Gay London Life | April '25 Edition - Magazine - Page 24
The Wild,
Wild West
We fired a few questions at the Ted who lends his
name to the West London venue Teds Place —
here’s what manager Edward Barnham had to say
Hello Ted, tell us a bit about
the history of Teds Place.
Teds Place opened its doors in
Fulham on 20th October 1990.
Over the years, it’s seen some
changes. In the beginning,
it ran as a very busy lesbian
club named Fanny’s. The early
years also saw us start up a
night for trans women and
cross-dresser, which still runs
today, making us the longestrunning trans bar in London.
We’ve had drag shows with
a host of elite drag queens,
karaoke nights, skinhead
events, the Punishment Block,
and, of course, our men-only
underwear and cruise events.
How has the West London
gay scene changed since it
opened?
It has dramatically changed
over the years. Earl’s Court
used to be the heart of it, and
Hammersmith, Kensington,
Chelsea, and Putney all had
bars, clubs and restaurants. It
was alive with gay men and the
cruising was fabulous. Times
have changed and I’m probably
the last man standing. It’s sad to
see the demise.
What events happen
throughout the week at Teds
Place today?
Our trans nights on Thursday
and Sunday still pull in the
crowds. We also run our
underwear/ naked party on
Tuesdays, while it’s men-only
Cruise on Fridays — we have a
play area with a sling. The first Saturday of the month is always Dare, a men-only
clothing-optional event, which can be very busy.
What can people who’ve never been expect on their first visit?
First-time visitors either love it or hate it, but most stay the distance. It’s a step
back in time — an underground club with no frills, a great atmosphere and
definitely no attitude.
Describe Teds Place in three words.
Welcoming. Inclusive. Sexy.
Teds Place, 305a North End Road, W14 9NS
Nearest Station: West Kensington
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