kitchen closed Sat (4), and Sun (5) for private event in memory of Graham Forster. l OPEN daily from noon. l www.the-london.co.uk
MONDAY 13 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; open noon SOUTHAMPTON l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon-3pm
TUESDAY 14 PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Mates Rates: video jukebox 11pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon-3pm
WEDNESDAY 15
SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo & cabaret: Sally Vate 10pm; food noon-3pm
SATURDAY 18 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; DJs all night SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Tiny 8pm; food noon-3pm
SUNDAY 19
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD open till 2am l OLD VIC NUS night 7pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Bar 150: DJ Lady Bex, Liam Searle, Cheeky Pete’s karaoke 10pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon-3pm
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC Sun lunch 1-5pm; open noon SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Refuel: DJ Liam Searle 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Miss Penny’s Jan Giveaway; cabaret: CC Swan 8pm; Sun lunch noon-3.30pm; open noon
THURSDAY 16
MONDAY 20
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Tammy Twinkle 8.30pm; food noon-3pm
FRIDAY 17 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; party till 2am
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; open noon SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon-3pm
TUESDAY 21 PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Mates Rates: video jukebox 11pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon-3pm
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 37
WEDNESDAY 22
MONDAY 27
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD open till 2am l OLD VIC NUS night 7pm; food 12-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon3pm
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; open noon SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon3pm
THURSDAY 23
TUESDAY 28
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Tammy Twinkle 8.30pm; food noon-3pm
PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Mates Rates: video jukebox 11pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food 12-3pm
FRIDAY 24
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD open till 2am l OLD VIC NUS night 7pm; food 12-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm l LONDON HOTEL chillout; food noon3pm
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; party till 2am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo & cabaret: Connie Conway 10pm; food 12-3pm
SATURDAY 25 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; DJs all night SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Dazza 10pm; food noon-3pm
SUNDAY 26 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC Sun lunch 1-5pm; open noon SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Refuel: DJ Liam Searle 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Miss Penny’s Jan Giveaway; cabaret: La Voix 9pm; Sun lunch noon-3.30pm; open noon
WEDNESDAY 29
THURSDAY 30 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm; food noon-5pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Tammy Twinkle 8.30pm; food noon-3pm
FRIDAY 31 PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC food noon-5pm; party till 2am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo & cabaret: Miss Tiara Thunderpussy 10pm; food noon-3pm
38 GSCENE
DANCE
MUSIC
BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE & KATE WILDBLOOD ) And if you like your techno ridiculously dark, twisted and, well, not easy listening, it has to So that was that. 2013. Done and be Dusty Kid’s III on Isolade. The dusted. Glorious but gone. Time to, neighbours still haven’t forgiven us as Carole Sylan once sang, look for playing this one. Love it. ahead. ) And finally our January gems. ) First up is the gloriously kooky First it’s the too, too good 10 koolness of fabric 72 on Fabric in Years Of Crosstown Rebels which every element of electronica compilation on Crosstown Rebels. is represented with a chaotic Celebrating one of the best labels charm that’s bound to enchant. out there, it ) So too will the sound ventures reads like a of Spencer Parker’s It’s Not Over who’s who of longplayer, which delivers the right decent house amount of Berlin-based brilliance music as The as he plays with all things heavy in Royal We, the house department. Jamie Jones, Maceo Plex, ) Also hailing for our favourite Francesco Lombardo, Russ Yallop, city is the wondrous compilation Soul Clap and many, many more Wilde Liebe (Wild Love) on Wilde remind us why we are all Crosstown Records, a impressive journey Rebels. House as good as it gets through house from its deepest and a reason to fall for them all darkest bleeps over again. and bangs to the ) And then there’s the sublime chunkiest of BPM001 mixed by Art Department tech. Definitely on No 19 Music. Yep the stylish worth your boys are back and parading some attention. mighty fine tousled tunes for your ) As is the deep glory that enjoyment. Believe us, get lost in engulfs ones lugholes as you Art Department and you’ll not hunker down with Fred P and his wanna find your way home. Enjoy. mighty compilation Selected on ) Catch Wildblood & Queenie’s Boards. Seriously good stuff that will have you shaking a tail feather Home Service on Radio Reverb later this month! ‘til the early hours. perfectdistractions.com
ALBUMS
DJ PROFILE Welcome to 2014 clubbers! It’s that time of year to shake off any excess Xmas pounds with a right good bout of arse wiggling, and so here’s a gorgeous lady who’ll help you in that quest. Queenie has a January chat with the fabulous Hayley Pons who has a brilliant secret, a bit of a thing for Scary, Sporty and co and also knows where she’d most like to play. Michael Eavis – book her now! Where do you play? You can catch me at Maloolah Bah on Preston Street and at various DPM events. DJing style? Bass-heavy, hip-hop influenced, underground, techy house! Favourite song of all time? Probably one of the hardest questions to answer so I’ll narrowed it down to a song that brings back a great childhood memory - Womack & Womack Teardrops, because it reminds me of when I went for a drive with my mum, and we sang it really loudly. It’s such a great memory from my childhood. She passed away three years ago so the song always reminds me of that moment. Which tune always fills up (or rescues) your dancefloor? I have a bass-heavy bootleg of Azalea Banks 212 by Double Trouble which never fails. But lately it has to Low Steppa's remix of Breach Jack. Ultimate dream gig? I’d love to play the main stage at Glastonbury.
WILDBLOOD & QUEENIE’S JANUARY JOYS ) DANIEL STEINBERG The Way You Are Arms & Legs Simply Queenie’s grin-inducing dirty disco moment of the month. ) JAYMO & ANDY GEORGE Tales From The Basement EP Moda Black An EP that delivers the finest of deep and delightful house music. ) SHINY OBJECTS Tell Me What You Want Smoke N Mirrors Saucy as hell house that grabs you right between the… ) ADNAN SHARIF Sky Toucher (Safeword Remix) Smoke N Mirrors If you have to do the walk of shame, let this be the soundtrack. ) CRISTOPH VMC (Vox Mix) Nordic Trax Much loved label continue their stellar releases with this wonder. ) CROWDPLEASER Right Beside You Xtra Tamed Genre twisting slice of wiggle. ) MR TOPHAT & ART ALFIE Marlboro Light (GW Remix) Karlovak Three words: Love love love. ) GAVIN HERLIHY Higher (Laura Jones Remix) Lokee Music Quality remix that continues to remind us of Miss Jones’ brilliance. ) NINA KRAVIZ Mr Jones (Mix 1) Rekids Moody mother of a tune that will seduce you within seconds. ) SIDNEY CHARLES Hustler Stomp I’m A House Gangster Sid continues to impress Jack’s disciples.
Tune you wish you’d never played? I once played a dirty electro remix of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe. It had a great bassline, but didn’t go down well with the dance floor. They all looked at me like I was mad! Guilty pleasure? Spice Girls 2 Become 1. Your best ever gig? Best gig has to be playing the Girls’ Tent at Pride this year alongside my beautiful girlfriend Lady Lola. Tell us a secret! I have a third nipple! New Year’s Resolutions? My New Year’s resolution is to get back into making music again. I have been neglecting music production for a while so it’s about time I started working on a new project. I know so many great musicians and vocalists that I’d love to work with.
HAYLEY PONS’ CURRENT TOP 5 TUNES ) ZDS Bang Ze Box (original) Dirtybird ) MK ft Alana Always (Route 94 remix) Defected ) HANNAH WANTS & LORENZO Kneadin’ (original) Dirtybird ) ZOMBIE DISCO SQUAD Drink (original) Suara ) CLAUDE VON STROKE ft Sacha Robotti Lay It Down Dirtybird
GSCENE 39
GEEK
COMICS
BY CRAIG STORRIE
) When you think of DC comics’ Justice League, who comes into your head first? I’m betting Batman or Superman or even Wonder Woman and the Flash. The one person that hardly anyone will say or even remember is poor old Arthur Curry or Aquaman to his friends. In the past Aquaman has been the brunt of many jokes and ridicule as many believe him useless with powers that only work when underwater but since DC’s reboot of their titles into the New 52, hardly anyone has doubted just how powerful and deadly this superhero can be.
SCENE GAYMING
) After almost 10 years of entertaining gamers with stunning HD visuals, online console gaming and some stellar games, the latest console generation has finally come to a close. November 2013 saw the release of two brand new consoles, both successors to the top two consoles of the last generation. Both Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s Playstation 4 consoles are beautiful to look at and will easily fit into anyone’s entertainment set up. The Xbox One may be a little on the bulky side but its weight and presence help make it the focal point of your entertainment experience. On the other hand, the PS4 is a machine with sharp angles and its pulsing blue wrap around light oozes subtlety and sexiness as well as looking great underneath your HD TV.
The two consoles have much in common: both systems run games off a blu-ray disc so now Microsoft can compete in the blu-ray arena; they each have impressive specifications so the visual and audio outputs are stunning; and each comes with a minimum of 500GB of storage. Both consoles let you record and share your greatest or worst moment with friends, family or the general public. This is most evident on the PS4’s Dual Shock 4 controller, which has a button titled ‘share’; the PS4 automatically records the last 15 minutes of gameplay so you’ll never miss a moment that you want share with the world.
Among his abilities are superhuman strength and durability enabling him to survive both the pressures of the deepest oceans as well as making him virtually bullet proof; the ability to swim super-fast and breathe both on land and under water and his most famous power which is the ability to telepathically talk to sea life. So if you are near a body of water you’d best be careful or Arthur might call forth a shark to bite your villainous arse! Aquaman is also a founding member of the Justice League along with more famous characters like Batman and Wonder Woman; this alone shows just how important Arthur is to the DC universe. In celebration of the King of Atlantis and his sheer awesomeness, I wanted to delve deeper into this aquatic superhero and show just why he deserves your respect. Make sure you start with any issue of Aquaman or Justice League since the New 52 relaunch. Up until recently both titles were written by Geoff Johns, the now superstar writer that brought the Green Lantern universe back up to date and to the forefront of the DC universe. In the hands of Johns, Aquaman now felt refreshed, important and a guy you didn’t want to mess with. The New 52 reaffirms Arthur’s status as a half-human and half Atlantian King of the Seas who, after discovering the harsh treatment given to the oceans during his tenure as King, decides to abdicate his throne and return to full time heroics. He believes that his status as a superhero will help heal the damaged relationship between the seas and the land but he struggles with his place amongst his Justice League peers as the public still view him as a lesser metahuman/superhero than his fellow Leaguers.
Both consoles offer many fantastic features, exclusive games and raw power, so which system do you splash your cash on? Well it all depends on what you want from your shiny new console. If you want a system that leans more to the all in one entertainment system then go for the Xbox One. It’s powerful, plays all of your games and blu-rays and is more than a worthy competitor to other home media devices like Apple and Google TV. Microsoft’s new console also seems to have the better exclusive launch titles covering all genres from the beautiful racing game Forza 5 to the post-apocalyptic zombie masher that is Dead Rising 3. If you want a console that’s all about the games then stick with the PS4. Sony are pushing their system to be all about the games and it really shows with how dedicated they are to providing stellar titles from both big publishing names and the indie developers alike. The PS4 is £70 cheaper at £349 with the Xbox One costing £429; this is because it comes with the Kinect camera hardware included in the box whereas the Playstation Eye is sold separately at around £40.
Aquaman’s abdication of the throne leads to the first proper crossover event of the New 52. Entitled Throne of Atlantis the storyline sees King Orm, Arthur’s half-brother, and now ruler of Atlantis, attacking the surface after an aircraft carrier fires torpedoes at Atlantis. Now calling himself Ocean Master and using deadly weapons that help him control storms, Orm declares war on the surface world and proceeds to attack Boston. Only Arthur’s reluctant intervention halts the Atlantian forces and destroys Orm’s plans at destroying the surface world. The crossover is a stunning story that helps cement Aquaman’s place as a powerful superhero that takes no sh*t.
40 GSCENE
BY MICHAEL HOOTMAN
DOME
COCK ROBIN & HIS VERY MERRY MEN
New Road, Brighton Box office: 01273 709709 www.brightondome.org ) COCK ROBIN & HIS VERY MERRY MEN (Jan 21–Feb 4). Brian Ralfe presents his adult alternative pantomime which looks at the naughty goings-on in Sherwood Forest, where Friar Tuck's name will quite possibly be mispronounced, and its cast will
be wearing the skimpiest of green tights. Stars Phil Harlequeen; West End star Wezley Sebastian (Priscilla, Follies); Simon Grant (Emmerdale, CBBC presenter) as Cock Robin; Lee Tracey as Maid Marion; Scott Virgo as Will Scarlet; and the UK's Number One male Hi-NRG artist Jason Prince as Little John. Written and directed by Andrew Stark (A Little Night Music, Kiss of The Spiderwoman).
CINDERS
Kings Road, Brighton, box office: 0844 847 1515 www.brightoncentre.co.uk ) ROBIN COUSINS' ICE (Jan 22–Feb 2). Brighton local, Robin Cousins is bringing together world class skating talent and choreography with iconic set design and a soundtrack of popular music with a unique twist. The show does not carry a narrative and it doesn’t pigeon hole the music and songs into a storyline. Instead, it allows the individual lyrics and melodies to speak for themselves alongside and within the choreography. For the audience, to have this style of skating in a proscenium environment allows an intimate connection between them and the skaters, and will give them a view of figure skating that is more akin to modern dance than competitive skating seen in events such as the Olympics.
EMPORIUM 88 London Road, Brighton www.emporiumbrighton.com ) CINDERS (till Sat 4). Full of colourful characters, thrilling theatrical effects and sumptuous costumes, Cinders is the perfect escape from the winter weather for all the family. No pantomime would be complete without slapstick silliness, a damsel in distress rescued by her dashing Prince and a truly wicked, booable villainess, and Cinders has these by the glittery bucketful! Shows at 2pm and 7pm, suitable for ages 3+ (though does contain 'pantoscary scenes of mild peril' and a few whizz-bangs that may be a bit much for the very young or tremulous.) ) RAGROOF TEA DANCE TWELFTH NIGHT (2-5pm, Sun 5) The Ragroof invite Kings and Clowns, Queens and Fools to come and see off the last day of Christmas with them – expect glittering crowns, trickster masks, and all manner of merry-making. Everyone is welcome and Ragroof encourages everyone to learn the steps of both lead and follow so you choose what you want to be, rather than be dictated to by gender! Advance booking essential to secure your table.
KOMEDIA Gardner St, Brighton Box office: 0845 293 8480 www.komedia.co.uk ) BENT DOUBLE (Sun 5). An irreverent night of fun and frolics hosted by Zoe Lyons (Mock The Week and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow). Headlining Kerry Godliman, star of Derrick and Live At The Apollo, plus David
Mills, waspish, acerbic and down right fabulous, and Rosie Wilby, 'Talented performer with a winning self-deprecating personality.' Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard "I was crying with laughter from start to finish" Latest 7
THEATRE ROYAL
New Road, Brighton Box office: 08448 717650 Duke’s at the Komedia ) THE PRIDE (Tue 14–Sat 18). Box office: 0871 902 5728 Harry Hadden-Paton (Posh, She ) Eyes Wide Open presents Stoops To Conquer, Flare Path), Al BREAK MY FALL (Mon 6). This low- Weaver (Inadmissible Evidence,
EYES WIDE OPEN
BREAK MY FALL
ROBIN COUSINS
BRIGHTON CENTRE
KERRY GODLIMAN
ARTS
budget film made in Hackney looks at Liza and Sally, a female couple who have isolated themselves from the scene and whose only comfort amidst their painful break up is partying and drugs. 'Raw, abrasive, brutal but brave' I-D Magazine; 'Generates both plausibility and suspense, if not quite Fassbindergrade toxic tension' Time Out; 'A terrific picture of how alcohol, drugs and self-involvement make relationships even more difficult than they already are' QX.
Grand Central Bar, Surrey Street Brighton, Box office: 0800 4118881 ) BECAUSE WE CARE (Sat 25). Two men test the bonds and limits of relationships. It asks what draws them together, what unites
but faltering narrative, which negotiates the inescapable sexualisation of the body, through multiple positions and numerous wigs. ) CRIMPLENE MILLIONAIRE (Thu 30, Fri 31 & Sat 1 Feb). Play the Crimplene Millionaire board game with Boogaloo Stu, as the
BOOGALOO STU
NIGHTINGALE THEATRE
BECAUSE WE CARE
Coram Boy, Hamlet), Matthew Horne (Gavin & Stacey, Bad Education, Charley's Aunt) and Naomi Sheldon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sex With A Stranger) star in Alexi Kaye Campbell’s play which spans over half a century and looks at society's changing attitude to homosexuality. Philip, Oliver and Sylvia exist in a complex love triangle, living and loving simultaneously in 1958 and the present. A poignant look at courage, compassion and the fear of loneliness in life’s journey towards self-discovery. ‘Superb. A work of art’ The Guardian; 'A modern classic' The Sunday Times.
them and what forces them apart. Colin Poole and Simon Ellis reveal something beautiful, ridiculous, troubling, unresolved, between themselves and in our relationship to them. Here, there is a space to be unsure, to look again, to think, perhaps to intervene, to be conscious and aware of our responses and our responsibility. ) O (Wed 29) Alexandrina Hemsley and Jamila JohnsonSmall romp through the politics of identity driven by basslines, paper signs and improvised dance. Imagine Angela Carter sitting down to tea with Yellowman, in the jungle. A show born from the humour and the horror of assumptions placed on bodies reduced to singular identities such as 'black', 'mixed' or 'female'. Choreography with an explosive
O
THE PRIDE
GSCENE 41
crimplene-clad light entertainer Derek Daniels. With a veneer of nostalgia, but set in the sociopolitical context of breadline Britain, Derek picks over the carcass of the decade; from the sexual revolution and demands for equality in the early 1970s through to the advertising boom and greed of the Thatcherite era, highlighting and celebrating forgotten talent along the way. Win Crimplene Millionaire and you will enter the 1980s with loadsamoney!
42 GSCENE
ART
ARTS
BY ENZO MARRA
B Y E R I C PAG E
M AT T E R S
BOOKS
ENZO MARRA
CHARLIE DUTTON GALLERY 1a Princeton St, London WC1R 4AX, www.charlieduttongallery.com ) You can see the tail end of the CRASH OPEN SALON 2013 of 50 artists (until Sat 11), which I was fortunate to be selected for. This year’s curatorial panel included artists Phillip Allen and Neal Tait and Time Out arts editor Martin Coomer. In the past they have had Matthew Collings, Geoff Dyer, John Stezaker, Ceri Hand, Toby Clark, Julia Muggenburg & Dan Hays on the panel. Other artists selected for the show of wall-based works and videos, include Archie Franks who was included in the recent Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Charles Williams who exhibited with me in the Threadneedle Prize 2013 and David Dipré who exhibited with me in the John Moores Painting Prize 2012.
TOWNER Devonshire Park, College Rd, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ www.townereastbourne.org.uk ) Moving on from ‘me’ things, the Towner has a show of JOHN SKOOG works entitled Redoubt (from Sat 25). John works with film and video, following in the tradition of Scandinavian film through the use of stark landscapes and slow-pacing. The poetic use of the Swedish landscape and powerful studies of character and emotion evoke memories of film works by cinema greats such as Victor Sjostrom and Mauritz Stiller. For his first solo show in a UK public gallery, he’s made a film set in the flat farmlands of the southern provinces of Sweden. Skoog was born in Kvidinge, Sweden and lives and works in Frankfurt. He won the 2013/14 Ars Viva prize for visual arts and was recently awarded the 1KM film scholarship from Stockholm Film Festival 2013.
LONDON ART FAIR
TOM SHAKESPEARE: THE NIGHTMARE
Business Design Centre, 52 Upper St, London N1 0QH, www.londonartfair.co.uk ) Brighton-based Ink_d Gallery are exhibiting works in the main fair section (Wed 15–Sun 19), by artists Paul Scott, Miss Bugs, Ryan Callanan, James Cauty, Carrie Reichardt, Carne Griffiths, Jake Wood Evans, Retna, Tom French, Pure Evil, David Ross, Hush, Matt Smith and Ian Hodgson.
PALLANT HOUSE 9 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TJ; http://pallant.org.uk ) You have a few days to catch the end of TOM SHAKESPEARE: INCARNATE (until Sun 5), a triptych by the writer, performer and disability arts campaigner. Originally inspired by the Gothic Nightmares exhibition at Tate Britain, the photographic triptych is a conversation between Shakespeare and some great works from the Renaissance to the modern era, on the theme of human embodiment. The triptych is his largest body of visual work to date and comprises The Nightmare (After Fuseli), Figure with Meat (After Bacon) and Dead Christ (After Mantegna).
) THE MURDER WALL by Mari Hannah. www.harpercollins.com The Murder Wall: It's where you look death in the face. Months after discovering a double homicide in a sleepy village, detective Kate Daniels is still haunted by her failure to solve the crime. When a new murder gives Daniels her first case as officer in charge, she jumps at another chance to get it right. But even more shocking than the brutal killing is the fact that Daniels recognizes the corpse. Eager to prove herself, she decides to keep her connection to the dead man a secret from her team, putting her career in jeopardy as her personal and professional lives threaten to collide. As the killer continues to claim his victims, Daniels unearths baffling clues in her search for connections among the murders... and while she draws closer to finding the culprit, he is watching her. Author Mari Hannah won the Polari new LGBT fiction prize this year with this precise, sinister and perfectly believable police procedural novel, her first following lesbian Detective Kate Daniels. If that’s not a good enough recommendation, then nothing I’m going to write will convince you. A brilliant first book. ) CATCHING BULLETS – MEMOIRS OF A BOND FAN by Mark O’Connell. www.splendidbooks.co.uk Shortlisted for the 2013 Polari Prize, this funny book is written
from the vantage point of a gay teenager whose grandfather was chauffeur to legendary 007 producer Cubby Broccoli. Catching Bullets is a gay man’s love-letter to James Bond, Duran Duran songs and quickly bolting down your tea to watch Roger Moore falling out of a plane without a parachute. When Jimmy O’Connell took a job as chauffeur for 007’s producers it would not just be Roger Moore and Sean Connery he would drive to James Bond. His wonderfully gay grandson Mark swiftly hitches a metaphorical ride on a humorous journey of filmatic discovery where Bond movies fire like bespoke bullets at a Reaganera Catholic childhood marked with divorce, a closet-gay adolescence soundtracked by John Barry and an adult life as a comedy writer still inspired by
that Broccoli movie magic. He’s cool, he’s good, and he sure knows how to write. Mark O’Connell has done all us queens a favour with this book and allows the sly wink and nod of deeply ironic but utterly loved Bond films to be clasped firmly back into the gay fold, where they truly belong. With a Prelude by Barbara Broccoli, foreword by Mark Gatiss, and afterword by Maud Adams this is any Bond loving LGBT person’s dream book. ) ENDLESS GAME by Gengoroh Tagame. www.brunogmuender.com Gengoroh Tagame is one of the stars of manga. His stories are among the best in this genre and until recently have only been
GSCENE 43
published in Japanese. Lots of people claim to be the heir of Tom of Finland only Tagame really deserves that title. This ultra graphic grafix novel, a brutal dark delight from start to finish with its endless and heavily erotic plot, is the best quality filth I’ve seen in a long time and beautifully executed in Tagame’s trademark style. His men and sex are hot, sweaty and energetic, but also explosively tender and loving when the story needs them to be. This is one of those rare grafix novels that manages to be both sweet and extremely hard and sexy at the same time. It’s on the hard side of sex so don’t go near it if you prefer your passion vanilla. Certainly one to buy if you like illustrated erotica or more brutish depiction of sex games and menon-men action. Bruno Gmünder is to publish two of them in English. ) RIVERS OF LONDON by Ben Aaronovitch. I loved this, and if you’re a fan of 'believable' magic, police fiction or just plain laugh out loud books then you’ve a treat in store as Aaronovitch has managed to combine all three elements into this book (and the two after it) to produce a new hero of London Police. His affection for London shines through the books as does his surreal humour, and the world he carefully creates is plausible, with the same tongue in cheek that's not been done this well since Buffy or that irritatingly smug Potter boy. The plot follows the adventures of PC Peter Grant: the first apprentice wizard in 50 years, as he wrestles with mundane police procedures and nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring God and Goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden uncovering a malicious vengeful spirit that takes
(so not too far different). Cant, who never slips too far into nostalgic daydream or coasts too fast into the surreal landscapes that he conjures up, manages to steer his tragicomic protagonist through an ever-evolving story of personal hope, progression and adventure. Wrapping in warm intimate details, the book is a convincing story of a young gay man developing through experience and adventure and the evolving extended families that all LGBT people develop as they grow up and out into themselves and their environment. The fact that this is all wrapped up in ordinary Londoners and twists wonderfully evocative Scottishness them into grotesque mannequins is both convincing and rather to act out its drama of violence fashionable too. This book and despair. managed to summon up the old The spirit of riot and rebellion has Scotland we all know so well and a awakened in the City of London rather more exciting idea of what and only Peter, with some help Scottish gay people might wish to from his local constabulary and his happen if the Scots leave the growing magical powers, can help. Union. This is serious fun, silly and A proper romp, with some very thoughtful in equal measure, and funny LGBT characters included Cant has the rather delightful too. Out now and great fun for a talent of being able to throw away teenager or just for some good old- the odd sentence like a pebble into fashioned reading. a flat Loch, and just allow the ripples to flow across the reader’s ) SOMETHING CHRONIC by Bob mind. A hoot, and if you know a Cant. www.waterstones.com Scottish homo, then that’s his More magical realism from Brighton present sorted for the next time. author Bob Cant, but here it's a darker hue and struck through with ) ANGELS IN AMERICA (parts 1 & a strong vibrant Scottish voice, 2) by Tony Kushner. particularly relevant at the moment www.nickhernbooks.co.uk. with all the mutterings of Available for the first time in one nationalistic fervour over the volume, the two parts of Tony border. With this story of a modern Kushner's masterpiece together Rip Van Winkle, Euan Saddler from constitute the finest drama of our Dundee casts his vote in the 1979 time, speaking to us of an entire devolution referendum then falls era of life and death during the into a sleep that lasts for 20 years. early ravaging of the AIDS When he awakes it is 1999 - not epidemic, as no other play within ours, but an alternate version in memory. Based in the Regan era, which two opposing visions of an independent Scotland are competing for hearts and minds,
Angels in America is an awardwining play and TV series. Part One, subtitled Millennium Approaches, erupted on to the stage of the National Theatre in January 1992. Part Two, Perestroika, followed in November 1993. Since then Angels in America has become one of the most studied American plays, with over 40,000 copies of both parts sold in the UK alone.
) CHER: STRONG ENOUGH by Josiah Howard www.plexusbooks.com. This true labour of love documents, for the first time, the behind the scenes history of Cher, the 1975 variety show that transformed the multi-faceted Cherilyn Sarkisian from star to superstar. The show, which saw the mononymous singer and actress trading quips on TV with Jerry Lewis and Steve Martin, and performing with the likes of Michael Jackson and Elton John, was a huge hit in its day. Howard, who wrote the programme notes for her stint in Vegas, has summarised this period with not only exclusive on set interviews, but pictures peppered throughout, which show Cher at her most flamboyant, and beautiful. Never descending into mere tittle tattle, the book delves into Cher’s personal trials at the time, including a battle with depression, an appearance before a Grand Jury to testify in a murder trial and a protracted custody battle for her daughter Chastity. It offers up a compelling insight into the ups and downs, and ins and outs, of a variety show that broke boundaries, dared to be different, and showcased this legendary powerhouse entertainer alongside some of pop culture’s most recognisable faces. GR
44 GSCENE
NOTES BY NICK BOSTON
REVIEWS ) Brothers Paul and Huw Watkins continue their survey of British works for cello and piano, with Sonatas from YORK BOWEN (18841961), Sir ARNOLD BAX (18831953) and JOHN IRELAND (18791962). All three were written for the same cellist, Beatrice Harrison, and composed within three years of each other (192123). Sometimes known as ‘the
English Rachmaninov’, Bowen’s Sonata is full of rich and virtuosic writing for both instruments, yet he also shows great subtlety, especially in his use of a recurring bell-like figure, which he makes use of in each of the three movements. The rhapsodic central slow movement provides the emotional heart here, and the energetic finale brings the work to a dramatic close. Bax’s Sonata is the most substantial of the three works here, coming in at just over half an hour long. For the central slow movement, Bax re-uses music from an earlier symphonic poem, Spring Fire, and the writing is particularly expressive and evocative. He rounds the work off with a lively, folk-inspired dance. Rather than driving straight to a lively finish, however, Bax places an Epilogue before the final climax, giving him the opportunity to pull
BRIGHTON DOME
) The BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA are back in Brighton (7.30pm, Sat 25), with a concert that includes Spanish music by De Falla, Turina, and Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, with Xuefei Yang on guitar. They also perform Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 6, the Pathéthique, and are conducted by Pablo Gonzalez.
BRIGHTON CORN EXCHANGE Church Street; box office: 01273 709709; www.brightondome.org ) Soloists from the Royal College of Music (11am, Sun 19) perform Schubert’s great Octet and Haydn’s String Quartet Op 20 No 2, in the Strings Attached Coffee Concert series.
CONGRESS THEATRE Eastbourne, 01323 412000, www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk ) The LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, conducted by Damian Iorio, are in Eastbourne (3pm, Sun 12) to perform Verdi, Tchaikovsky and Dvořák’s Violin Concerto, with Philippe Quint (violin).
SUSSEX DOWNS COLLEGE Mountfield Road, Lewes; www.nyslewes.org.uk ) The Nicholas Yonge Society welcomes soprano LOUISE ALDER and pianist JOHN PAUL ELKINS (7.45pm, Fri 24), with a programme including music by Debussy, Strauss, Poulenc and Ireland.
PHILIPPE QUINT
XUEFEI YANG
Church Street, BN1 1UE; box office: 01273 709709; www.brightondome.org ) The BRIGHTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, conducted by Barry Wordsworth (2.45pm, Sun 12), performs Dvořák and Beethoven, with Andrejs Osokins playing Beethoven’s own reworking of his Violin Concerto as the Piano Concerto in D major, Op61a.
ANDREJS OSOKINS
CONCERTS
together threads from the whole sonata, creating a very satisfying conclusion. Ireland’s Sonata finishes the disc here, and in contrast, it is more contained and concise. In fact much of the sonata’s musical material is derived from just a few of the cello’s opening bars. This economical use of material creates an intensity that is particularly noticeable in the slow movement, with both players getting to play its beautiful singing melody. The finale is somewhat brief, but highly virtuosic, with a dashing finish. The Watkins brothers inhabit this music convincingly, certainly making one wonder why these works are not heard more often. I enjoyed this second volume even more than the first, so await a third with anticipation. Chandos CHAN10792 ) A couple of years ago I enjoyed discovering the Piano Quartets of Romanian composer GEORGE ENESCU (1881-1955) performed by the Schubert Ensemble. They have returned with another disc of his chamber music, with his Piano Quintet, the Piano Trio, and a brief Aria and Scherzino for solo violin, accompanied by a sextet ensemble. As with the first disc, I find his music intriguing and difficult to pin down. There are influences of his French teachers Jules Massenet, and especially Gabriel Fauré, and one can also sense the influences of his time studying and performing as a young man in Vienna. But somehow the combination of these influences with his strong use of Romanian folk melodies and idioms create a highly individual and fascinating sound world. His writing for the violin is particularly strong, and he was a highly accomplished violinist and teacher, counting Yehudi Menuhin amongst his pupils. The Piano Quintet is the most substantial work on offer here, and it was unknown in Enescu’s lifetime – in fact he never even heard it performed. It was only discovered and performed in the 1960s. The structure is in itself interesting, with essentially two large-scale parts, each further split into two, to create its four movements. The music moves from extremes of intensity and darkness (particularly in the slow second movement) to lightness and dance-like folksiness, as in the opening to the third movement. The Piano Trio has complex origins, being completed from Enescu’s original manuscript
by Pascal Bentoiu, considered the authority on Enescu’s music. Furthermore, the Schubert Ensemble has further revised the edition as a result of their process of exploration of this music, and there are some interesting notes on this process with the CD. In this Trio, Enescu manages to balance an overarching structure with allowing space for expression and evolving musical ideas. The set of variations, which forms the middle movement, is particularly inventive, and the
influence of folk music is again never far away. The Schubert Ensemble is joined by Romanian violinist Remus Azoitei for the solo part in the youthful Aria and Scherzino that closes the disc. Here again one can hear the combined influences of Vienna and Paris, with luscious melodies and gorgeously intense harmonies. The Schubert Ensemble has clearly fallen in love with this music, and on the basis of these two discs, so have I. Chandos CHAN10790
CINEMA ) You can watch a live screening from the Royal Opera House (Mon 27) of Peter Wright’s production of GISELLE. This great Romantic ballet, with music by Adolphe Adam, is a tale of betrayal, supernatural spirits and love that transcends death. Natalia Osipova is Giselle, with Carlos Acosta as Albrecht. In a range of local
GISELLE
CLASSICAL
cinemas, including: Duke’s at the Komedia, Brighton; the Odeon Cinema, Brighton; Cineworld, Eastbourne; and the Connaught Cinema, Worthing. Check for times. Reviews, comments and events: nicks-classical-notes.blogspot.co.uk Email: nbclassical@hotmail.co.uk
GSCENE 45
FILM
BY MICHAEL HOOTMAN
12 YEARS A SLAVE Dir: Steve McQueen Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K Williams, Michael Fassbender Plot: In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Word on net: “Powerful, almost classical drama from British director... the seminal film about slavery that Hollywood feared to tackle.” ) “Brutally powerful and emotionally devastating.” ) “Not always easy to sit through, but most definitely vital and profound.” ) “It took a Brit to get the job done: a nightmare snapshot of plantation life from the viewpoint of an American slave.” ) “Ejiofor gives a performance for the ages.”
HOW TO MAKE MONEY SELLING DRUGS Dir: Matthew Cooke Stars: Freeway Ricky Ross, Susan Sarandon, David Simon Plot: Ten easy steps show you how to make money from drugs, featuring a series of interviews with drug dealers, prison employees, and lobbyists arguing for tougher drug laws. Word on net: “Highly entertaining and informative look at the war on drugs, offers a tongue-in-cheek manual of how to become a cartel leader.” ) “Vital, cogent and impressive.” ) “Yet another persuasive argument for a new approach to a still-urgent national issue.” ) “Explores profiteering made by major US corporations as the Drug War continues.”
Word on net: “Stiller has proven he can be much funnier... the emotional dimension ultimately makes the film feel more substantial.” ) “Employs hackneyed and mawkish methods to achieve a false sense of joyfulness.” ) “Winning blend of surreal fantasy, droll comedy and poignancy.”
president of South Africa. Word on net: “With the magnificent Elba to anchor it, the film gradually achieves a sort of grandeur.” ) “Largely too tasteful and conventional to offer much insight into the remarkable man it wishes to celebrate.” ) “Story and plot are flawed, but are easily overshadowed by the lead performances.”
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Dir: John Wells Stars: Meryl Streep, Dermot Mulroney, Julia Roberts Plot: A family crisis brings a group of sisters back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.
THE INNOCENTS Dir: Jack Clayton Stars: Deborah Kerr, Michael Redgrave, Peter Wyngarde Plot: A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted. Reissue for the horror classic based on Henry James' The Turn Of The Screw.
Word on net: “It pokes and occasionally stabs, but doesn't twist the knife as much as it should.” ) “There are so many reveals, twists and turns that they all end up feeling desperate.” ) “Vastly enjoyable theatrical banquet, if perhaps not a profound one.” ) “Brutal, heart-wrenchingly impressive film.”
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS Word on net: “Catches an eerie, spine-chilling mood right at the start and never lets up on its grim, evil theme.” ) “Stylish, intelligent and creepy.” ) “Cinematic story telling at its finest, where word and image are perfectly married.” ) “Sinister Victorian ghost movie is a British cinema classic.”
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
Dir: Ben Stiller Stars: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott Plot: A day-dreamer escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action.
Dir: Justin Chadwick Stars: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Terry Pheto Plot: A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected
Dir: Joel and Ethan Coen Stars: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman Plot: A week in the life of a young
singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Word on net: “It's the movie's profound undercurrent of sadness that gets to you.” ) “A marvelous, surreptitiously soulful movie.” ) “A melancholic, sometimes cruel, often hilarious counterfactual version of music history.” ) “A
conjuring act of near-magical conviction, an ode to the artistic spirit that's as uncompromising as the troubled genius it chronicles.'
ALSO OUT ) Keanu Reeves stars in 47 RONIN as one of a band of samurai set out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun. ) Vince Vaughn takes the title role in DELIVERY MAN in which he's fathered 533 children through anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years ago. Now he must decide whether or not to come forward when 142 of them file a lawsuit to reveal his identity... ) Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy and
Miranda Otto star in I, FRANKENSTEIN in which the creature finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries old war between two immortal clans.
FILM C O M P E T I T I O N ) Martin Scorsese's THE WOLF OF WALL STREET stars Leonardo DiCaprio in the true life story of wealthy stockbroker who defrauded investors in a massive 1990s securities scheme that involved widespread corruption on Wall Street and the corporate banking world. ) To win two tickets to the Odeon Brighton send the answer to the following question to Gscene Film Competition, 111 Western Rd, Hove, BN3 1DD: Which Wall Street star recently played Liberace? ) DECEMBER COMPETITION: Reign of Fire.
46 GSCENE
SHOPPING WITH MICHAEL HOOTMAN
) THE LONG GOODBYE (Arrow blu-ray). Robert Altman's adaptation of the Chandler novel is not only the director's best film, but perhaps one of the finest films to come out of Hollywood. Updated to the 1970s it boldly reimagines Philip Marlowe (Elliot Gould) as a slob living alone in an untidy apartment with his cat. Its opening sequence where he gets food for his pet is one of my favourite scenes in cinema. Nothing of any significance happens, it's not vital to the plot, and it's hard to say why it's so brilliant - but it's utterly entrancing. The film has a traditional noir plot in which its hero - despite being absolutely a man of his time - still retains a core of oldfashioned values. Though, as the film's conclusion shows, these values are, at the least, unsettling to a modern audience. A strangely romantic, contradictory film which has at its magnificent centre Gould's brilliantly charismatic performance. A whole raft of extras includes interviews with Altman, Gould and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond. ) GASLIGHT (BFI blu-ray). This 1940 adaptation of Patrick Hamilton's corking gothic melodrama has one of my favourite plots: the evil Victorian husband determined to commit his wife into an insane asylum. Anton Walbrook seethes with psychotic anger in a great performance - it's not exactly what you'd call naturalistic but it's certainly a lot of fun. Diana Wynyard is the impeccably accented, fragile wife who finds herself at the centre of a dastardly plot involving murder, madness and one particularly saucy parlour maid (Cathleen Cordell). Is it about the controlling power of patriarchy or a romp in fog-shrouded London streets? As Hamilton was a Marxist at the time he wrote the play it's probably a bit of both. Not quite a minor masterpiece, it's nevertheless a well-crafted, entertaining psychological thriller.
) Two-bottle Wine Cooler, £34 (Caz Systems, 17 Church St, Brighton, 01273 326471)
) Squeezable Tea Infuser, £10.50 (Pussy, 3a Kensington Gardens, Brighton, 01273 604861)
) 'UNT' Mug, £10 (England at Home, 22b Ship St, Brighton, 01273 205544)
) LASC Striped T Shirt £35; LASC Mesh Gym Pants £45; Pump Spring Break Trunk - with side pockets £25.95 (Prowler, 112-113 St James's St, Brighton, 01273 683680)
) Joco Glass Coffee Cup, £19.95 (Edited, 3 Gardner St, Brighton, 01273 604006, editedbrighton.com)
48 GSCENE
CRAIG’S THOUGHTS PIPE DOWN! THEY’RE JUST WORDS TOM, YOU HOMO F**K BY CRAIG HANLON-SMITH Standing at almost six feet tall aged 14, hiding at the front, middle or even back of the class was all but impossible whilst imprisoned at secondary school in the mid-1980s. However, as the English Language teacher presented us with an article outlining the fate of a WW2 submarine named 'Gay Charger', I tried in vain to crawl under my desk in an eternal search for a biro or at least to present an external air of cool disinterest in the subject as the rest of the class sniggered, rocked their desks and made 'bumming noises', or chewed up a page from their exercise book and spat it out onto the ceiling. It was a progressive environment. As we manoeuvred our way through the lesson straits demonstrating various degrees of teenage disaffection, I began to prepare myself for and accept the inevitability of the next two weeks. Following an extended homework project on the 'Gay Charger' article, submarine and torpedo references were plentiful as classmates and others besides would find endless hilarity in multiple interpretations of both terms. The queue into the sports hall on games day would hysterically shift so that I would not be able to 'charge' my male comrades from behind. Students from other classes I barely knew the names of, would ask the dinner ladies if they would be 'gay-charging me extra' for my gay chips and gravy. And on one particular day I was 'gay charged' however much money I had in my pocket by a group of boys who decided that if I wanted to be allowed home, there was an exit toll fee due immediately; and whilst crossing the street I tried in vain to ignore their references to my father’s torpedo performing irreparable damage upon my teenage loading bay. Kids are often horrid. The teacher attempted to intervene at one mid-way assessment point by explaining to the class that 'gay' didn't mean then what it does today and there was not to be an assumed connection with our stories on 'the gay charger' and 'gays'. Helpful. And then finally I was offered some respite from the submarine anecdotes as thankfully over the horizon AIDS appeared to distract one and all, but it would not be too long before I found myself longing for the references to the lost wartime sailors and their weaponry as the good old days. Being gay in the mid-1980s held little benefit. The family television was regularly turned off at the appearance of Jimmy Somerville (Boy George was fine because at that point he was still a lady), our flamboyant gender bending superstars of the 1970s reappeared in greysuits, married (to girls), and singing songs about women with Russian names or oriental features. And a local school drama teacher was somewhat publicly trialled and then jailed for an alleged sexual encounter with both a 16 and 18year-old male pair (the age of consent was, at the time 21), although he was eventually acquitted and released from prison, broken, some 18 months later having spent most of his sentence in solitary confinement ‘for his own safety’ when one of the boys admitted to the police that they had lied to "get him into trouble". 'Gay' in 1985 truly was rubbish. It therefore, some 28 years later, thrills me to share that by the time you read this I will have been presented with a shared 'diversity champion award', for helping to set up an LGBT Friends & Allies organisation at an inner city London college. In February we will be launching our own 'blow the whistle' on homophobia campaign to run alongside LGBT History Month, encouraging both students and teachers
alike to challenge homophobia within an education environment. This mirrors Stonewall's recently launched initiative challenging the use of the word 'gay' as a negative identifier - complete with celebrity endorsement, which I applaud. It does however, depress me greatly to read, albeit in a minority, some of the social media responses to Tom Daley's recent announcement. It is possibly worth pointing out to all those either with or without an opinion on the matter, that young Mr Daley has been careful (at the time of writing) not to identify himself as gay or bisexual, but to talk openly and healthily about the beginnings of a human personal relationship, to which he has committed. A brief Twitter foray into the responses of his detractors, will navigate you through the vocabulary highlights of: Fag, Faggot, Dirty Fag, Proper Gay Fag, a slight against God "you homo f**k", and my personal favourite "I'm ashamed of my country now that we have a fag representing us". No, you ignorant tweet for brains f**k, I am ashamed of my country that we continue to produce generations upon generations of poisonous responders to a message that is built on hope, strength, trust, companionship and all the finer points of the human condition. A response which regrettably now through the wonders of technological advancement, can be shared in an instant with thousands of 'followers' or an unfortunate 'hashtag' - "die bender".
“I would ask those teenage social media armies very much on the attack to look more closely at Tom Daley and his similarities and not to their own position” Our educators and youth organisations are no longer dealing with a sniggering immature reaction to the anatomical similarities of a wartime missile explored through the medium of poetry, but a bubonic plague of biblical proportions cast out across the multitudes not by God, but by fools invoking God's name and spreading malicious and vitriolic hatred like a slashed feather pillow on a windy night. I would ask those teenage social media armies very much on the attack to look more closely at Tom Daley and his similarities and not to their own position. Here we have a man who, by the age of 19, has navigated his way through personal tragedy and bereavement. A man who has moved schools at a critical time in his education as a result of a catalogue of bullying, and yet despite this, excelled in his GCSE and now A-level exams in a broad range of subjects from photography to mathematics. As if this was not achievement enough for any teenager, he won a Gold medal in the World Championships at his chosen sport, and further competed at the highest international level in two Olympic Games: in Beijing and adding to the tally of medals for TeamGB in London 2012. If in amongst all of this, he has also found not only the time, but space in his heart, to fall in love then I would like to be his friend. Tom Daley a slight against God? God made man in his image and that man looks like Tom Daley. What do you look like? Amen.
GSCENE 49
DUNCAN’S
HOMELY
DOMAIN
HOMILY
BY DUNCAN STEWART
BY GLENN STEVENS
TOP BANANA!
LISTOMANIA
The first time I encountered any direct homophobia was when I returned to higher education in the early 1980s, aged 18, and had a room on campus at Norwich City College. I had put up posters to start a Gay Soc, (one person replied, so that project never really got off the ground). However, one afternoon I returned to my dorm to find under my door name plate ‘Glenn’, someone had added ‘is gay’. Rather then remove it, I just wrote ‘So?’
My shopping list included the ingredients for making a moussaka but the meat on display looked fatty and the aubergines a bit wrinkled, (not unlike the shopper) so I abandoned my list and we ended up with chicken casserole. A friend derives so much pleasure from making a list, crossing off all the items and then discarding it, that he often crosses off things he has not done and starts a new one with those items at the top. He is otherwise quite rational.
At this stage in my life I’d already been in two relationships with men, and was working as chef, cook and bottle washer at Norwich’s only gay nightclub, The Caribbean, wearing little more than a Miley Cyrus-style wrecking ball, hot pants and matching vest, (I was 18, with a six-pack at the time, okay!) so their statement was an obvious fact to me, not the insult they where hoping for.
The practice of medicine is full of lists, algorithms, guidelines and protocols such as the recently vilified Liverpool pathway, a guide to help medical staff caring for the terminally ill. Almost without exception these are well constructed and well tested memory aids but they are not so comprehensive as to leave no room for spontaneous actions in response to the patient’s immediate problems. Lists can become misleading, oppressive and even hazardous, in the wrong hands.
A couple of years later I moved down to Brighton where at the same time the word ‘queer’ was being reclaimed by the radicals. I remember many older gay men hating the use of the word, as it had been the main use of abuse for them for years. Although the word ‘queer’ continues to be used derogatively by some and a power statements by others, the word ‘gay’ has become the new offensive term, particularly in many a school playground to describe something as being a bit crap. While writing this piece I asked friends who work with young people if the playground is rife with homophobia? The answer was it was more down to ignorance than anything else, with a lot of children banding the word ‘gay’ around as a negative without really thinking about how their words can be harmful to their gay school mates, many of whom are out.
“Words can be as playful or as insulting as we decide to make them, but it is all down to context and the meaning behind their delivery” Thankfully there are more support groups like Brighton Allsorts, Diversity Role Models and Stonewall who go into schools and are now working with the Church of England’s faith schools to help tackle the homophobic ignorance head on, while talking about the need for respect and acceptance for the individual, regardless of their sexuality. Another point worth making is, as adults, to think about all types of LGBTQ terminology within the context in which it is being delivered. Last month Gscene mentioned how the word ‘dyke’ was removed from a university Facebook page, even though it was within a playful context of ‘Dyke the Halls’. Words can be as playful or as insulting as we decide to make them, but it is all down to context and the meaning behind their delivery that we all have to be aware of. I’ve been called many things since those Norwich, days, from queer to a fruit, but I’d just say “yep, top banana, not a bad apple sweetheart”.
My charming and stoical 78-year-old neighbour consulted her GP when she developed an unfamiliar abdominal pain. Asked the usual questions, she denied any problems with her bladder and bowels but agreed she had some back pain. I have yet to meet anyone over 70 who does not, and she was out of the surgery door unexamined and clutching a prescription for Ibuprofen within five minutes. Six weeks later Dr Cursory became Dr Solicitous when his examination led to investigations which sadly confirmed the presence of inoperable ovarian cancer. Within only a few days her condition had been thoroughly assessed, medication prescribed, and arrangements made for home visiting by specialist nurses. Some weeks later her husband, distressed by his wife’s considerable discomfort, asked me to talk to her. I arrived at their front door at exactly the same time as a nurse carrying a sheaf of papers. I followed her upstairs and waited outside the bedroom with the husband while she introduced herself, for the first time, to her patient. “Hello Betty, everything alright dear?” This frankly silly opening remark was delivered with that dreadful patronising intonation that nurses below the age of 30 tend to use when addressing patients over 65. Of course everything was not “alright”, the poor woman was dying, and the useful question would be more along the lines of “Is anything alright?” or at least a neutral “How are you?” Predictably her question, expecting the answer “Yes”, failed to elicit any information from this uncomplaining woman. The uninvited familiarity of calling her by her first name also irritated me, only because it assumed some knowledge of the case which the nurse clearly lacked. I watched as she filled in the boxes on her questionnaire, each tick accompanied by a rattle from a well stocked charm bracelet. She left looking quite pleased with herself, all lists completed, but having done nothing remotely useful. It took two minutes to establish that Betty had two easily treated causes of discomfort which when resolved made her feel significantly more comfortable and able to reduce, for a while, the dosage of morphine and its attendant side effects. These bits of paper should not be allowed to obstruct the corridor that briefly unites two people discussing sensitive issues. A productive consultation requires eye contact, time, and the interviewer having the courtesy to shut up and listen to what is being said and to detect things not said. I fear our national intellect is being infected by a computer virus encouraging a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, binary, response to all situations. More choices, more spontaneity, more humility, more moussaka moments are needed. The casserole was fine.
50 GSCENE
HEART & SOLE WORDS WHAT’S IN A WORD? BY DARREN SOLE First of all, Happy New Year, and I hope that your 2014 will be chock full of health, wealth and happiness. One thing that is guaranteed, is that your next 12 months will be stuffed to bursting with words. And not just welcomed, fluffy ones like nipple, pinot and flump, but words you won’t want to read and words you certainly won’t want to hear. Forget about the usual monotony of bosses who drone, parents who crone and lovers who moan, I’m talking about utterances of the unmentionables; the other words from the ether, the ones from which we can’t escape and that batter our lugholes on a daily basis. Back in 2013 for example, if your bread wasn’t ‘artisan’, your dance wasn’t ‘twerked’ and your pork wasn't 'pulled', then you definitely weren’t ‘YOLO’ing, especially if you didn’t capture it all for posterity with an obligatory (official word of the year) 'selfie'. And every year, the volume of this noise grows, as more and more persistent syllables, deep in the bowels of the alphabet soup, push, shove and muscle together, to break free and come up for air, making newbie nouns and voracious verbs, that overshadow us, shape how we live and ultimately, survive us. As a comedy TV writer and producer, I have a modest insight into what kinds of words push people’s buttons because I make a living (inbetween train-sitting and celeb-stroking) creating, writing, and marking others', bum, nob and fanny gags. But in my lair of the shiny floor, no matter how high the scribe strives, it’s the F, C, and B words that get the biggest titters, and the naughties and haughties, that pull the audiences’ curls and shorties. It’s visceral that make unmissable, because we laugh hardest at our shared condition; the awkward things that make us human, like the sticky liquids we produce, the accidental noises we make, and the fleshy holes we poke. Within these unreal confines of TV though, there are rules and parameters in place, which permit everyone to laugh and respond confidently inside safe guidelines. It’s outside the doors of glitter and rooms of green, in the real world, where language is free to roam
uncensured on its mangled way, drunk with scant regard and unbridled haste. Throughout the years, the meaning of some words can twist, contort and change, taking unexpected and sometimes, unsavoury turns. So, it’s no surprise that words, and the people who use them, can often get themselves into trouble and the homosexual lexicon is never far away from having its knees scraped. The way we’ve been tagged, labelled and sold as a minority group has bent throughout the years; from mollies to fairies, pansies to poofters, queens to batties, queers to gays. We’ve been landed with derisions that, in name, may have changed, but whose negative sentiments have not. Back to the future though and it’s been noted that some teen homosexuals, unsurprisingly, have disowned the self-descriptive word ‘gay’ as they feel it ghettoises, something that luckily for them, unlike older generations, they haven’t experienced as much. But when paired with the fact that the misuse of ‘gay’ has become evermore commonplace in recent years as meaning rubbish and pathetic, who can blame them for wanting to be known (if they have to be known as anything at all) as something else. That’s why Stonewall’s latest ‘You’re So Gay’ campaign is very much welcomed. With young people, unwittingly or not, using damaging phrases like 'that's so gay' and 'you're so gay' every day at school, it’s no wonder that 84% of young gay people feel distressed when they hear it, especially as only 10% of them claim that school staff intervene whenever they hear any homophobic language being used. Stonewall’s mission is to challenge the misuse of the word ‘gay’ and they have sent guides to half of all secondary schools across Britain on how to help train teachers to tackle the issues surrounding this negative use of our language. This of course is good news, but I wonder if it would have taken over a full decade for a group to have to step forward and tackle this common sense issue if the phrases ‘that’s so Asian’ or ‘you’re so Jewish’, were being used with such similar negative connotations?
“I wonder if it would have taken over a full decade for a group to have to step forward and tackle this issue if the phrases ‘that’s so Asian’ or ‘you’re so Jewish’, were being used with such similar negative connotations?” Sometimes we’re all guilty of using words incorrectly, or that we shouldn’t use at all, in certain arenas but perhaps being part of a subculture gives one the ownership of certain embargoed words that most of the majority steer clear of, after all, dykes can safely call other dykes, dykes, queers queers and niggas niggas. This rule seems to add up, certainly in pop culture; someone like Morrissey for instance, who has had homosexual relationships, is ‘allowed’ to sing about All The Lazy Dykes but vehemently heterosexual Eminem, can’t rap about faggots. But whatever the words that the bulk choose to lob from their gobs, and with whatever levels of menace in which they are delivered, the most important thing is using the right words that we select to describe ourselves with. But listen, if all of this ranting sounds too heavy and the bombardment of worthy words too much, then lie back, relax and bask in the fragrance of some old faithfuls to lighten your load. So everyone, repeat after me; Boobs, bumholes and fanny hair. Darren Sole is a freelance TV Producer @darrensole
GSCENE 51
NETTY’S
QUEERYING
WORLD
QUEENIE BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE
GAY’S THE WORD
SORT IT OUT!
In the beginning was the word: ‘Gay’. We LGBTs ask a lot of it, it’s only little but has to stretch to cover us all. It’s my most chosen form of self-description. I tend to favour it over lesbian. This was a big mistake when at the age of 15 I attempted to find love through the Lonely Hearts pages of a London magazine. I described myself as a ‘gay girl’ looking for fun. I got an even lonelier response from an old Irish bloke who thought I sounded like a happy-go-lucky kinda gal, just the tonic he needed.
Well then, somewhat unbelievably another bloody year has gone by and what do you know, I’m still ‘a smoker’, I’m still ‘a drinker’ and I’m still ‘a West Ham fan’. But never mind, this month is apparently going to be the coldest and snowiest since time immemorial so rather than feel all January-ish about it I’ve decided it’s time to embrace a putan-end-to-all-the-procrastination-towards-jobs-I-don’t-feel-like-doingbecause-I’m-ahem-always-too-busy philosophy.
Of course in the ever-shifting sea of meanings, gay no longer means happy. Thanks to the yoof of today it’s leapt the species barrier and doesn’t just refer to sexuality, but to some person, act or item, which is deemed to be crappy or lame. There, I’ve just associated disability with crappiness, managing to undermine and belittle another group. I’m on a roll. It seems some of the LBTs who shelter under the LGBT banner are aggrieved at the sole use of the word ‘Gay’ to represent us all, i.e ‘Gay’ Pride. My response to this is that ‘Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender’ Pride is, to put not too fine a point on it, not very f**king catchy.
“I understand only too well how it feels to be a minority voice within a minority” I understand only too well how it feels to be a minority voice within a minority. Gay magazines are predominantly aimed at gay male consumptions; but I’m a gay woman, if I turned up at a gay sauna there would be a riot. However, whilst I may have little in common with those gays the one thing we’ll always share is our ‘otherness’. We are all, quite simply, not straight. Bisexuals are subject to the same hostilities as I am due to that gay element of their sexuality. Similarly, transsexuals will in most cases have spent a portion of their existence trying to identify as homosexual or lesbian, this makes them brothers and sisters in arms regardless of who they are now. Recently the word ‘dyke’ was censored from the title of a show, leaving the two dykes responsible for writing and performing the show fizzing at the gills. I feel the same when newsagents decide to put lesbian lifestyle magazines on the top shelf because we are SO disgusting. It’s worth remembering that we have Gay Pride to commemorate the Stonewall riots of 1969. In those times the preferred nice word for a gay man was ‘homophile’, thus emphasising men’s love of men rather than the act of sex, as in homosexual. Talking of catchy, let’s face it, ‘Homophile’ Pride was never gonna happen. Under decency laws, gay bars like the Stonewall Inn were being raided and patrons arrested if they weren’t wearing at least three gender-specific items of clothing. Gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘fashion police’. Suddenly, a drag queen, sick of NYPD harassment, threw her shoe at them. Our modern liberation movement was born, and the rest is history. Oh and of course, her story.
The last time the weather went wrong our street became an impassable Alp, what with it being off the top of Elm Grove (or should I say Matterhorn) and therefore not worthy of gritting. And despite a friend saying anybody who didn’t want to get in their car and ‘have a go’ should ‘man up’, the fact that the entire end of our road was presided over by three snowmen across both lanes and even the 4x4 owned by next door was marooned in a drift meant that no amount of testosterone fuelled thought could get my car keys a jangling. So walking to work was the only option. Three miles there, taking about an hour. This impasse lasted for three days, so six hours of walking over those three days (maths = my strong point) was the result. The first day was okay, a novelty even. The second a bit irritating. The third and I never wanted to put on wellies ever again. But I reckon I missed a trick as I could’ve used those wandering hours to decide what I could be doing when back at home and not chained to the idea of going out either in a car or by taxi… So, this January I will possibly have a whole month of striding to my toil. And the rest of the time I’ll be at home doing these things: 1. Sorting out the cupboard of death. I’m sure you’ve got one of those, either big or small. Ours is big enough to walk in and it’s where the Dyson lives along with the ironing board, plus toolbox, sewing kit and then about a million half-bottles/cans/tubs of various items of Substances Hazardous to Health. And I’m not talking bottles of vodka though I hear meths is a reasonable substitute. This cupboard is f**king dangerous man. Plus it’s a complete disaster area with stuff piled on top of stuff, and certainly no room to walk into. I will sort this all out, yes I will. 2. I’ll redecorate the entire house using all the leftover paint cleared out of the cupboard of death. 3. I’ll re-learn how to use the Dyson, the iron and how to sew. 4. I’ll drink anything left over from the clear out, and if that doesn’t seem appropriate I’ll smoke it. 5. I’ll put a bed in the cupboard and rent it out in February. There now. I’ve worked out how to get through the whole of 2014’s first glorious month productively. Let’s just hope the weather’s crap enough for this to all actually happen. I’ll be really pissed off if the predicted ice-age doesn’t happen and I remain procrastinating behind the wheel of my unfrozen Ford Fiesta. Happy New Year y’all.
52 GSCENE
KEITH SHARPE MY RESOLUTION DR KEITH SHARPE, CHANGING ATTITUDE SUSSEX, DENOUNCES RELIGIOUS HOMOPHOBIA
Here we go again: 'homosexuals represent a danger to our kids' is the real translation of this nasty claim. ‘Stonewall will teach heterosexual children to be gay’. It's spurious and nonsensical of course but obviously it shows no concern whatsoever for the homosexual children growing up in our schools, or indeed for the children who bully because of their ignorance of sexual diversity. Ignorance which is of course shared by the advocates of Anglican Mainstream.
COUNTERING RELIGIOUS HOMOPHOBIA
4. Anti-Jesus Stonewall Jesus was very clear about sexual morality: he was against all forms of sex outside heterosexual marriage, and that included homosexuality. Stonewall’s raison d’etre is to promote same-sex sexual relationships and lifestyles. How can a church which claims to obey Jesus partner with Stonewall?
One of my New Year resolutions this year is to name and denounce homophobia wherever I encounter it. I think sometimes in the past I have been too willing to accept the good faith of religious people opposing gay rights when really they are motivated by homophobia. 2014 as the year of the first gay marriages seems a good time to start.
This is simply not true. As I have shown many times in this column, and in the book, The Gay Gospels, Jesus did not condemn homosexuality. Anglican Mainstream rely on a distorted interpretation of the Gospels to justify their bigoted and prejudiced views. Jesus would surely have shown compassion for the victims of homophobic bullying.
And a hardline anti-gay organisation called Anglican Mainstream is a good place to start. This set-up purports to be the 'conscience' of our national church but actually regularly churns out homophobic attacks on the rights of the LGBT community. Towards the end of last year it condemned a thoroughly good and positive decision of the Church of England to work with the gay organisation Stonewall, to address the issue of bullying in schools run by the C of E. Anglican Mainstream used this as the pretext for an all out attack on the work of Stonewall as the premier defender of gay rights.
5. Bigoted Stonewall Stonewall has a history of inhibiting freedom of speech, by persecuting those who disagree with its views. The organisation hosts a gala Annual Awards Event in London each year which features nominees for and presentation of Bigot Of The Year Award. The former Bishop of Winchester, Michael Scott-Joynt, was among the nominees in 2009. Why would the Church of England wish to be publicly associated with such an organisation?
Here is what they wrote: It is right that the Church of England should address issues of bullying and make schools ‘safe’ places for all children and young people. However, we are astonished that Stonewall has been chosen to deliver this service. They then listed six 'justifications' for their position. 1. Discriminatory Stonewall First, Stonewall only addresses LGBT issues; what about all the other forms of bullying? Ofsted’s 2012 report, No Place For Bullying, found most bullying in schools was based upon appearance, and only a small percentage on perceived sexual orientation. Surely a campaign to eradicate bullying in schools should prioritise tackling its most common forms? Whether or not this is true it ignores the fact that the vast majority of LGBT youngsters have experienced some degree of bullying, and that this underpins the atrociously high suicide rates amongst gay teenagers, for which Anglican Mainstream have never shown any great concern. 2. Unscientific Stonewall Of course we agree that in today’s society people should be free to identify themselves as gay if they so wish, without fear of harassment. Stonewall’s campaign is based on an assumption that being ‘gay’ is something innate which people are born with, like a racial characteristic. However, repeated research efforts have failed to demonstrate any biological or genetic cause of homosexual orientation. Many youngsters who self-identified as gay in their teens shed the label and the identity later on. Institutionalising Stonewall’s views will inhibit this process. This is just outrageous. Most gay people have always known they were gay. The implication here is that it is simply a whimsical and perverse choice which most people sensibly choose to 'shed' as they grow older. It is a cruel and crude attempt to annihilate the truth about homosexuality. 3. Unsafe Stonewall Children’s lack of psychological and cognitive maturity makes them vulnerable to ideological and sexual manipulation. We are very concerned that Stonewall’s schools programme, which involves teaching children to regard different sexualities positively, may tacitly open a door to young people for sexual experimentation which is potentially unsafe.
This one is really rich, isn't it?! Anglican Mainstream is one of the most bigoted religious organisations in the country. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. Stonewall's Bigot Of The Year Award is only intended to draw attention to the vile and vicious things which some people feel able to say about LGBT people, which if they were said about people on the basis of racial origin would get them locked up. 6. Compromised Church? Why has this decision to invite Stonewall to teach our children been made without debate or ratification by Synod? If you share our concern at this development, please write to your Bishop. This is just wrong. For once the C of E is doing something good here. It does not have to be approved by Synod. Hopefully any bishops who get sent letters from Anglican Mainstream supporters will treat them with the contempt they deserve. Sadly I have to admit that this statement is an example of the homophobia which is institutionally entrenched in parts of the Anglican Communion. Let's be clear about this: Homophobia is personal or institutional prejudice against lesbian, gay and bisexual people rooted in a conscious or unconscious irrational fear of aversion to, dislike of, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. Such prejudice is alive and well in our national church and needs to be countered by outright condemnation whenever it is given expression.
OPEN AND WELCOMING CHURCHES On Friday, January 27, 2014, at 8pm at the Chapel Royal, North Street, Brighton, Changing Attitude Sussex will be holding a public discussion of the recent Church of England Pilling Report which advocates church blessings of gay marriage. It will be led by the Rev Colin Coward, National Director of Changing Attitude. All are welcome and entrance is free. Changing Attitude Sussex is committed to telling the truth about Christian teaching on homosexuality, and works for the full inclusion of LGBT people in every province of the Anglican Communion and more widely in all Christian Churches. For more information, view: www.changingattitudesussex.com and www.thegaygospels.com
GSCENE 53
BRIGHTON
SUCHI’S
MCC
WORLD
MY GOD!
I LOVE WORDS
I came to Christianity late. I'd been brought up as a Jehovah's Witness, was kicked out for being gay when I was 20, and after that wanted nothing at all to do with any kind of organised religion. Then when I was 29 I had a 'God' experience and began looking for a church. I found the Metropolitan Community Church of North London. Mainly LGBT folks gathering together each week to worship, a community of people coming from lots of different backgrounds, blending their traditions to form something unique. Eventually I accepted a call to ministry and studied Theology at Kings College, London.
They can be the chocolate of the literary world. Full of flavour, and nuance, they speak to us in ways that we sometimes can not verbally articulate.
BY REV MICHAEL HYDES
After I finished my studies I worked with queer kids in New York, USA, running the only emergency youth shelter for queer youth in the city. After two years I accepted a call to Pastor the MCC in Hagerstown, Maryland, about 75 miles from Washington DC in the Appalachian foothills. It was the home of the KKK and more than once my partner and I received death threats and actual attempts on our lives. Coming home to the UK early this year should have been a breeze in comparison, but it wasn't. Here in the UK, the church is on the fringes of the queer community rather than at the centre. Even though MCC provides a place where you can explore your own spiritual journey, no matter how different that may be, I think that religion in general has done so much damage in the UK that they're all treated with suspicion. So often they are places filled with dogma and prejudice so I suppose it's difficult to think of a church as a place radically affirming of queer people - which MCC is.
“Religion in general has done so much damage in the UK that they are all treated with suspicion” For me the church is a community of people who believe in Jesus. Some believe that he was the son of God; others believe that he was simply a good teacher who had a vision for a better way to live. He was a man who reached out to those on the margins of society and empowered them. Hopefully in the church we empower each other so that we can be true to who we are and the paths that we walk. Every person is called to something: a nurse, a carer, a teacher, a good friend, a great listener, a caring lover, a generous giver of time, talent, or resources. Empowering each other in the lives that we live is to be a community in relationship with God. I know, you think I'm crackers. That's okay. Maybe the church is an outdated institution that has no relevance today. Or maybe the opposite is true. Maybe church can be the touchstone that we use so that our lives can be lived in balance. Perhaps church can be the place we are open about who we are and our spiritual walk in this world. Perhaps church can be a community so diverse that it challenges us to be better people and make a difference in the world. And perhaps, just perhaps, we might connect with that deepest part of ourselves which is the spark of life, the divine presence that we call God.
BY SUCHI CHATTERJEE
My nephew loves words too, he wants to be a journalist and hopefully he will be a good one. As a little boy he was accepting of my life in the village and the friends I had who were same-sex couples. His favourite book was Jenny Lives With Eric And Martin and he loved the annual Pride Parade as much as I did. But then my little cherub grew up, hit puberty, went to an all boys grammar school that put the ‘H’ into homophobia and by the time my lovely nephew was 18 he had ceased to be so lovely. He didn't believe that gay people were born gay, that it was a ‘lifestyle choice’ and that it was okay to use terminology like “You're SO gay” and “That shirt you are wearing is SO gay”.
“It hadn't registered with my nephew that I was ‘one of those people’ he was making crass comments about” To say we locked horns was an understatement and it got to the point where I refused to talk to him on certain subjects because I knew we would end up coming to verbal blows. It hadn't registered with my nephew that I was ‘one of those people’ he was making crass comments about until it was spelt out to him by She Who Shall Be Obeyed. This new knowledge didn't change my nephew's views, after the initial shock of a universal truth; it became the elephant in the room between us. I felt overwhelmingly sad that my lovely, happy, accepting little boy was no more. And then a miracle happened. My nephew went to university and he met a young man who loved football as much as he did, liked the same music as him, and had a similar sense of humour. They got on like a house on fire - they got drunk together and they had long and meaningful chats into the small hours of the morning. And then it happened. My nephew found out his friend was gay. Suddenly everything that he had allowed himself to believe in since grammar school came tumbling down around his ears. He was in shock. He didn’t know what to do and then the little boy I remembered so well came back to life. He didn’t want to lose this friend who he liked so much but he had to face some uncomfortable truths about himself and his “You are SO gay” as an insult attitude. And face it he has done and even though I want to smack him around the back of his head and shout “What took you so damn long?” I’m grateful that he has been man enough to own up to his misguided prejudices and then do something about it. He now knows that being gay is not about choice but about who you are and he is kicking himself that he has been so stupid for so long. He said to me very recently, “I guess you need to view sexuality in the same light as ethnicity” he then added, “And if a person is racist, they need to go unf**k themselves before it’s too late” I have reminded him about the little boy he used to be and I am glad to have him back. And you know what? I think he is glad to be back too…
54 GSCENE
CHARLIE SAYS A SILENT B WE’RE AS GOOD AS YOU, BY CHARLIE BAUER PhD Anyone who knows my work also knows that I’m a stickler for all devious language and hidden context; of how the uber-right hide their meanings behind the agendas they so neatly posit in their language, and how claiming of the language first (eg pro-life) automatically makes everyone else the opposite (anti-life). What Shakespeare used to call a ‘jade’s trick’. But should we actually use the word ‘gay’ anymore? It is the G of the LGBT acronym, after all. We have gay men and lesbians. Trans* can encompass an entire array of statuses, always fluid, because to be in a state of trans is exactly as it sounds, no matter where you are on the trans spectrum. Everyone represented under the LGBT umbrella is supposed to also be within Queer but queer ‘others’ are in there too. If we think of the globe being run by predominantly white straight men, anyone who isn’t the straight white male version, is therefore queer. This makes the numbers of queers far greater than that of straight white men, making queers the majority. As you all know homosexuality has been around longer than heterosexuality.
the Mausoleum in Red Square to tell me otherwise, I’ve seen some bad make-up jobs in my time, but this is real K-hole stuff. Lenin famously said that Capitalism eats everything in its path; it consumes everything and then sh*ts out its own version. Now, I don’t want to sound like the last commie standing but the organisers of Pride might benefit from some early 20th century political reading. Pride is about money and, since gay icons such as Madonna and the rest are also about money and consuming cultures before regurgitating them as their own, I think it’s a marriage made in heaven/hell. Maybe it’s good for the LGBT acronym to fall. We’ve already left out intersex and a whole host of personal gender sexuality definitions, anyhow. The fact of the matter is that we’ve crammed ourselves in the same closet for so long as a matter of survival, we surely can’t expect the low-life underground boudoir to remain closed.
“Maybe it’s good for the LGBT acronym to fall. We’ve already left out intersex and a whole host of personal gender sexuality definitions, anyhow” I think the greatest indicator of this failure is the silent ‘B’ and the bi-phobia that exists both within and outside of the LGBT barricades. Just like Victorian England, where lesbians were never even acknowledged, it leads us back to the fact that the word ‘gay’ is a means of offence – a male insult thrown only at other males.
Don’t believe me? Well, when the jolly Victorians needed a ‘label’ for low-life male fellators, they came up with the term Homosexual. Some time later they needed to come up with a term for ‘Everybody else’ and this is when heterosexuality was actually born - somewhere in the 18th century. Unfortunately for the world, this means that homosexuality is older than heterosexuality, but then - at the end of the day - it’s just labels. As with our queer sexualities, we define ourselves as we see fit, so if I choose to call myself a sleazy cum-bucket faggot, that’s my choice. And since context is everything, if we hear someone screaming about a bunch of low life faggots on a 1960s newsreel we know what it really means. I have no problem referring to myself as a dirty, stinking, rotten, filthy homo because at the end of the day, I’m really the only one who knows this is actually true. When anyone else says it, it becomes another label. Gay icons are something entirely different. They are something we are collectively supposed to adore and consume. Madonna and Lady GaGa keep the argument going - just think of the revenue loss if they didn’t. In fact without ‘gay’ in their lexicon, these gals wouldn’t get another pay cheque. But this ‘gay iconography’ isn’t me - so what happens if I don’t identify as that kind of gay? The fact is, quite a lot of my own ‘gay’ icons are actually straight. In fact, there are only small elements within my gay icons that actually speak to me - not the whole package. So is it the ‘gay’ industries that are worried that the very word ‘gay’ is being cheapened by a bunch of school kids? How are you going to sell a ‘gay lifestyle’ when you’re really selling a ‘crap lifestyle’ or whatever the new definition is. Answer – don’t sell a ‘gay’ lifestyle in the first place. It’s a capitalist construct! One of my favourite gay icons was a man called Vladimir Lenin. And just because he’s not in the back pages of certain magazines doesn’t mean to say he’s not a gay icon. In fact I challenge anyone whose ever seen his embalmed body in
A few years ago I wrote an article about how I met Quentin Crisp when he was touring with his Evening With Quentin Crisp show and ended up in my hometown. Thirty people turned up of which I, still a schoolboy, was one. After the show I sat in the foyer with Quentin and talked. What I didn’t realise at the time was that I was inadvertently asking him what the whole gay thing meant. I’ve often wondered if he made it up there and then when he told me that GAY was actually a political term, something that carried a coded meaning. He told me that codes and metaphors were to become a new language for me within my new sexual identity - it was, after all, the coded language of my history. He told me that GAY actually stood for ‘Good As You’. Important words to a 17-year-old. So I’m calling for all Gay Pride events to now be named ‘Good As You festivals’ in honour of our dear Quentin. Find Charlie at: charliebauerphd.blogspot.com soundcloud.com/thewholeworld/do-i-look-gay-audio-essay
GSCENE 55
YOUNG
PEOPLE’S VOICE BY STEPHEN MURTAGH
TACKLING THE HOMO/BI/TRANSPHOBIC LANGUAGE TO CREATE SAFER SPACES FOR LGBT YOUTH I’ve been a peer educator for about two years. As part of a group we visit local schools, colleges, and youth groups and run workshops about LGBT identity and homo/bi/transphobia. I still remember my first workshop - I hadn’t stepped into a school let alone a secondary school for a good couple of years, but with two other peer educators and the coordinator there, the deep end wasn’t quite an ocean trench! I came out in secondary school when I was 15, (six years ago), even then I thought I was out and proud but the truth was I was still firmly in the ‘I’ll answer if you ask phase’. It took me until sixth form to become fully comfortable and almost blasé about my sexuality. I moved away from my rural hometown (a post office and three pubs) and started university in Brighton, a famously diverse and accepting city. But still I was terrified about talking openly about my experiences of coming out, school and family life in front of year 9s. Now, after doing it for almost two years, I can say it’s the most affirming thing I’ve done. Even in 2004/5, when I was finishing my GCSEs, there wasn’t any serious discussions about sexuality beyond the usual sexual health DVD, which was painful to watch. Now I can stand in front of younger people and give them advice that’s much more personal than a DVD. It was a tough ride being an ‘out’ gay guy at school, but I wouldn’t have been the same person I am today. Doing these workshops reminds me how raw some of my emotions still are, and I see how much I’ve matured since coming out. Although we have better laws and more provision starting to show in schools, there’s always more work to be done. Whether we visit five schools or 50, the message I give is ‘just be who you are’. There’s more structure to a workshop than that, but I’d always say ‘never doubt who you are’. We try to be more like role models than educators. Sometimes it’s more affirming for both me and the young people to discuss LGBT issues, if just to get the ball rolling. None of us pretend it’s an easy ride, but that’s why I believe so passionately in volunteering. To have someone standing up and saying it’s okay to be LGBT or otherwise can give a young person a glimmer of hope.
MITCHELL’S
MUSINGS BY MITCHELL ORRISS
PROUD TO BE...? From the Pride 2013 website the event is summarised as having “played a part in changing attitudes and promoting acceptance and equality, and of course that being LGTBQ or whoever you are, is something to be proud of.” Since its inception in 1973, thanks to the Sussex Liberation Gay Front, Pride has changed. Yes, it is no longer a free event, but what I'm mainly referring to in this piece is the exclusion of the word 'gay' from its title. Originally, the word 'gay' held connotations of joy in literature, and one I will proudly use as more than a mere label. In recent press, however, it has been identified with a shift towards negative meaning, highlighted in Will Young, and Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts working with Stonewall to change attitudes of the word in schools – aptly named 'Gay. Let's get the meaning straight.' A once positive word to celebrate our community, is now an insult created by a homophobic minority, and a historic majority with an agenda to ridicule and insult us through their misguided fear. The statistics suggest that the very word causes 84% of young people distress when hearing it. Stonewall are looking to change this across our education system, but the affects of history and attitudes have changed a once positive term into playground fodder.
We defiantly don’t offer the doom and gloom scenario. The work that many people round the world are doing means more coming out stories are happier, easier and more affirming for young people. I’ve had a few instances after a workshop where a young person has either written or spoken to us about it affirming their sexuality or gender identity. That is reward enough, to know you’ve had a positive impact on someone. I’ve learnt a lot from helping with workshops. Even though I came to Brighton ready to explore its diverse culture, I knew nothing about other gay, lesbian, bi and especially trans experiences. LGBT is always clumped together but knowledge doesn’t always come as a package deal. In these two years I’ve learnt so much more about different challenges and experiences people have to face. Especially coming from a rural town I only knew of the existence of two other gay people let alone the rest of the rainbow. People talk about ‘institutional’ homo/bi/transphobia but these can mean completely different things. I’m asked different questions at the doctors and I’ll have different experiences with adoption or surrogacy when I want to start a family. Yet with these experiences I can fully appreciate how different the paths are that people have to face. With Allsorts continuing to educate and help young people, I’m confident that less people will have to face it without the support they need.
ALLSORTS YOUTH PROJECT Allsorts Youth Project supports young people under 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or unsure (LGBTU) of their sexuality and/or gender. • Tel: 01273 721211 • www.allsortsyouth.org.uk • www.facebook.com/allsortsyouth • twitter.com/allsortsyouth
'Gay' unlike ‘Pride’ has become a word that, aside from being our label, is an abhorrent term amongst others. The exclusion of 'Gay' in front of 'Pride' may be an insult to those who pioneered equality for our community. Or, as last month's Dykegate article illustrates, it could be another form of censorship, and considered a flamboyant display of political correctness within our own community. Personally, I am not too concerned by its exclusion. The event itself is important, and has inspired other areas of our community to start their own annual events of the same nature. This year saw the first Trans* Pride; a historic event. Pride is a brave word. As a annual event it on one hand celebrates a united LGBT community, and on another highlights those not so lucky. We don't need names or words to celebrate how far we have come. Change is not made through words. It is made from those who unite to show bravery in times of struggle. Whether that be in the past, the present and beyond.
56 GSCENE
SAM THE TRANS MAN CLOSE COMFORT WE ALL JUST NEED TO GET ALONG BY DR SAMUEL JAMES HALL Sitting at the breakfast table this morning, my eldest daughter (15) said to me; “Why is it just LGBT and not LGB’P’T?“ Puzzled, I was… Turns out she meant ‘pansexual’. One of the Youtube partner VLOGgers that she loves to watch has just ‘come out’ as pansexual. No, don’t ask! I think it means anything goes… A VLOGger is like a blogger but they broadcast videos of their daily lives. It’s all the craze amongst teens and if you get loads of followers you can actually make money out of just ‘being’! My daughter said she cried over one boy who had come out as gay on his video. It’s all the rage, coming out via social media, and very appealing it is I must say far easier than the painful conversations many of us have had over and over again on a one-to-one basis.
“Being out as a transperson in the medical world is excruciating, such is the judgement and ignorance among many of my colleagues” This same week the courageous Tom Daley has come out and told us he is currently in a same-sex relationship. Brave boy! The more we see this sort of thing the more we will stamp out the residual homo/bi/trans/queer phobia that still permeates our society. Anyone who has any interest in queer theory or sociological studies will have figured out by now that we are dealing with a spectrum of gender identity and sexual preference which runs very deep - to the core of our beings really. I am unique; how I see myself, who I love and how I love them - these are unique. No one lives their life the way I live mine. No one feels the same way I do. There are people who are like me, and I feel comfortable around them, but there isn’t another ME. This is why labels are important, and are the beauty of diversity. The truth is that youngsters today who are queer - by which I mean ‘not straight’ - have a far easier time exploring and expressing themselves than ever before. Their quest for unique and individual self-expression leads to an ever increasing repertoire of words and language to try and capture their ‘particular’ brand of queerness. We often see Q, U and I attached to LGBT nowadays, meaning ‘questioning or queer’, ‘unsure’ and ‘intersex’. There are dykes and queers, gays, lesbians, transsexuals, trans* people, bisexual, bi-curious, gender-fluid, agender, asexual, transmasculine, transfeminine, transfeminist, FTM, MTF, and any number of other potential labels that people find useful or not at all useful. Not to mention the medical codespeak such as MSM for men who have sex with men but don’t identify as gay… Each of us in our quest for a solid sense of self, will naturally gravitate towards others like us. We seek out the ‘best fit’. I spent yesterday evening in the company of 12 transwomen having dinner. I felt comfortable and yet I was the only man present. What united us was bigger than what divided us. Sometimes I am more comfortable amongst other parents, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Because our children unite us. At other times still it’s the Church and being with fellow Catholics that matters, being amongst my colleagues as a doctor, or singing with the lovely Rainbow Chorus,
where we bond over our mutual love of music and performing, but where I sometimes joke that I’m the only ‘straight’ person in the room! Whatever the group we gravitate towards, the goal is community, a sense of belonging which bolsters my own sense of self. For me personally, an integrated life means being open about all the things that define me within each group or community, which sometimes causes friction. Being out as a transperson in the medical world, for example, is excruciating, such is the judgement and ignorance among many of my colleagues. It’s also interesting how much friction and antipathy there is in the LGBT (PQUI) community. The diversity is enormous even amongst gay men, let alone gay women, bi and trans folk. It’s tempting to assume that my own experience is the only valid one and turn against other minority groups as a consequence. The comfort of finding ‘my people’, can lead to the sense of ‘them’ and ‘us’ which feeds prejudice and discriminatory behaviour. We see this in the BME minorities with prejudice between Black and Asian communities. We lump people together based on the colour of their skin, and then wonder why there are things which divide them! It’s bizarre. Minority or fringe groups in society need to find their strength and solidarity, without losing sight of the fact that others are in the same position but for very different reasons. Recently I met trans people of colour who have more than one reason to be ostracised by mainstream society, and they are. Truly ostracised. We know that even though youngsters today are finding it easier to come out, to express themselves as something other than the perceived ‘heterosexual norm’, they are still being bullied and harassed in schools, playgrounds, and in cyberspace. It’s a paradoxical society of increasing acceptance that also flushes out deeply held beliefs, especially within certain areas of society such as Christian communities. Our ‘quest’ now as LGBT folk is to express and live the tolerance and acceptance we have so long demanded from the world, and to avoid making the mistake of turning against ‘them’ now that we have found ‘us’.
Based in central Brighton, the Clare Project weekly drop-in is a safe and confidential space to explore issues around gender identity. Facilitated peer support is an important element, as well as providing access to low-cost psychotherapy and speech therapy. CLARE PROJECT meets every
TUES from 2.30–5.30pm at DORSET GARDENS METHODIST CHURCH Dorset Gardens (off St James St) Brighton BN2 1RL Except 1st Tues when there’s an optional meal out preceded by the drop-in from 5–7.30pm
COFFEE MORNING SAT 4 JAN from 11am–1pm Welcoming all trans & questioning people to this new event which will run every 1st Saturday of each month
More details: www.clareproject.org.uk or find on us facebook under Clare Project. Email clareprojectinfo@gmail.com
GSCENE 57
KEITH’S
CORNER BY KEITH STEWART
WHAT HAS QUEER GOT TO DO WITH ME? Maybe I can't start to write about queer because it's not an important thing now. Nelson Mandela has died and is at peace. It has overshadowed Tom Daley’s half coming out parade. The media have more important things at hand now. It’s a good time for governments to announce bad news. What has queer got to do with me? And it's time for Xmas shopping. Words can't hurt me. As a noncamp man I am a “good gay man”. As a black man I have lived through words and actions aimed to hurt and destroy me. But still I rise. Because I am not the word and more than that. I will not let you pigeon hole me because you don't know who YOU are. I know who I am, so I can define my life and the important things in it for myself. Settling into my new job. I am a trainer - excellent one by the way. Caring for my mum - I am a Son, a Brother, Uncle, Great Uncle, Good Friend, neighbour, work colleague, friend, Big Bang theory fan and many more things. Those are the words and descriptors I choose. Some days you have to say I am more than that word and what it means. Especially if it had a negative history attached. Onwards and upwards. So Tom is gay but likes girls still - really? If it's no big thing, why has he and others made it such a big thing. Queer, gay, whatever I am not wrong, broken or bad. Words don't matter. I am stuck waiting for the train because the rail company are tossers and not because of my sexuality. The delay affects me now. In my day to day world. L.G.B.T.or Q - don’t matter if I can't get home. To sleep, to rise refreshed for work to pay the train fare. Thank you Nelson Mandela those are words that matter.
58 GSCENE
SERVICES
DIRECTORY LGBT SERVICES t ACCESS 4 ALL
LGBT disabled people’s forum. Safe, welcoming, support, activities, awareness. Tel: 07981 170071 or access4all@fsmail.net
t ANYTHING BUT…
Youth social support group for LGB or unsure under 26, every other Wed. Tel: 01424 724150 or 01424 447033
t ALLSORTS YOUTH PROJECT
Drop in for LGBT or unsure young people under 26, Tues 5.30-8.30pm. Tel: 01273 721211 or info@allsortsyouth.org.uk, www.allsortsyouth.org.uk
t BRIGHTON & HOVE POLICE
Report all homophobic and transphobic incidents to: • The Sussex Police 101 (for emergencies 999) email: LGBT@sussex.pnn.police.uk tweet: @policeLGBT • LGBT Officer PC Rich Bridger on 101 ext 550727 • LGBT caseworker Rory Smith on 101 ext 550727 or 07775 546548 • Facebook Brighton LGBT Police
t BRIGHTON & HOVE LGBT SAFETY FORUM Independent LGBT forum working with the Community to address and improve safety issues throughout Brighton & Hove. info@lgbt-safety-forum-brighton.com www.lgbt-safety-forum-brighton.com
t BRIGHTON & HOVE LGBT SWITCHBOARD Phone Helpline, Hate Crime reporting, Counselling service, Proud2connect (relationship counselling in partnership with Brighton Relate). www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton • Helpline from 5pm daily: Tel: 01273 204050 • Services info 01273 234009 • email brighton.manager@switchboard.org.uk • or brighton.admin@switchboard.org.uk
t BRIGHTON OURSTORY PROJECT
Oral history projects including shows, exhibitions, books, support to researchers Tel: 01273 207757 or 01273 328592 or www.brightonourstory.co.uk
t BRIGHTON WOMEN’S CENTRE
Info, counselling, drop-in space, support groups. Tel: 01273 698036 or www.womenscentre.org.uk
t FTM BRIGHTON
Social/support group for all female-to-male trans people. Every 3rd Sat of the month, 6-8pm, THT Office, 61 Ship St, Brighton, BN1 1AE. For info visit: www.ftmbrighton.org.uk or contact info@ftmbrighton.org.uk
t GEMS (GAY ELDERLY MEN’S SOCIETY)
Social group for mature gay men, meet 7–9pm every last Fri of month at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church Hall Tel: 01273 385000 or info@gems-bh.org.uk www.gems-bh.org.uk
t LESBIAN LINK BRIGHTON
Local social group offers friendship, social events, meets 1st Thursday at The Regency Tavern 7.30pm Tel: 07594 578035 (eve) www.lesbianlinkbrighton.co.uk
t LESBIAN & GAY AA
12 step self-help programme for alcohol addictions. Sun 7.30pm, Chapel Royal, North St, Btn (side entrance). Tel: 01273 203343 (general AA line)
t LGBT NA GROUP
Brighton based LGBT (welcomes others) Narcotics Anonymous group every Tue 6.30–8pm, Millwood Centre, Nelson Row, Kingswood St. Tel: NA Helpline 604604
t LGBT MEDITATION GROUP Meditation & discussion, every 2nd & 4th Thur, 5.30–7pm, Anahata Clinic, 119 Edward St, Brighton. Tel: 07789 861367 www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk
t LUNCH POSITIVE
Lunch club for people with HIV to meet, make friends, find peer support in safe environment. Every Fri, noon–2.30pm, Community Room, Dorset Gdns Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens, Brighton. Lunch £1.50. Tel: 07846 464384 or www.lunchpositive.org
t MINDOUT
Independent, impartial info, guidance for LGBT people with mental health problems. 24 hr confidential answerphone: Tel: o1273 234839 or info@mindout.org.uk www.mindout.org.uk
t RAINBOW FAMILIES
Support group for lesbian and/or gay parents Tel: 07951 082013 or info@rainbowfamilies.org.uk www.rainbowfamilies.org.uk
t VICTIM SUPPORT
Practical, emotional support for victims of crime. Tel: Brighton 01273 234009 or Hove 01273 439942
HIV PREVENTION TREATMENT & CARE SERVICES t AVERT
Sussex HIV & AIDS info service, available by phone Tel: 01403 210202 or email confidential@avert.org
t BRIGHTON & HOVE CAB HIV PROJECT Money, benefits, employment, housing, info, advocacy. Appointments: Tue-Thur 9am-4pm, Wed 9am-12.30pm Brighton & Hove Citizens Advice Bureau, 1 Tisbury Rd, Hove, Tel: 0845 1203710 www.brightonhovecab.org.uk
t CLINIC M
Free confidential testing & treatment for STIs including HIV. Hep A & B vaccinations. Out Patients Dept of Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Rd, from 6-8m. Tel: 01273 664721 www.brightonsexualhealth.com
t LAWSON UNIT
Medical advice, treatment for HIV+, specialist clinics, diet & welfare advice, drug trials. Tel: 01273 664722
t SUBSTANCE MISUSE SERVICE
CRI / Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust. Open access drop in, assessment, support, advice, info on drug & alcohol issues Tel 01273 607575. LGB&T worker provides confidential, non judgemental outreach service. Support for people over 18 wishing to address substance misuse Tel 07717 774 658
t SUSSEX BEACON
24 hour nursing & medical care, day care. Tel: 01273 694222 or www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
• Positive Voices: volunteers who go to organisations to talk about personal experiences of living with HIV. • Fastest (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men. Pre & post test discussion with clinical staff. Results in an hour. 10 men max tested per session. Mon: 6–8pm. (Full sexual health screen available) • Sauna Fastest at The Brighton Sauna (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men. Pre & post test discussion with clinical staff. Results in 30 minutes. Wed: 6–8pm. (STI Testing available) • Face2Face: confidential info & advice on sexual health & HIV for men who have sex with men. Face-2-face or phone. Up to 3 one hour appointments. • Specialist Training: wide range of courses for groups/ individuals. Specific courses to suit needs. • Counselling: from qualified counsellors for up to 12 sessions for people living with/affected by HIV • Informed Passions: Expert Volunteers project to identify & support sexual health needs of local men who have sex with men and carry out wide-ranging field research in B&H on issues affecting men’s sexual health. Extensive training provided. • Lounge (Group for Gay Men Living with HIV): fortnightly peer support group for gay men. • What Next? Thurs eve, 6 week peer support group work programme for newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men. • HIV Support Services: info, support & practical advice for people living with/affected by HIV. • Volunteer Support Services: 1-2-1 community support for people living with or affected by HIV. • HIV Welfare Rights Advice: Find out about benefits or benefit changes that may affect you. Advice line: Mon–Thur 1:30-2:30pm. 1-2-1 appointments for advice and workshops on key benefits. For more info about these FREE services go to the THT office, 61 Ship St, Btn, Mon–Fri, 9.30am–5.30pm Tel: 01273 764200 or info.brighton@tht.org.uk
t TERRENCE HIGGINS EASTBOURNE
Covering East Sussex, Services: Health Promotion Outreach, free condoms, lube, sexual health info & advice; HIV Health Coach, short term support for people living with HIV; counselling; Positive Grants; Face-2-Face 1-2-1 support & advice on sexual health, HIV; Condom Male: free condoms by post; Fastest: 1 hour HIV tests; Positively Social: group for people living with HIV; Volunteering. Dyke House, 110 South St, Eastbourne, BN21 4LZ, Tel: 01323 649927 or info.eastbourne@tht.org.uk
t WARREN BROWNE UNIT
Free confidential tests & treatment for STIs inc HIV. Hep A & B vaccinations. Shoreham based. Tel: 01273 461453
NATIONAL HELPLINES t BROKEN RAINBOW
LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline, Mon 2-8pm, Wed 10-1pm, Thur 2-8pm Tel: 08452 604460
t LONDON LESBIAN & GAY SWITCHBOARD
t TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST SERVICES
Tel: 02078 377324
• Venue Outreach: info on HIV, sexual health, personal safety, safer drug/alcohol use, free condoms/lubricant for men who have sex with men. • The Bushes Outreach Service @ Dukes Mound: advice, support, info on HIV, sexual health, personal safety. Free condoms, lube, tea/coffee from Outreach van parked next to ‘The Patio’ at the Bushes. • Netreach (online Outreach in Brighton & Hove): info/advice on HIV/sexual health/local services. THT Brighton Outreach workers online @ Gaydar: Thur 7–10pm, Sat 6pm-12am, chatroom HEALTH INFO THT • Condom Male: discreet, confidential service posts free condoms/lube/sexual health info to men who have sex with men without access to commercial gay scene in East Sussex.
Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat & Sun 4-10pm Tel: 0800 1696806
t POSITIVELINE (EDDIE SURMAN TRUST) t MAINLINERS Tel: 02075 825226
t NATIONAL AIDS HELPLINE 08005 67123
t NATIONAL DRUGS HELPLINE 08007 76600 t THT AIDS TREATMENT PHONELINE Tel: 08459 470047
t THT DIRECT Tel: 0845 1221200
GSCENE 59
JAN 2014 PROFESSIONAL
CLASSIFIEDS
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60 GSCENE
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E L E Brighton C T Rbased ICAN For all your electrical requirements No jobs too small, rewire, phone points etc. Call Barry for free advice on
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Competitive Rates Interior / Exterior Artexing / Coving Quality & Reliability Guaranteed
HOME 01273 589329 MOBILE 07973 839214 over 15 years experience
CARPENTRY & BUILDING
• LOFT CONVERSIONS • EXTENSIONS • BRICKWORK • PAINTWORK DECORATING • INSURANCE REPAIRS
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Est 1990
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30 SMOKEYS 123-125 Kings Rd, 323888 19 THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS 59 North Rd, 608571
44 BRIGHTON WOMEN’S CENTRE 72 High St, 698036 www.womenscentre.org.uk 45 LUNCH POSITIVE l SAUNAS Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, 07846 464384 41 BRIGHTON SAUNA www.lunchpositive.org 75 Grand Parade, 689966 46 MINDOUT 42 TBS2 SAUNA Community Base, 113 Queens Rd 84-86 Denmark Villas, Hove, 723733 234839 www.mindout.org.uk l LEGAL & FINANCE 46 SWITCHBOARD Community Base, 113 Queens Rd 43 ENGLEHARTS 204050 (5–11pm) 49 Vallance Hall, Hove St, Hove, 204411
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1 A-BAR 11–12 Marine Parade, 688825 2 BAR REVENGE 7 Marine Parade, 606064 3 BEDFORD TAVERN 30 Western St, 739495 4 BULLDOG TAVERN 31 St James’ St, 696996 5 BRIGHTON TAVERN 99-100 Gloucester Rd, 680365 6 CAMELFORD ARMS 30-31Camelford St, 622386 7 CHARLES STREET BAR 8-9 Marine Parade, 624091 8 CHURCH STREET 112 Church St, 606864 9 DR BRIGHTON’S 16 Kings Rd, 208113 10 GROSVENOR 16 Western St, 770712 11 LEGENDS BAR 31-34 Marine Parade, 624462 12 MARINE TAVERN 13 Broad St, 681284 13 MARLBOROUGH 4 Princes St, 570028 14 PARIS HOUSE 21 Western Rod, 724195 15 POISON IVY 129 St James St 16 QUEENS ARMS 7 George St, 696873 17 REGENCY TAVERN 32-34 Russell Sq, 325652 18 SUBLINE 129 St James St, 624100 19 THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS 59 North Rd, 608571 20 ZONE 33 St James’ St, 682249
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Situated on the third floor of a handsome Grade II listed seafront residence. Refurbished by interior designer Clare Topham now offering a stylish interior to compliment the elegantly proportioned rooms. Comprising: reception hall, drawing room, contemporary kitchen, three double bedrooms and a marble bathroom. 1
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Four of our favourite properties this week. Visit our website at justinlloyd.co.uk to view all our properties.
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Regency Court, Brighton
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Stylish apartment situated on the ground floor of a modern block in the heart of the North Laine. Comprising: entrance hallway, spacious open plan living room/kitchen, two double bedrooms and a modern bathroom. This would make a wonderful permanent residence or enviable second home.
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“Keep up with the high quality of service we have received.”
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Second floor apartment just north of Preston Park. Comprising: entrance hallway, spacious living/ dining room, contemporary kitchen, two double bedrooms and modern bathroom. Refurbished to a high specification with fully integrated kitchen appliances, oak wood flooring, a new gas central heating system and double glazed windows.
Purchaser Comment, November 2013.
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Rock Grove, Brighton
£ 255,000 One bedroom apartment, with separate studio, set around an unofficial courtyard garden, benefiting from use of Kemp Town Enclosures. The property comprises a sitting room, kitchen/dining room, double bedroom and ensuite shower room. The studio has a living area, kitchenette and bathroom. 2
Highly Commended Real Estate Agency East Sussex
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Kemp Town 118 St James’s Street, Brighton BN2 1TH
The International Property Awards 2013-2013
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