Gay London Life | Mar '26 Edition - Magazine - Page 36
26 Years Underground:
Alan Roberts on MA1 Bunker’s Staying Power
As MA1 Bunker approaches its 26th year, owner Alan Roberts reflects
on dating apps, dark corners, pink poodles, and what it really takes to
keep an underground venue alive in London.
Alan, you’ve been running venues
even 20 years later. When something
for decades. What’s been the
connects, it lasts.
biggest shift you’ve seen in London
When you’re not running your
nightlife?
own events, where do you go for a
We saw a big shift towards pick-up
night out?
sites like Grindr and Recon. For a
Honestly, I don’t. Bars and pubs are
while it felt like apps were replacing
a busman’s holiday. I don’t drink,
physical spaces. But recently —
smoke or do drugs. My idea of
especially post-Covid — people
switching off is heading to my holiday
seem more willing to come out again.
home up north in Gwynedd — far
There’s something about being in a
from the madding crowd.
real venue with real people that apps
Is nightlife truly a 24/7 operation
can’t replicate. On dating sites, people
for you?
want to know everything from the car
It really is 24/7/365. Until recently I
you drive to the cat’s name. In reality,
had other clubs dotted around the UK
sometimes you just want a shag.
as well. I often wake up in the middle
MA1 Bunker has been going strong
of the night thinking about clubs —
for years. Why has it stood the test
about the next idea, the next tweak,
of time? What’s the secret sauce?
the next improvement.
Innovation. Keep moving forward. If
What makes a great crowd at MA1?
a format works, keep it. If it doesn’t,
A good mix of people. MA1 works
move on. Even at MA1, regulars notice
because you can chat in one room,
that walls move, doors move, lighting
head into another and play, or dance
gets upgraded. It keeps the space
depending on the night. That flexibility
feeling alive. There’s one basic rule in
creates the vibe. It’s social and
entertainment: give the people what
hedonistic at the same time.
they want. In our case, that’s usually a
What does the future of fetish and
dark corner and some red lights.
underground clubbing look like?
You must have seen it all behind
Everything comes full circle. There’s
the scenes. Any moments that
a decline, then it bounces back.
still make you laugh, wince or feel
London can be difficult to operate
proud?
in, but the appetite for these spaces
Poodles and dildos. Long story short
never fully disappears. People will
— we once found a poodle dyed pink
always want somewhere to gather,
sitting next to a rather large dildo.
explore and connect.
Explain that one to the RSPCA. But
Finally, what’s coming up at MA1
honestly, most nights are a show in
that we should be excited about?
themselves. We’ve seen everything
MA1 turns 26 this year, so there’ll
— and a few things I’d rather not have.
be anniversary parties later in the
What’s the toughest part of running
year. We regularly throw free-
MA1 that people don’t see?
entry fetish nights like Geared Up,
The mess. What’s left on the floor
Skinhead and The Block. Now
at the end of the night. Water
that the new lighting rig and sound
leaks, blocked toilets, constant
system are installed, there are new
maintenance. And the paperwork
ideas in the pipeline. And there’s
— endless and relentless. Everyone
always room — if you’ve got a night
sees the fun. They don’t see the graft
you want to do, get in touch.
that keeps the doors open.
Tell us about your favourite night at
MA1 Bunker. 215-221 City Road,
MA1. Not the biggest — the one that
London, EC1V 1JN.
felt special.
Nearest station: Aldgate East
Rimpack always gets absolutely
Find out more at ma1.co.uk
rammed. But going further back,
SKIN500 at the old Crash was
entertaining. Buff proved a hit too —
and it’s still one of the club’s mainstays
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