We adore Pride month! A whole thirty days of glitter, bursts of colour in the form of flags and face paint and the incredible celebration of the LGBTQ community. Now, as Pride weekend is finally upon us, you can celebrate in so many bright and beautiful ways, from Euro-pop disco and go-go dancing at St Martin’s Lane, to Holly Stars hilarious night of music at Madame Tussaud’s – and not forgetting the Pride parade itself on Saturday. It’s set to be a whopper of a weekend, filled with rainbow-coloured booze and flags flying high.
It’s time to take pride in pride!
Join The Party
The Pride parade is world famous! From the blasts of colour and outrageously fun street party to the dancing, drinking, whistle blowing and positive aura, it’s an incredible spectacle that you’ll want to grab a front seat at. Taking place this year on the 6th of July, this parade will celebrate 50 years since the birth of the modern LGBT+ rights movement, with a #PrideJubilee theme taking precedence. Last year over a million people joined the party and you’re invited to do the same this year! It’s set to be a blast, and a very colourful one at that!
Some great places to watch the parade include Portland Place, Oxford Circus, Regent Street, Lower Regent Street and Whitehall.
The parade takes place on the 6th of July at 12pm
Website: Join The Parade
Holly Star's Big Pride Cabaret
On 5 July, the eve of London’s Pride Parade, world class attraction Madame Tussaud’s will join forces with renowned drag queen Holly Stars to to celebrate Pride in London. She will be joined by friends for a hilarious night of music and laughter at the heart of Madame Tussauds London. Guests are invited to this comedic and celebratory event!
5th of July
Where: Madame Tussauds, Baker Street
Website: www.madametussauds.com
Lucky Voice Offer 50% Off
Urging you to take pride in your vocals, Lucky Voice is the karaoke venue that’ll have you basking in all of the glitz and glamour that accompanies Pride Month. The booming karaoke venue, which has just launched its new Holborn outpost, is offering 50% off room hire all day on July 6th, meaning you can fill your boots with Britney, mouth lyrics to Mariah and be a champion like Queen. See you there, superstar!
Where: Soho, Holborn, Islington
Website: www.luckyvoice.com
Balthazar
They see me (artic) rolling…
Sorry, we couldn’t resist. Mainly because we’re filled with excitement over this epic arctic roll. The moreish pride treat comes from much-adored eatery Balthazar and oozes with summer-flavoured sorbets of rhubarb, blueberry, Granny Smith, passion, banana and mandarin all snug inside a raspberry red sponge and served up with strawberry, mint and raspberry sauce. Wow. Sounds like your five-a-day is complete after a slice of this delight.
Where: 4-6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5HZ
Nearest station: Covent Garden (0.2 miles)
Website: www.balthazarlondon.com
Pride Month Party At Liquorette
Celebrate this year’s Pride Month at Liquorette. The bar is honouring the occasion with face painting and a unique citrus and vodka cocktail, which can be created in any colour. Liquorette is only a five minute walk from the Tottenham Court Road parade route, so drop in for a drink at the bar’s party.
Where: Genuine Liquorette, Rathbone Place
Website: www.liquorette.co.uk
Pride Has Never Tasted So Sweet
Making pride even tastier than it already is, both Aqua Neuva & Aqua Kyoto are giving us the gift of chocolate and boy are we grinning from cheek to cheek! Aqua Nueva is a sexy Spanish restaurant housed in Covent Garden, whilst Aqua Kyoto is all about Japanese dishes, enjoyed amongst an ultra-glossy designer rooftop setting. However, both venues are pushing cultural labels to the sidelines to produce a delicious dessert in the form of a chocolate bavarois with a chocolate Pride flag across the top, served with ice cream. The dish will be served with a limited-edition cocktail you’ll be equally as proud of – life is sweet!
The Pride cocktail and dessert will until the 7th July
Where: Aqua Nueva & Aqua Kyoto
Website: www.aquakyoto.co.uk
Bottomless Brunch Pride Party
This Saturday, grab yourselves an enviable bird’s eye view of the big pride parade from The Rooftop at The Trafalgar St. James! We’re holding out for warm weather so we can indulge in free-flowing, bottomless mimosas or Prosecco – or both – in the glam rooftop space, and enjoy sharing style starters, a main course and more. Pride never tasted so good!
Saturday 6th July
Where: 7th Floor, 2 Spring Gardens, SW1A 2TS
Website: www.trafalgarstjames.com
Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar
It’s going to be cocktail o’clock until the 6th of July as Gillray’s Bar pull out all of the pride stops! Indulge in their brimming limited edition cocktail selection, all of which have been named after a significant person or historical place that created a positive impact on the LGBTQ community.
Libation extraordinaires include The Stonewall Inn, a citrusy gin cocktail is named after the well-known gay bar in Greenwich, Christopher Street, a sweet and floral cocktail central to the New York State’s gay rights movement in the late 1970s, and Saint Marsha, a bold and fragrant mocktail named after the wonderful African-American gay liberation activist Marsha Johnson.
Enjoy them all at Gillray’s!
Where: Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar, Westminster Bridge Road, London, United Kingdom
Nearest station: London Waterloo (0.3 miles)
Website: www.gillrays.com
The LaLiT London
This party will be the opposite of a drag – in fact, pop it in the diary as we expect it’s going to be one of the best of the year! Boutique hotel, The LaLiT London, is throwing a drag, dining and debauchery event on Pride weekend (Friday 5th July), bidding you to fest on free-flowing prosecco, a decadent four-course dinner, or a selection of canapés, created by Executive Chef Santosh Shah. Taking pride in eccentric and alluring entertainment, you’ll be left on the edge of your seat by The LaLiT London’s fabulous ambassador and acclaimed drag star, Virgin Xtravaganzah, as sexy acts that include trans icon Amanda Lepore and Hungry are welcomed up onto the stage.
Plus, because the ravishing night is destined to lead to a banging headache come the morn, how about a hangover brunch to settle the stomach? On the 7th of July, return for a good ol’ dose of hair of the dogat the hotel and indulge in samosa chaat with sweet yogurt and tamarind chutney, and slow-braised pork belly with honey and chilli glaze, amongst much more. The eight-dish extravaganza goes hand-in-hand with bottomless prosecco and . Virgin Xtravaganzah will be on hand throughout, urging you to drink up!
Where: 181 Tooley Street, London SE1 2JR, UK
Nearest station: London Bridge (0.4 miles)
Website: www.thelalit.com
St Martins Lane
Who needs to go to the Costa del Sol when you can go to the Costa del Soho! This cheeky take on Pride comes from St Martins Lane who seem to have set up quite the party. Named Gazpacho (clever), the iconic hotel will throw an event designed around the theme of a Mediterranean cruise boat. So, if you’re ready to set sail upon fictional waters then listen up. Passengers can expect an evening of Euro-pop disco, live flamenco performances, drag shows, Go-Go dancing, and the collective’s staple Tomatina tomato wrestling, hosted by Toma Tina Turner.
The event, set to get you all aboard, will boast a nautical dress code with sailors, captains, cruise addicts, scuba divers and more all scuffling for centre stage.  The outlandish event comes by the hand of Jonny Woo, co-owner of celebrated East London queer venue The Glory) and Gayzpacho founders Angel Perez and David Roy, and presents the second event by St Martins Lane for Pride. They’ve also got their exciting Coming Out Monologues which you can read about above!
Where: 45 St. Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4HX, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Leicester Square (0.2 miles)
Website: www.stmartinslane.com
Always Proud Party
If you’re a friend of Dorothy then you’ve come to the right place! M and PROUD Beer are about to host a whopper of a party that, granted, might not be this weekend BUT it is in a couple of weekend’s time – so something to whack in the diary and look forward to!
Taking place on the 20th of July, the party and LGBTQ+ charity fundraiser will see Crystal Lubrikunt and TAYCE rustle up cold serves of craft beer until the small hours with with 20p of every sale going to LGBT charities. So, you’re partying for a good cause – result! There’ll be two very special guest performances and a whole load of party classics. Enjoy!
Where: Zig Zag Building, 74 Victoria Street, SW1E 6SQ
Website: The Party Is This Way...
The Perception at W London
W London is partnering with GLITTERBOX this Pride, and when something is called GLITTERBOX our heads do a 360 spin of excitement – wow, that’s quite the image! Anyway, there’ll be an awesome post parade party with FREE entry for those who sign up in advance, brimming with fun, glitter and a dose of YAAAS KWEEN, literally, there’ll be a YAAAS KWEEN cocktail. The libation has been created by the mixologists from the Perception at W London and it’ll include citron-infused Belvedere vodka & Earl Grey Tea with fresh hints of apricot and a glittery, bubbly top.
The Deeper Love Party and all its neon glory will see Glitterbox DJ’s and performers shake their stuff and expect the same from you, from 5pm onwards – yikes! There’ll also be a bunch of people in glam outfits designed by Derek Purcell – he’s dressed Queen Bey guys, eek – as well a disco-ball room with sexy green hues. Guys, if disco-ball room hasn’t grabbed your attention then we’re not sure what will…
Get yourselves there! 6th of July, 5pmÂ
Where: 10 Wardour Street, Leicester Square, London, W1D 6QF, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus (0.2 miles)
Website: www.theperceptionbar.com
VIVI
Renowned for their vivacious creations that make for a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds, VIVI hasn’t cut any corners with their Pride offering and bid you to come along, sit candy floss cocktail in hand, and enjoy their bottomless rainbow brunch! Expect delights from Rhubarb Catering Companyand dreamy beats from London DJ’s and an indulgent three course brunch with highlights of avocado on toast to prawn cocktail and a moreish VIVI burger. Plus, if you’re up for a boozy one then why not go bottomless? The offering includes bubbles, bloody mary’s or endless Aperol Spritz, so take pride in your weekend and indulge.
Where: 11 St Giles Square, London WC2H 8AP
Nearest station: Tottenham Court Road (0.1 miles)
Website: www.vivirestaurant.co.uk
Sea Containers London
Snug up in a cinema and enjoy an award-winning film on the 4th of July, courtesy of Curzon at Sea Containers. With snacks in hand, from nachos to spicy popcorn chicken bites, you’ll tune into The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert starring Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp and Hugo Weaving, a film that’ll be a total feast for your senses. Plus you’ll be doing it for a great cause as all money donates to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity Stonewall.
If you’re heading to the parade, why not make a Tutti Fruitii pit-stop? Intrigued? On the 6th of July, guests can pop into Sea Containers to get a pride makeover from a company that champion empowerment no matter which race, gender identity, age and class you are. Tutti Fruitii will work their magic before you go out and enjoy the magic of Pride.
Where: 20 Upper Ground, London, UK
Nearest station: London Waterloo East (0.3 miles)
Website: www.seacontainerslondon.com
