Support Central Station
Donation protected
On Sunday, 7th February, Central Station entered its 30th year as an independent bar in London’s King’s Cross and a safe space for members of London’s LGBT+ community and its varied artists and groups.
Over the last 3 decades Central Station has helped raise thousands for HIV/AIDS charities and has played host to LGBT+ theatre and numerous community groups from footballers to faith groups, as well as funeral services for four customers whose families were unknown.
We have been through some tough financial times, but nothing like the current pandemic – at the end of March we will have been closed for nearly eight of the preceding twelve months, and while we were allowed to open at points, we have done so at a significant loss.
We have been reluctant to ask until now since we know times are hard for everyone, but with no steady income in sight, annual rent of £95,000 and other bills continuing to mount, we are now in desperate need of financial support in order to stay in business and to keep this unique venue alive.
PLEASE contribute what you can now - all funds donated will be put towards our ongoing running costs and upkeep of the venue.
Thank you
Duncan and Martin
Some more of the colourful history of Central Station can be seen on our Instagram.
We opened as an LGBT+ venue and quickly became a leading supporter in the community raising tens of thousands of pounds for AIDS-related charities, including a leading role in Islington’s annual Pink Angels fundraiser.
The bar provided top-class cabaret with many of the best drag and other acts on the scene, including Phil Starr, Dockyard Doris, Dave Lynn, The Trollettes, Katrina and the Boy, David Dale, Dressed Roughly as Girls, The D.E. Experience, Kelly, Adrella, Susan Black, Kandi Kane, Victoria Sponge, Sandra and a host of others which space precludes us from mentioning… In 2017 we opened our doors to the burlesque and alternative cabaret community with a vaudeville night and hope to continue to expand on this.
After the closure of London’s LGBT Centre the bar became host to a huge number of groups, including London Friend, London Blues, North London Gay chess club, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, G.M.F.A., SM Dykes, Kenric Ladies, Stonewall F.C., King’s Cross Steelers, Gracies Cricket Club, Gay Football Supporter’s Network, Gay Muslims Group, Outrage, London Monday Group, Rank Outsiders, The Clit Club, S.L.O.S.H., F to M (Female to Male)… and many, many more.
We hosted the first-ever public debate between Outrage (Peter Tatchell) and Stonewall (Angela Mason), hosted by Chris Smith and went on to hold many other debates about AIDS and HIV issues. Central Station Theatre Space was host to a number of excellent plays directed by David Dale and some surreal contributions from Donald.
Central Station has provided a home for many gay and other fetish clubs for many years, allowing many people to be who they want to be in a safe and comfortable space in the club area, and have spent many hours liaising with police, council and others to allow these to be accepted. We have continued to provide a safe space to members of the LGBT+ community who wouldn’t feel so safe elsewhere.
We would also like to acknowledge the support of our many customers and staff, past and present, for helping us to create something we believe to have been unique on the scene.
We believe that, along with our dedicated staff, have unstintingly supported the LGBT+ community over the decades and are now asking for your support at what is an enormously difficult time.
Over the last 3 decades Central Station has helped raise thousands for HIV/AIDS charities and has played host to LGBT+ theatre and numerous community groups from footballers to faith groups, as well as funeral services for four customers whose families were unknown.
We have been through some tough financial times, but nothing like the current pandemic – at the end of March we will have been closed for nearly eight of the preceding twelve months, and while we were allowed to open at points, we have done so at a significant loss.
We have been reluctant to ask until now since we know times are hard for everyone, but with no steady income in sight, annual rent of £95,000 and other bills continuing to mount, we are now in desperate need of financial support in order to stay in business and to keep this unique venue alive.
PLEASE contribute what you can now - all funds donated will be put towards our ongoing running costs and upkeep of the venue.
Thank you
Duncan and Martin
Some more of the colourful history of Central Station can be seen on our Instagram.
We opened as an LGBT+ venue and quickly became a leading supporter in the community raising tens of thousands of pounds for AIDS-related charities, including a leading role in Islington’s annual Pink Angels fundraiser.
The bar provided top-class cabaret with many of the best drag and other acts on the scene, including Phil Starr, Dockyard Doris, Dave Lynn, The Trollettes, Katrina and the Boy, David Dale, Dressed Roughly as Girls, The D.E. Experience, Kelly, Adrella, Susan Black, Kandi Kane, Victoria Sponge, Sandra and a host of others which space precludes us from mentioning… In 2017 we opened our doors to the burlesque and alternative cabaret community with a vaudeville night and hope to continue to expand on this.
After the closure of London’s LGBT Centre the bar became host to a huge number of groups, including London Friend, London Blues, North London Gay chess club, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, G.M.F.A., SM Dykes, Kenric Ladies, Stonewall F.C., King’s Cross Steelers, Gracies Cricket Club, Gay Football Supporter’s Network, Gay Muslims Group, Outrage, London Monday Group, Rank Outsiders, The Clit Club, S.L.O.S.H., F to M (Female to Male)… and many, many more.
We hosted the first-ever public debate between Outrage (Peter Tatchell) and Stonewall (Angela Mason), hosted by Chris Smith and went on to hold many other debates about AIDS and HIV issues. Central Station Theatre Space was host to a number of excellent plays directed by David Dale and some surreal contributions from Donald.
Central Station has provided a home for many gay and other fetish clubs for many years, allowing many people to be who they want to be in a safe and comfortable space in the club area, and have spent many hours liaising with police, council and others to allow these to be accepted. We have continued to provide a safe space to members of the LGBT+ community who wouldn’t feel so safe elsewhere.
We would also like to acknowledge the support of our many customers and staff, past and present, for helping us to create something we believe to have been unique on the scene.
We believe that, along with our dedicated staff, have unstintingly supported the LGBT+ community over the decades and are now asking for your support at what is an enormously difficult time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Duncan Irvine
Organizer
Martin Mason
Beneficiary