Another of London’s iconic gay bars is to close revealing that unsustainable rent hikes are the cause.
Popular gay bar in South London closing due to rent hikes
Clapham in south London is to see the closure of one of its two gay bars thanks to unsustainable rent increases. Kazbar, which opened its doors in 1995, will have its last day of business on the 1st of January. The Two Brewers, which is local to the Kazbar, will remain open.
A statement released via its Facebook page said that after 20 years the bar would be shuttered from the 1st of January after its annual New Year’s Eve party.
The post reads,
“After 20 years of being the iconic gay bar of South London, we regret to inform you that we will be closing down this year.
“We will hold our last “New Year’s Eve” party until 6 am as usual. But we would love you to join us for the last goodbye drinks of the 1st January until our normal closing time.
“Thanks for your support all these years”
Amy Lamé who was appointed by Sadiq Khan as London’s “night czar” revealed that a rent increase from £86,000 per year to £150,000 was the reason behind the decision to close the bar.
THEGAYUK.com has been following the closure of LGBT bars in London since 2000. Since the turn of the century over 105 LGBT venues have closed.
