A property developer has promised to pay £100,000 to fund a “pop-up LGBT+ bar” to give Londoners an inclusive place to meet during the demolition and redevelopment of a popular gay nightclub. It is believed to be the first time that a property developer has offered to pay the cost of setting up a temporary gay bar as a condition of securing planning permission. The £100,000 that Regal has committed to the temporary LGBT+ space takes the total the developer has pledged to the recreation of a new Joiners Arms venue to £238,000. just as the Joiners Arms had - will also be charged no rent for 18 months. Amy Roberts, of the Friends of the Joiners Arms, said: “We have always said that the best thing for the local and wider queer community, and existing residents, would be the provision of much-needed social housing and the re-opening of the Joiners Arms as a unique, wonky community-run queer pub.

Source: The Guardian January 09, 2021 15:11 UTC