Birmingham gay bars

"Absolutely amazing place. From the owner to all of the bar staff and customers. It’s such a friendly place with a fantastic atmosphere. The drinks are very cheap but that doesn’t diminish the quality of drinks or service. I can’t suggest this bar highly enough. I live in Preston, Lancashire and it’s my “ go to “ bar when I’m support home visiting Birmingham. Such a wonderful place to relax, unwind and join new friends .always on trend and spotlessly clean."

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Too often, gay bars don’t survive the threats of gentrification and criminalisation. Yet some last extended enough to change into important institutions in their own right.

This is correct of the Nightingale, one of many queer landmarks in Birmingham.

In , 2 men named Laurie Williams and Derek Pemberton paid £ for ownership of the Nightingale, a rundown Indian restaurant on Birmingham’s Camp Hill. 

It was a landmark year for British gay history, thanks to the passage of a bill decriminalising homosexuality in private. It was also a bittersweet victory, one which came with a higher age of consent for gay men, limited jurisdiction (the bill applied only in England and Wales) and harsher punishments for gay people caught on the streets.

At the second, there were very few places for LGBTQ+ communities to express or search their sexuality in public safely. Queer affection shown in straight pubs often led to hostility and harassment.

There were a handful of gay club nights, but they came with the uncertainty of being raided by police or exploited and overcharged by landlords. 

Williams and

Gay Bars In Birmingham

Home to the most diverse names and faces in the UK, it's no wonder the city has such a thriving gay scene to match. From bars to wine and dine your other half in, to singles nights and smashing drinks deals, there's a petite something for everyone in Brum, and we're bringing you the top gay bars in Birmingham.

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Sorry, the places listed below don't have online bookings available, but we hope you still detect this list useful for your night out!

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Equator Exclude

One of Gay Village's finest party palaces in Birmingham, Equator is a fresh and stylish lock that is known for its charming staff and inviting ambience. It's perfect for after perform tipples or a banging Saturday night out in the city.

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Medusa Lodge

5 reviews

Medusa Lodge is one of the best gay bars in Birmingham located right on Hurst Avenue, and it's oozing s vibes with its purple interiors and chic decor. Offering up deluxe drinks, this gentlemen's club is a fab place for booze and burlesque. 

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Missing

4 reviews

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Traditionally, if you were on the hunt for some LGBTQ+ nightlife in Brum, the Gay Village in Southside would be your go-to spot. But that’s not the case anymore – while the patch is still home to some brilliant queer spaces, there are LGBTQ bars and nightlife venues all across the city today. 

From cabaret shows to cocktail bars, live music venues to s car showrooms-turned-clubs (yes, you read that right), there’s a glittering smorgasbord of options across Birmingham – here are our top picks for the best LGBTQ+ clubs.

RECOMMENDED:
🍻The best pubs in Birmingham
🍸The best bars in Birmingham
🍝The best restaurants in Birmingham
🎭The best things to do in Birmingham

This list was written by Jon Cook, a writer based in Birmingham. At Occasion Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

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