East London
The Queen Adelaide (by Hannah Burke)
Where is it?
Hackney Road — don’t confuse with the venue bearing the same name in Putney.
Opening hours?
5pm-1am Monday to Wednesday, 5pm-3am Thursday and Friday, 4pm-3am Saturday, and 4pm-1am Sunday.
What is it?
A snug and kitchsy queer pub with a pokey basement for dancing until the wee hours.
Dress code?
It’s a queer venue in Hackney babes, whatever you like!
Is it accessible?
For those with mobility requirements, the upstairs bar is. The basement dancefloor can only be reached by a narrow staircase, however.
LGBTQI+ friendly?
One of Hackney’s best LGBQTI+ venues.
What’s the vibe?
We know why you’re here — you want to know if this is a bar you could reasonably expect to pick up someone to take home with you. And on paper, The Queen Adelaide absolutely should be the kind of plane that you could do that in — it’s cosy, it’s a late night venue, it’s a former lapdancing bar with a dark and sweaty basement full of dark corners, perfect for rubbing up against other hot and sexy LGBTQ-uties. And yet, the overall impression we left with was that this is a bar for dancing with your girls and gays, rather than getting your end away.
This is by no means representative of the experience of all people across the LGBTQI+ spectrum who are attending the Queen Adelaide — I have no doubt that plenty of shagging has ensued among people who have met here. But when we went, there was very little mingling between groups, and the horniness that we did witness seemed to be between people who had arrived together.
Despite this, deep in my heart I still believe this little pub is somewhere you should be able to get off with someone (maybe this is what Rihanna meant when she sang of finding love in a hopeless place?), but with the caveat that you should be prepared to work for it. The love of your life (or your night) could be dancing right next to you — they’re probably just too busy screaming along to Dannii Minogue to notice.
(Ed note: I have indeed witnessed my friends pull strangers in the Adelaide on other occasions so, as Mikel Arteta demands, trust the process).
Best/worst thing about this venue?
Best: Pulling potential aside, this is definitely one of the best nights out in this corner of London.
Worst: What do you mean I can’t take my drink with me to the smoking area?
Lord Napier Star (by Hannah Burke)
Where is it?
Opening hours?
4pm-12am Monday to Thursday, 12pm-1:30am Friday and Saturday, and 12pm-12am on Sunday
What is it?
The newly renovated venue — which also claims to be the first and only pub in Hackney Wick (Ed note: we cannot verify this bold claim) — is part of the same group that run the Star by Bethnal Green and Star by Hackney Downs. Don’t be put off by the fact it’s part of a chain though — these establishments are reliable and friendly local boozers where you can just as easily grab a decently-priced pint (no, I will not be engaging in discourse on what a cheap pint actually costs in London) and a bite to eat, as you can sink some cocktails before grabbing a dance and — if you fancy it — a snog.
You’ll find the Lord Napier Star in the Wick’s ‘Shithouse to Penthouse’ building, which officially reopened its doors this August after 26 years. Information available about the pub online is sparse — but expect to find DJs, a roof terrace, and room to dance.
Dress code?
Given it’s in Hackney Wick, you’ll probably want to leave your jeans and sheux at home — but beyond that, anything goes really.
Is it accessible?
Hit and miss. We’d ring ahead.
LGBTQI+ friendly?
Not explicitly a queer venue, but definitely LGBTQI+ friendly. Just trust us on this.
What’s the vibe?
Fun, friendly, and as is the case with other pubs in the Electric Star group, unpretentious. We ended up here towards the end of the night at the annual Queen’s Yard Summer Party, and all agreed that it had serious shagging potential. As one of the few single people in our group, my friends were keen to point out any women they saw that also looked single and ready to mingle or kindly send them in my direction (for project research purposes only, of course). Bodies were packed, glances held and numbers shared, verifying that, yes, this bar indeed has shagging potential. I will say no more than this.
Given we went as part of a wider event, our assessment of the crowd could potentially be more representative of people attending the Summer Party, or even Hackney Wick’s venues in general, as opposed the Lord Napier Star specifically. But expect to find people in their mid-to-late 20s and early 30s, attracting all types from creative warehouse dwellers to rosé-swilling huns, with DJs playing spinning everything from electronic beats to hip hop and R&B. There’s also a decent sized smoking area if you need a break from grooving for some fresh air or to vibe check any potential beaus away from the dancefloor.
Best/worst thing about this venue?
Best: Given that most other venues surrounding the Lord Napier are either clubs, bars or breweries, it’s USP is definitely the sweet spot it occupies between being a venue for going for a casual pint and for going out-out.
Worst: It’s new, and not only is it new, but it’s opened the summer following a pandemic — so expect teething problems regarding things like queues for entry and availability of staff for service.
