After years of rumours...

...I received this email today:

"After a lot of thought & consideration, choosing to follow my head rather than my heart, it saddens me to announce that G-A-Y is to leave the Astoria after over 15 years of being there 4 nights a week.

I'm not going to lie & pretend I'm not upset about leaving a venue that has been part of gay history & my life but I feel it is the right decision for the future of G-A-Y

The main reason why I have come to this decision is because I need to take control of the future of G-A-Y & with there being so many rumours about the future of the Astoria & to be honest not knowing what the truth is, with different versions from Cross rail, the owners & the GLA, I've decided that it is time for me to take control of what G-A-Y does next, I want to leave the Astoria on a high rather than watching the venue fall apart with no money being spent on it or guessing when the building is to be bulldozed


G-A-Y will be giving up Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays first with the last one being on Fri 13th June. How apt ending on Friday 13th.

G-A-Y will continue to run Saturdays until I can find a suitable act to go out with a bang with. Having said that, who that act will be, I have no idea, as I want the last night to be about G-A-Y, not about the act.

So what is the future for G-A-Y, well priority goes to G-A-Y Bar & Late, & you will be seeing changes there including G-A-Y Late doubling in size, more details very soon.

The past 15 years have been an amazing journey & for all of those that have joined me on this route, I thank you & get ready for the next stage in the future of G-A-Y

Jeremy"


I guess most knew it was gonna happen one day but just a shame that it's finally been confirmed. I've not been there for a good couple of years now and before that it had only been twice but I can say that they were two of the best nights I've had out clubbing ever. Not really sure what it was/is about the place, and to be honest it's nothing spectacular inside, but it is just great!


The first time I went was when I was first coming out and actually declared my secret to the group I was with on the way there. Liberty X were the main act of the night with Phixx (remember them? LOL!) 'supporting'. Hearing 'Just a little' or 'Wild boys' still makes me smile and recall the hazy memories I have.


I have been planning to go back before it is too late but as yet haven't...that's not for the want of trying. Couple of years ago Sugarbabes were playing and me and another group of friends tried getting in with no luck. Apparently I was fine but the others 'looked too straight'! Kinda put me off a bit.

When will the last ballon drop be? When will Kylie Sing out for the last time 'Better The Devil You Know' at 12.30 as she has done for the past 15 years every Saturday night? Who knows what will happen, or infact when? As I said it is a real shame not just for now but for the others to come. I kinda see it as a rite of passage to anyone doing the gay scene in London (dramatic maybe?), well it was for me anyway, the one place you must do even if it's just the once. I know it syas that Jeremy will look for a new venue eventually but I don't think any where else willever be as good.