LGBTQI+ venues are closing across London and the rest of the country – without the support they need
BY SOPHIE PERRY
G-A-Y club owner Jeremy Joseph announced that the club chain, which has branches in London and Manchester, would be closing due to the ongoing situation surrounding the coronavirus.
Joseph tweeted: “@BorisJohnson Is Not A Leader. No Clarity, No Shutdown. But I’ve decided. I no longer feel comfortable being open, so G-A-Y will be closed until further notice.”
This decision came just hours after Joseph launched a scathing attack on the PM for his social distancing policies in the wake of the pandemic.
He added: “Telling People to avoid pubs, restaurants and theatres but not closing them, in other words, unofficially closing venues but making sure government isn’t liable for staff to get sick pay.”
Joseph’s stance mirrors much of the rest of the hospitality industry, who believe Johnson’s policies do not provide adequate support for food and drink venues that are losing business.
Across the country countless theatres, restaurants, clubs and bars have already closed their doors, including the entirety of London’s famous West End.
Others, like Vauxhall’s LGBTQI+ hub The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, are staying open until further notice.
It’s more than likely we’ll see more as the situation evolves.
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