The Hackney-based venture is currently looking for funding to make a permanent space for the LGBTQIA community
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY PEXELS
If you’ve been on queer TikTok this week, you will have seen hoards of sapphics standing outside of a new pop-up lesbian bar in Hackney called La Camionera. After the success of its opening night on 15 February, we have good news. La Camionera is going to become a permanent venue.
Sapphics everywhere have been begging for new, inclusive spaces in the UK to dance the night away. And La Camionera offers just that.
The organisers of the new venture, Alex and Clara, took to Instagram to share the good news. “So, big news…We’re opening a full-time Lesbian bar and café in Hackney. Last Thursday was a dream, so naturally, we took out tens of thousands of pounds in loans to buy a bar…above ground.”
They continued: “We launched La Camionera as a residency in the basement of a bar on Broadway Market, London less than one week ago. Something initially intended as a lowkey tapas bar for 25 covers that ran Sunday to Thursday had soon turned into hundreds of people hanging out outside trying to get in. We had a good night, we went viral on TikTok – in no small part thanks to superstar musician @lleoworld , and we read every one of the comments – good and bad – online and thought…Why are we always in the basement?”
Alex and Cara continued saying that they are currently looking for “more avenues of funding”, and so far have raised over £27,000! You can help out by donating here: indiegogo.com/projects/la-camionera-lesbian-bar-in-hackney-london
Continuing on their Instagram post, the organisers wrote: “I hope this post, and the revealing of who’s behind the bar, is a testament to the fact that anyone who feels like the bar is a space for them, is.”
“As time moves on, this will become increasingly apparent through our programming and imagery. As a trans person, I can’t help but feel othered when spaces tack on whether I am/am not welcome. Let’s not let a minutiae of people control the dialogue – we’re stronger without them.”
Naturally, the LGBTQIA has gone wild for this new space.
Broadcaster and journalist Shivani Dave wrote on Instagram: “I WANNA MAKE OUT WITH ALL OF YOU. LITERALLY ALL OF YOU. IN A GOOD WAY THIS TIME! Cannot wait for this new FLINTA space to open. A lesbian bar, truly inclusive of trans+ and non-binary people.”
“Not only will we all have a fun space to make out but it’s above ground and wheelchair accessible which is honestly so sexy.”
We cannot wait to see this new bar open permanently!
La Camionera is currently located in the basement at 63-65 Broadway Market, London E8 4PH.
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