Gay London Life | Feb '26 Edition - Magazine - Page 8
Going Out
Athena - The
9th Birthday
There are club nights that
come and go, and then there
Scan for London’s latest events>
Freedom Bar
A Night At
LOVE FEST
The Musicals
Valentine’s Party
If your idea of a good
night out involves big
are the ones that quietly
Valentine’s Day landing on a
voices, bigger feelings
become part of your social
Saturday feels like a treat, and
and zero restraint when
muscle memory. Athena, turning nine, feels like
Freedom Bar’s LOVE FEST
it comes to applause,
another special birthday and a victory lap for
Valentiens party will be the cherry
then this fundraiser
a party that has always trusted its audience to
on top with equal parts sparkle and swagger. Soho’s
at the Royal Vauxhall
get down. This is still about air grabbing with big
chicest gay bar and club is all about theatrical flair
Tavern should be right
eighties emotions and some amazing 80’s fits,
with a ground-floor cocktail lounge that feels like an
up your street. A Night At The Musicals brings a
a dancefloor always full of people who know
off-Broadway set withcrushed velvet booths, fresh
healthy dose of West End drama to the RVT stage,
exactly when to scream-sing a chorus, and DJs
flowers and signature drinks before you’ve even
all in support of Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s
who understand that nostalgia works best when
hit the basement. The crowd here mixes stylish
leading HIV charity. Cabaret powerhouse Michael
it is treated with respect. Expect a properly mixed
and sociable, from West End regulars grabbing a
Twaits is your host for the evening, presiding
crowd, from original Eagle regulars to younger
pre-show tipple to dancers ready to make the club
over a line-up of West End and cabaret singers
queers and queens discovering that synths,
stairs their runway. DJs spin big hooks and house
who know exactly how to sell a song and milk
drama and pop perfection never really age. The
grooves that earn every step taken under the disco
a moment. Expect belting choruses, knowing
vibe is friendly and gloriously unpretentious, with
mirrors, and past the dance poles Freedom is
humour, a few theatrical gut-punches and a crowd
just enough polish to remind you why Athena has
famous for. This Valentine’s trades hearts for heat,
that isn’t shy about whooping when something
lasted this long. Birthday nights here tend to run
whether that’s being flirtatious, fierce or big group
really lands. It’s joyful, it’s unapologetically camp,
hotter, louder and later than usual, and nobody
energy with clubby abandon. Expect the right kind
and it all happens in one of London’s most storied
leaves without at least one song stuck in their
of loud, the best cocktails and a night that feels like a
queer venues. Bring your loudest clap, your
head for the rest of the weekend.
genuine Soho institution on its baddest behaviour.
softest heart and maybe a tissue or two.
Saturday 7th February
Saturday 14th February
Thursday 26th February
Eagle London, 349 Kennington Lane,
Freedom Bar, 60–66 Wardour Street,
Royal Vauxhall Tavern,
London SE11 5QY
London W1F 0TA
372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY
Nearest Station: Vauxhall
Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus
Nearest Station: Vauxhall
Website: www.eagelondon.com
Website: www.freedombarsoho.com
Website: www.vauxhalltavern.com
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