Gay London Life | August '26 Edition - Magazine - Page 24
New Queen Of The Castle
At The George & Dragon
There’s a new landlord in town, and he’s arrived
with some seriously big stilettos to fill.
Jon Ward has officially taken over the George & Dragon in Greenwich,
beginning a brand-new chapter for one of south-east London’s best-loved
LGBTQ+ venues.
Plenty of scene regulars will already know Jon from his time at the King
William IV in Hampstead, the Black Cap in Camden and West 5 in Ealing.
Now, after three years in the Devon wilderness, he’s swapped country lanes
for cabaret, pints and late-night chaos, taking charge of what he proudly
describes as south-east London’s premier cabaret bar.
It’s a huge moment for the pub. The Duchess has been at the helm for an
incredible 28 years, turning the George & Dragon into a proper queer institution
and a second home for generations of performers, punters and anyone who’s
ever stumbled in for “just one” and left several hours later with a new best friend.
Jon knows he’s following a legend. In his announcement, he joked that he has
some very large stilettos to fill, but he sounds more than ready to give it a go.
He said he’s looking forward to meeting the pub’s loyal regulars,
reconnecting with familiar faces and working once again with some of the
best cabaret acts on the LGBTQ+ scene. With his background in some of
London’s best-known queer venues, he certainly knows his way around a bar,
a drag show and a crowd that won’t tolerate a dull night.
For regulars feeling a little nervous about such a major change, there’s
plenty of reassurance in Jon’s message. This isn’t about sweeping away
everything people love about the George & Dragon. It’s about celebrating
its history, protecting its place in the community and carrying it forward with
fresh energy.
And thank goodness for that. At a time when queer venues continue to
disappear from London at an alarming rate, seeing one of our most cherished
pubs pass into experienced hands is genuinely something to celebrate.
The George & Dragon remains proudly open, with its usual mix of drag,
cabaret, karaoke, music and gloriously unpredictable late nights. Expect
familiar faces on stage, a few new surprises and, undoubtedly, plenty of
opinions from the regulars at the bar.
So, welcome back to London, Jon. The wigs are high, the expectations
are higher and the George & Dragon crowd will soon let you know exactly
what they think. We suspect he wouldn’t have it any other way.
The George & Dragon,
2 Blackheath Hill, Greenwich,
London SE10 8DE | georgedragon.co.uk
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