Coleherne
Contents
History
It opened in 1866 and had a long history of attracting a bohemian clientele before becoming known as a gay pub. Originally it was segregated into two bars, one for the straight crowd and one for the gay community, at a time when homosexuality was illegal. In the 1970s it became a notorious leather bar, with blacked-out windows, attracting an international crowd including Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett, Rudolf Nureyev, and Anthony Perkins. Leather men wearing chaps and leather jackets with key chains and colour-coded handkerchiefs formed about half the clientele. The Coleherne was known internationally as a leather bar by 1965. The gay community flourished in Earls Court and many international tourists joined the locals.
In 1972 Coleherne pub goers, angry at the politicisation of gay sex, lifestyle and position in society by GLF, pelted passing parade goers with bottles.[1] In June 1976 Gay News reported a 'near riot' outside the Coleherne after the police arrested a man for obstructing the footpath [2]. In 1977 local residents tried to get the licence for the pub removed. This was because of the disturbances they suffered, particularly around and following closing time [3]. A Coleherne Patrons Committee was formed in 1978. They worked with the local residents and the police to try and resolve some of the points of conflict which were chiefly connected to activities outside the pub.
American author Armistead Maupin included references to the Coleherne in his Tales of the City book Babycakes. It is referred to in the lyrics of "Hanging Around" by The Stranglers.
Murders
The Coleherne was infamous as the stalking ground for three separate serial killers from the 1970s to 1990s: Dennis Nilsen, Michael Lupo and Colin Ireland. Serial killer Colin Ireland began a series of five murders in 1993, as a New Year's resolution. Ireland, who claimed he was straight, picked up men at the Coleherne, whose colour coded handkerchiefs indicated that they were into sadomasochism and passive. Ireland took them home, restrained them and in five cases, killed them.
The end
In the mid-1990s it sought to lighten its image with a makeover to attract a wider clientele, but to no avail. In September 2008 it was purchased by Realpubs, underwent a major refurbishment and reopened as a gastro-pub called The Pembroke.[4]
See Timeline of West End Bars and Clubs.
References
Based on a Wikipedia article.
- ↑ Lisa Power, No Bath but Plenty of Bubbles, quoted in Matt Cook, A Gay History of Britain page 186
- ↑ Coleherne Gays 'Near Riot' Gay News issue 97 June 1976
- ↑ Gay News issue 125 August 11 1977 'Coleherne fights to keep licence'
- ↑ http://www.qxmagazine.com/pdf/backissues/qx707.pdf QX Magazine, September 2008 (article on Page 6):
