Philbeach Hotel

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The Philbeach Hotel in Philbeach Gardens, Earl's Court, was a gay-owned hotel, catering for a gay clientele.

"Long before Soho became So-Homo, Earl's Court was the gay capital of London. And if the walls could talk at the Philbeach, London's most in-your-face gay hotel, they'd have some saucy tales to tell. It's typically English B&B material, if a bit grubby. But people don't come here for the chintz. For the Philbeach has gained a reputation as a cruisy hotel: if you don't enjoy being propositioned in the bathroom, request a room with en suite facilities."[1]
"The Philbeach Hotel was open for 27 years and was one of the largest gay hotels in Europe. The Philbeach Hotel was the only gay hotel in London that was owned by homosexuals and run by homosexuals. The hotel closed on January 31st 2008. It had 35 rooms on 3 floors, and is likely to be demolished."[2]

References

  1. http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2005/jan/16/london.unitedkingdom.gayandlesbiantravel?INTCMP=SRCH The Observer, Sunday 16 January 2005
  2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/abandonment/5176284414/ Flickr photo and comment