Ku Soho is the small but perfectly formed bar in the beating heart of Soho which has just had a make-over in time for Pride. Dave Cross spoke to Ku owner Gary Henshaw about what makes this cherished venue so special and such a key destination on Pride day.
Hi Gary, can you tell us about the work you’ve had done on Ku Soho?
Ku Soho opened almost nine years ago, hard to believe I know. Initially I felt the Ku brand needed a presence in the heart of gay London i.e. in Soho, and literally on the corner of Old Compton Street. The venue has established its own vibe and character over the years and has a regular and loyal following.
The bar most definitely has a different vibe from your other venues, how would you describe it to someone who’s never been?
Ku Soho continues the legacy of the original Ku Bar on Charing Cross Road. It is intimate with a capacity of under 100 spread over two floors. The staff tend to be young and as a result the clientele tend to be in the 18 – 25 range. Although everyone is welcome. Ku Soho is a small enough venue to give that ‘Cheers’ vibe where everyone knows everyone. I think it’s a great venue to start out on London’s sometimes ‘scary at first’ gay scene. I see it as a wonderful and safe coming out space.
For many people Ku Soho is a focal point at Pride in London, with DJs playing in the windows, can you tell us about that and how it came about?
We have worked closely with Pride for over 25 years and are official partners. The DJs and dancers in our first floor window are now an iconic part of Pride’s Soho celebrations. By trial and error and working closely with Pride and the council we seem to have reached a point where all parties are happy. We keep the path clear and moving while celebrating on Frith Street and taking some of the pressure of Old Compton Street.
Last year you did a crazy explosion of colour powder paint, are you planning something mad this year too?
Ahh yes the colour blast with powder paint. It was a huge success, however it was stressful as many people were unnecessarily concerned about their clothes getting dirty or the extreme possibilities of paint powder getting into eyes. It all went according to plan and even Westminster Council, who watched every moment were happy with the results. It was great fun. This year it’s all about confetti. Yep you guessed it: ‘Konfetti Ku’. We will be regularly blowing a massive confetti cloud from our windows via cannons. It’s just coloured tissue, totally biodegradable and it’s going to be amazing. I can’t wait.
What are your Pride Plans for Leicester Square, Klub and the Light Lounge this year?
Ku Leicester Square provides a great outside area, bang in-between Trafalgar Square and Soho. We are extending our space to almost twice the size this year thanks to a vacant premises next door and a helpful landlord. We are going with a Tropical Beach theme and hiring in giant palm trees. The boys will all be sporting Andrew Christian swimwear, and the confetti will be flying here too. Fingers crossed the heatwave continues so everyone can come wearing your speedos.
What does Pride mean to you?
Pride is a day when we celebrate everything we have achieved, particularly since the Stonewall riots in the 60s. We celebrate equality in a huge swathe of the western world but we also recognise the terrible circumstances in which some of our brothers and sisters around the globe still struggle. For me personally it’s also a time to reflect on those I loved and lost to HIV and AIDS. Pride is a day when we sweep away the shame that society has inflicted on us. Pride reminds us to look around and see how proud we should all be of ourselves and everything we have achieved as a community. Celebrate it in style, in colour with confetti, fairy dust and with bells on. HAPPY PRIDE!
Ku Soho, 25 Frith Street, Soho, W1 is open every day from midday.
ku-bar.co.uk
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