159 years later, the big gay party is still going at the oldest pub in London

Originally built in 1865 as a Victorian music hall, the legendary Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT) is a stalwart of London’s LGBTQ+ scene. The pub has seen everything from flamboyant drag queens and leather men to celebrities galore. Despite inevitable challenges, it has remained integral to the capital’s gay community since its early days.

A stone’s throw from Vauxhall underground station, the venue is situated just south of the River Thames in a vibrant, albeit rough-around-the-edges neighborhood. In recent years, the area has become known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene and is home to several bars and clubs.

The London district of Vauxhall was, in fact, a hub of queer activity before the RVT being built. The notorious Pleasure Gardens, located adjacent to the pub, closed in 1859, just before the Royal Vauxhall Tavern opened its doors. The park was where the aristocracy and the working class mingled. Clandestine dalliances between “gentlemen” and “working lads” were common. Its woodlands and shadowy pathways made it the perfect place for covert liaisons.

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Shortly after World War II, the pub became a meeting place for local gay men and returning soldiers. During the 60s and 70s, the pub established itself as London’s principal drag venue. At that time, the bar was used as a stage where drag queens shimmied in their stilettos to the customers’ delight. These days, the pub’s interior is theatrically adorned in gold and red décor, with a stage at its center. Obligatory disco balls glitter from the ceiling. From the outside, the building is embellished with giant rainbow flags.

A couple of drag artists who later became household names in the UK started their careers at the pub. The musical duo of Hinge and Brackett, genteel spinsters of a certain age, became a much-loved comedy act with a popular TV show.

The razor-tongued hooker Lily Savage (aka Paul O’Grady) played at the RVT four times a week for eight years. When the pub was raided by police wearing rubber gloves at the pinnacle of the AIDS pandemic, Lily was on stage.

“Well, well’’ she said, “It looks like we have help with the washing up.”

O’Grady went on to have his own popular TV shows and become a national treasure. His death in 2023 caused an outpouring of grief throughout the UK.

The RVT has always been bravely innovative. Duckie, a queer arts collective and club night hosted by Amy Lamé, hit the spot with queer Londoners and ran every Saturday for an impressive 27 years from 1995. Breaking the mold, Duckie was a joyous combination of conceptual cabaret and eclectic music, with a playlist that included everything from Bowie to ABBA. It was always messy, never predictable, and an exhilarating alternative to the homogenized vibe found elsewhere. The event never lost its fresh appeal and was still pulling in the punters until its move to a nearby bar, The Eagle.

These days, the RVT tradition continues with a full entertainment program of avant-garde cabaret, drag, and club nights. Attracting a diverse crowd from the LGBTQ+ spectrum, the atmosphere is friendly, upbeat, and exuberant – not the pub to head to for a quiet night out.

Over the years, the RVT has attracted its fair share of celebrities. Princess Diana was the most famous visitor to grace its doors.

Diana enjoyed a night out at the pub with Freddie Mercury. It all started when Diana, Freddie, and actress Cleos Rocos were drinking champagne and watching “The Golden Girls” at comedian Kenny Everett’s home. When Diana asked them their plans for later in the evening, they told her they were heading out for a night at the RVT. Diana, probably the most famous woman in the world at the time, mischievously asked if she could accompany them.

Together, they devised a plan to disguise her as a male model, hoping she wouldn’t be recognized. Diana hit the pub wearing an army jacket, leather cap, and aviator sunglasses, apparently blending in among the many colorful characters and general mayhem. In her book Bananas Forever, Cleos wrote that Diana and Freddie spent the evening giggling like schoolchildren.

Many years later, in June 2023, Diana’s son, Prince William, paid a more official visit to the RVT. Like his mother, he has always been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and he was there to show support to the community ahead of London Pride. The Prince talked to the Mix and Shout youth charity volunteers about mental health and support. He also mentioned feeling underdressed and would wear sequins or glitter next time.

The pub has also hosted musical luminaries such as The Three Degrees, Belinda Carlisle, T’Pau, Mica Paris, and Kim Wilde. It has also been featured in several movies, including the uplifting 2014 film Pride. A Golden Globe nominee, the movie was based on a true story about gay activists who helped support the miner’s strike in Wales. One of the scenes in the 2016 movie version of Absolutely Fabulous was also shot at the RVT.   

Before 2005, the RVT was owned by the local council, but the freehold was then purchased by James Lindsay and Paul Oxley, who put £600,000 of their own money into the venture. Their bold move effectively saved the historical pub from demise.

In 2015, Historic England designated the property as a Grade II listed building. The pub, with its striking curved façade, is now protected due to its historical and cultural significance as one of the best-known and longstanding LGBTQ+ venues in the city.

Sparkly, hedonistic, and inclusive to all, the RVT remains an enduring part of London’s queer scene. You never know what’s waiting when you venture into the RVT, but one thing is certain – it will be a night out to remember.