Soho Pride W1: Taking Pride Of Place: Sunday 1 August 12-8pm 2004
Soho Pride truly celebrates pride in the heart of queer London with the hottest, almost free gay event of the year. This event is unique in that it is a free party happening in the Bars and out in the open air on the Streets of the coolest party zone in London – Soho, W1.
Event Format
Revellers can expect all the glory of last years first ever Soho Pride but also some practical improvements and extra provision to help ensure a great day out for all. DJ’s stages will again feature on Carlisle St and Soho Square with the addition of another DJ stage on the corner of Rupert St and Archer St (Outside Barcode).
- Street closures – Pedestrianised street areas: Soho Square, Soho St, Dean Street, Frith St, Greek St, Bateman St, Old Compton St, Archer St, Rupert St and all adjoining streets.
- Participation by about 20 gay bars and clubs.
Pre Parties on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 July in Soho’s hottest bars and clubs.
- Cabaret stage in St Anne’s gardens.
- 3 DJ sound stages - DJ residents from London's top clubs.
Gay market place: featuring a buzzing array of gay goodies and community information.
- Alfresco wining and dining at Soho's favourite restaurants.
Soho Pride is a free event although entry to the cabaret stage in St Anne’s Gardens is by pre-sold wristband only. Available from Clone Zone on Old Compton St for £25 (includes 5 free drinks) very limited numbers available. Find out more below.
Map
Click on the image below for the bigger picture.
Why Soho Pride?
This event is a true and meaningful celebration on the international gay calendar. Soho is the heart of London's international gay community – the most vibrant and arguably the largest gay community in the world. All Soho bar owners will participate including: Rupert St, Bar Code, Compton’s, Balan’s, GAY, Friendly Society, The Edge, Candy Bar, Admiral Duncan, Duke of Wellington, Escape Bar, The Yard, Ku Bar, Clone Zone and First Out.
Cabaret Wristbands
Wristbands for the Cabaret Stage are now on sale, and hurry there's only 700 available! The new, and exclusive, performance area in St Annes Gardens, Wardour St, will feature countless top London circuit acts including Sandra, the Boy George Experience, Topping & Butch, Dave Lynn, Adrella, Rose Garden, Men In Coats and the fabulous Pam Ann - plus many more supreme cabaret queens to be confirmed!
Wristbands cost £25 and this includes 5 free drinks! Bands are available only from Clone Zone, Old Compton St Soho 7287 3530 and are not for sale on the day.
Press From Last Years Event:
"Thousands of queens, dykes and their straight friends descended on Soho last Saturday for the first ever Soho Pride, not only making it one of the best queer events in the capital for years but ensuring that it has to happen again in the future… The atmosphere was, simply electric. This was pure hedonistic celebration and affirmation of being gay, right in the heart of ‘our’ part of London… There are lots of lessons to be learnt from Soho Pride, but the most important is that we queens still know how to party better than anyone else."
QX Magazine July 2003
"The Organisation is headed by Candy Bar’s Kim Lucas, a whizz at turning round a great event"
Attitude Magazine July 2003
"Around 15,000 gay and lesbian revellers filled the streets of Soho this weekend at London’s first local gay pride event… Soho Pride - Building a sense of community."
Pink Paper July 2003
Soho Pride W1: Taking Pride Of Place: Sunday 1 August 12-8pm 2004