Pixie’s is the only dedicated LGBTQ+ bar in the borough – and it’s thriving

By Pixie Le May

Nestled inside an unassuming passageway off Wood Street is Pixie’s, the borough’s only dedicated LGBTQ+ bar.

The passageway, called the Georgian Village, contains over ten independent businesses, including Pixie’s.

I am an events planner and pub manager. The bar was born when artist Paul Stone and I stumbled on an empty Georgian Village unit next to Luke’s Cider Bar some years ago.

We immediately jumped at the opportunity to rent the space, believing the location was perfect for a small 1980s themed queer bar. Paul said: “As a child of the 1980s myself I love the brightness. The tiny bar has a beer garden that is loved by its many regulars and exuberance of the music and trends of that time. We’ve decorated the bar in classic ‘80s fashion with plenty of neon lights and posters which any material girls and lost boys will love!”

As two of the founding members of Waltham Forest Pride, we were also especially keen to reintroduce an LGBTQ venue to the community, given that the borough’s few queer venues had sadly disappeared over the years.

Despite huge progress being made for LGBTQ rights in recent decades, a venue for the queer community and their allies remains vital.

We’ve been particularly pleased that as well as providing a safe space for our LGBTQ friends, people beyond our community also enjoy socialising and making friends in a non-judgemental and welcoming environment. We aim to be a safe space for everyone in Walthamstow.

For such a small bar, Pixie’s offers a lively roster of entertainment including drag shows, singers, quiz nights and music bingo. We have additionally led fundraising efforts for various charities including ELOP, Positive East, Eat or Heat and Mildmay, with the bar continuing to hold events to support and promote them.

We hope to build on our early success as a welcoming venue for the local community with an ever-expanding range of events, while working in conjunction with other venues all over Waltham Forest to provide inclusive entertainment for all.

Pixie’s is located at Unit 2, The Georgian Village, 100 Wood Street, E17 3HX, and opens from 4pm Thursday to Sunday

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