Southampton

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Southampton is a city and unitary authority in southern England, and a major seaport. It was historically within Hampshire and is still grouped with Hampshire for ceremonial purposes.
Switchboard leaflet 1982

LGBT History

The Beaumont Society held its first 'full meeting' in a Southampton Hotel in 1966 [1].

The Horse and Groom on the corner of East Street/Canal Walk was a pub that in the 1950s and 1960s attracted all sorts including lesbians and gay men. It closed in 1973 and was demolished soon after [2] [3].

The Lord Roberts, in Canal Walk, was a well established gay venue by the 1960s. [4]. It has since been demolished [5] [6]. The Juniper Berry had drag acts and was gay friendly in the 1970s and 80s [7].

Southampton CHE Group was founded in October 1972 by David Porter [8] The group initially met at Porter's home, then in 1974 at the Anchor in East Street, Southampton. A separate Women's CHE group was founded in September 1974 [9]. Gay News reported in Sept 1974 the opening of Southampton's first all gay club; Beau Brummel above the Ambassador Club at 11-13 St Mary Street [10].At that time the Robert Burns at 9 South Front was listed as a gay pub in Gay News [11], and the Anchor Inn in East Street was listed as a lesbian venue. An article in Gay News in 1974 claimed that there were 3,000 gays on the scene in Southampton [12]. The Tangier Club, once a gay club,at 11 St Mary Street, was reported to be 'straight' by the end of 1975 (Tangier Club was next to Zoots) [13].By 1975 Hickups gay club was located at the Magnum Club, 113 St Mary's Road [14].

Mark Ovenden at launch of 'Southampton's Queer Stories' exhibition at God's House Tower August 2024

The CHE Conference was held in Southampton in May 1976. On each day of the Conference a special broadsheet newspaper called 'Daily Gay' was published [15]. In October 1976 local CHE group held a very successful and well attended event at the Haymarket where Quentin Crisp spoke. In 1978 the group nearly folded [16]. The group moved to the Joiner's Arms. In 1979 Gay Solent was formed (Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth co-ordinating and producing a regular newsletter).

By 1977 Solent Gay Switchboard had been established in Southampton [17]. The telephone number in the 1980s was Southampton 37363 and phone lines were available three times a week.
Switchboard leaflet (back)

In 1982 there was a gay disco on Sundays at Nightingales near the Bargate [18]. At that time a Gay Youth Group met in Southampton on Sunday afternoons [19]. In the 1980s other gay clubs in the city included Smugglers and Warehouse [20] [21]. The Warehouse in Eastgate Street opened in 1983 run by Stuart Phillips [22]. In the 1980s and 90s The Magnum at 113 St Mary's Road was the main gay night spot (later this club was renamed The Unit) [23]. In 1985 Southampton Council issued a pledge of equality which included 'not to discriminate against gay men or lesbians who apply for jobs with the council' [24]. In 1988 two gay men took an industrial tribunal case after the Victory Inn, Southampton, turned them down for a job without an interview [25].

Solent Pride events were held in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Events were spread over two weeks [26]. In the early 1990s the Solent Group of the Gay Outdoor Club was active [27]. In 2012 there was a campaign to hold a Southampton Pride[28]. Pride has been held in Southampton annually 2016-2019 and 2021-2024. No event was held in 2020 due to Covid-19 virus restrictions.

In September 2022, following a five month project in Southampton, researchers at the University of Southampton reported that,for lesbian people in the city, community is vital in navigating the city [29].

In January 2023 a gay sauna called Pink Broadway in East Street shut down after two decades of business [30].

In August 2024 an exhibition about queer life in Southampton since 1970 opened at God's House Tower Arts Centre [31]. The exhibition included an art installation featuring the 1972 record A Gay Song performed by Everyone Involved.

Southampton today

The Edge claims to be Southampton's only current gay nightclub, operating since 1995.[32] The London Hotel in Terminus Terrace hosts cabaret events.

Bi-Panic! Southampton (formally BiWessex) is a social group for 18+ bi/pansexual people, their friends and loved ones in Southampton, UK.[33].


References

  1. ↑ Beaumont Society website https://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk/ accessed 24.02.2019
  2. ↑ https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/hampshire/southampton_horsegroom.html
  3. ↑ https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/lgbtq-heritage-project/meeting-and-socialising/lesbian-clubs-and-pubs/ (accessed 23 June 2024.Vito Eileen Ward remembers the Horse and Groom, a pub near the docks in Southampton that welcomed a range of Queer people in the 1960s
  4. ↑ Gay Scene August/September 1972 states the pub is run by Mike and June Sexton ' a long standing pub with a completely gay clientele'
  5. ↑ Clifford Williams 'A Queer A-Z of Hampshire' (2nd Edition: 2019)
  6. ↑ https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/hampshire/southampton_lordroberts.html
  7. ↑ Clifford Williams 'A Queer A-Z of Hampshire' (3rd Edition: 2024). In Dec 2023 it was announced that the pub would close. John &Tracey Horrocks wrote(on Facebook 9 Dec 2023): We are sad to announce that as from close of business on Sunday December 10th the Juniper Berry will cease trading. This is due to the site being deemed as unsafe, due to many electrical defects, asbestos,no heating or hot water, and a leaking roof
  8. ↑ Gay Solent. Newsletters of the Gay Groups of Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth. Held in the LSE Hall Carpenter Archives Ref HCA/CHE/7/55. Issue 41 Sept 1982 has an article by Phil King 'Ten Years of Southampton CHE'
  9. ↑ Gay News number 59 1974
  10. ↑ Gay News no 55 Sept 1974. The Ambassador Club later became Zoots and The Tangier Club (side by side at 11-13 St Marys Street)
  11. ↑ Gay News number 50 July 1974
  12. ↑ Gay News 5 Dec 1974
  13. ↑ Gay News number 85 Dec 1975. The building was later demolished and flats built there
  14. ↑ Gay News number 64 Feb 1975 reports that gay women were calling for a boycott of the Magnum Club because no women were admitted to the gay club nights
  15. ↑ Copies in the LSE Hall Carpenter Archives HCA/CHE8/29
  16. ↑ A vote of 7 votes to 5 votes at a CHE meeting in April 1978 saved the group (Winchester Gay Group Newsletter Apr 1978)
  17. ↑ Winchester Gay Group newsletter no 11 Sept 1977 reports that the Switchboard is open Wed evenings on Southampton 32724 and that they average about 5 calls each Wednesday evening
  18. ↑ Gay Solent Newsletter no 43 Nov 1982
  19. ↑ Gay Solent Newsletter no 44 Dec 1982,and 'Gay Youth' No 1 page 3 (June 1981) which states 'In Southampton the gay youth group emerged at the same time as the gay soc collapsed'.
  20. ↑ Information from Mark Ovenden
  21. ↑ Smugglers was on the corner of Bernard Street (referred to by Rob Dewing (b 1962) in his interview held in the Southampton City Archives D/OH/SHP )
  22. ↑ Gay Reporter June 1983
  23. ↑ The Unit closed in 2017 and flats replaced the building
  24. ↑ Gay Times April 1985 page 14
  25. ↑ The Pink Paper 14 Jul 1988
  26. ↑ Copies of the itineraries and other documents relating to Solent Pride (in Southampton) are held at the London School of Economics Hall-Carpenter Archives
  27. ↑ Newsletters of the Solent Gay Gay Community in the LSE Hall Carpenter Archives list events.
  28. ↑ http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/news/2012/09/05/campaign-started-for-a-southampton-pride-event/
  29. ↑ https://www.in-common.co.uk/2022/09/27/7883/ New research finds community is vital for lesbian people in Southampton. Published on September 27, 2022 by Dr Elizabeth Reed
  30. ↑ https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23244332.southampton-gay-sauna-pink-broadway-closes-suddenly/
  31. ↑ https://godshousetower.org.uk/eventer/launch-event-everyone-involved/edate/2024-08-23/
  32. ↑ http://www.theedgesouthampton.com/
  33. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/BiPanicSouthampton/ (accessed 5 Jul 2019) https://www.facebook.com/groups/381060549253800 (Accessed 26 September 2024)
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