COLEHERNE CALLS TIME!

One of London's oldest gay pubs has called 'last orders' for the very final time.

The Coleherne in Earls Court has been serving the capitol's queers since the mid 1950s and by the 70s had become the UK's first leather bar. It has been immortalised in fiction (Tales of the City: Babycakes by Armistead Maupin), in song (Hanging Around by The Stranglers) and in notoriety (serial killers Colin Ireland and Dennis Nielsen met a number of their victims there).

Although at one time the heart of the city's gay scene, Earls Courts was long ago eclipsed by the growth of Soho and latterly Vauxhall. Another of the area's gay bars, Bromptons, has also put the shutters up having closed at the beginning of the year.

Ironically, the venue celebrated it's 50th birthyday just five weeks ago but according to Coleherne manager, Mike Shrewbrook, the past few years had been a struggle. It's believed the venue will reopen later in the year as a gastropbub.

Editor's comment: The Coleherne's closure is a wake-up call to all of us that we need to support our local gay boozers. Our pink pounds are being sucked clean by the rip-off vacumn cleaners that masquerade as gay venues in the likes of Old Compton Street and Vauxhall. Rip-off prices, rude service and overbearing door-staff are too often the order of the day in many of the venues I have occasion to visit. So, this weekend give that lot the cold shoulder and do what you do down at your local - and help make sure it stays gay. SM/LG