Celebrate at Halfway II Heaven
There’s a delicious Christmas smorgasbord on offer at Halfway II Heaven who are open every day except the big day itself. Highlights include Tanya Hyde’s Frozen Christmas on Friday (22 Dec), Crystal D’Canter and Martha D’Arthur on Christmas Eve and on Friday 29 December it’s The Charlie Hides Show. Plus of course on New Year’s Eve you get CK, Rose Garden, Mrs Moore and Tanya Hyde – tickets are £15 from behind the bar now.
Festive cocktails at the Light Lounge
There’s delicious range of festive cocktails on offer at the gorgeous Light Lounge which is open now but closed from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, reopeing on Wednesday 27 December. AND it’s open until 3am on New Year’s Eve plus it’s free entry all night!
George and Dragon festivities
It’s always Christmas for the Duchess and the George and Dragon is open every day except the 25th. There’s loads on including on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) it’s the ice queen herself, Tanya Hyde, and then a week later on New Year’s Eve they welcome the legend that is Hazell Dean to perform hits such as Searching and Who’s Leaving Who. Tickets are just £15 from georgedragon.com.
WE Festival Madrid 2017
If you want to end 2017 and start 2018 in real style then we recommend booking tickets for the WE Party festival in Madrid. This amazing five-day event starts in the Spanish capital on Thursday 28 December and takes you through to New Year’s Day with a series of incredible parties packed with world-class DJs and loads of hot guys. Get all the details and book tickets at wenewyearfestival.com/tickets
Get Goosed at the RVT
There are five chances to see this year’s pantomime at the RVT between Thursday (21 Dec) and next Friday (29 Dec). Directed by Tim McArthur, it stars Faye Reeves, Richard Watkins, Robert McNeilly, Alan Hunter and Topsie Redfern, and tells the story of Mother Goose and a magic mirrorball. It’s a total scream and is without doubt one of the best pantos on the gay scene this year, so make sure you see it while you can. Book tickets via vauxhalltavern.com
We wish you a Welly Christmas
The Duke of Wellington has reopened after a gorgeous refit just in time for the festive season, and the great news is that Oliver and co will be open every day including on the big day itself, 25 December, from 5pm until 9pm. It’s the perfect place to escape if the family are driving you insane for a couple of cheeky yule beers and there’s a free glass of Prosecco and a mince pie on arrival.
Old Ship festivities
There’s always a traditional East End welcome at the Old Ship in Limehouse and Jon and his gang really know how to do Christmas. This Saturday (23 Dec) the legend that is Maisie Trollette is back with her Christmas show, on Christmas Eve DJ Matty will be spinning hits until late and the pub is open on Christmas Day from 11.30am until 3pm. And while you are there pick up your tickets for their New Year’s Eve Party with DJ Matty and a free buffet all for just £7.
Her Upstairs Christmas Party
This Saturday is the Her Upstairs Christmas Party at the Camden cabaret hotspot with Meth on hosting duties plus various special guests popping by, plus Cheryl Hole and George on the decks. And don’t forget their marvellous panto, Dick and His Pussy, is on now and you can buy tickets for that and their New Year’s Eve bash via skittle.com
Celebrate at the White Swan
Deck the halls with East End lads and head to the White Swan where there’s loads on this Christmas and New Year. The fun starts this Thursday (21 Dec) with the Christmas Open Mic Evening featuring CJ and Jackie DeRipper, Friday is their Funky Klub Nite with DJ Aaran Bader, and on Saturday it’s the Swan Christmas Special with none other than Sandra plus the amazing DJ FKA, plus in the Lounge Bar it’s Masala Club. And the following week for New Year’s Eve they welcome the extraordinary Mariah and Friendz for Pop Goes NYE with cabaret and DJs. Advance tickets start from £8 from bjswhiteswan.com
There’s nothing like a Dame
Dame of Thrones is this year’s panto at the Two Brewers and features your favourite characters from a certain TV show as you have never seen them before. Can Daenerys, Jon Snow and the others save Christmas and the Seven Queendoms from evil queen Cersi, and will Jamie find true love? There’s songs, a lot of laughs and an actual live dragons on stage! Tickets at twoboxproductions.co.uk
Raving at Comptons
They know how to party at Comptons and this year for New Year’s Eve the Grand Dame of Soho is going all Day-Glo with a 90s rave theme. Music will be supplied by the gorgeous and glamorous (you can decide which is which) Tasty Tim and James Bartlett, it’s open till 3am and is free entry all night, so get there early.
Cool Yule at Rupert Street
The team at Rupert Street has some fantastic DJs lined up for the festive season starting this Thursday (21 Dec) with Zach Burns followed by Miquel Horta on Friday and JP John on Saturday, and both those days the bar is open till 3am. And of course the bar will be open late for their fabulous New Year’s Eve party too with DJ JD John.
Lah-De-Dah at Retro Bar
If you want the best music for New Year’s Eve then head to the small but perfectly formed Retro Bar off the Strand where Jeffrey Hinton, Josh Quinton, Heidi Heelz and Lesley Lush will be spinning the hits off vinyl all night! It’s free entry but you need to grab a wristband from the bar before the night.
Chariots at Christmas
Let’s be honest, at some point over Christmas you are going to need to let off some steam, and where better than at Chariots? Both venues have everything you could want for a great time and are open most days over the holidays except Vauxhall on Christmas Day and Waterloo Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Both venues are open their normal days over the New Year – check chariots.co.uk for full details.
Carol service at St Anne’s in Soho
If you want to start your Christmas in a more traditional way then St Anne’s Church in Soho has its annual carol service this Thursday (21 Dec) from 6.30pm followed by mulled wine and mince pies, and everyone is welcome.
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