Part of the Gay London Guide — bars, events & things to do.
London, London
Alternative gay indie bar near Charing Cross with 70s–90s music
Retro Bar is a small gay indie bar tucked down an alley off the Strand, near Charing Cross station. The walls are covered in rock and pop photography — Boy George, Bowie, Blondie, Beth Ditto — and the jukebox runs from 70s disco and New Romantic to goth and alternative. The bar has been an LGBTQ+ venue since the 1990s, drawing the alternative end of the spectrum: people who don't quite fit the mainstream gay bar scene. Thursday Lucky Dip nights lean into the alternative music identity. Busy Lady Bingo with Miss Sheila Simmonds packs the place on select Sundays. Prices beat Soho, the upstairs bar is quieter for dates, and the vibe is pub rather than club — pints and conversation over bass drops.
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