It’s been the epicentre of gay London since 2002, but last night the George & Dragon (as we know it) shut up shop. Emosh punters – many from the fashion, music and art worlds – turned up for some final pints and to soak up its unique atmosphere one last time. The George has always been a guaranteed fun party spot and the home to performers and DJs including Jonny Woo, Princess Julia and the Lovely Jonjo. The pub has also been home to mini toilet gallery The White Cubicle – the name a play on the corporate White Cube Gallery round the corner on Hoxton Square, but the space playing host to bona fide artists including Wolfgang Tillmans, Terence Koh and Prem Sahib.
Sad though people are that this specific space is no more, there is at least comfort in the knowledge that Richardette and the team are opening in a new venue very soon. The news comes off the back of several gay venue closures in the area. The Joiner’s Arms and the Nelson’s Head have both closed, but like the George, The Nelson’s is seeking a new space.
Here was the message from the George & Dragon’s Facebook last night….
To all our customers.
It’s almost 13 years since we opened our doors and from pretty much that night we have been blown away with the amazing response and all the amazing things which have their origins inside Number 2 Hackney Road, a former Victorian boozer, squatted and turned into a shoe shop which we reboozerified back in 2002.
We are due to surrender our lease on Tuesday 1 December and a new owner will sign a new lease at the same time. We wish them every success. They inherit good times, good memories and a whole lotta love. We move to a new venue as soon as possible, hopefully within the week. The jungle drums are beating and from what we hear they’ve got it bang on.
Today we open at 4pm and hope as many of you as possible can pass by and raise a glass, maybe even last the whole 8 hours. Music comes from Princess Julia, Richard Mortimer, Wayne Shires, Charles Jeffrey and The Lovely Jonjo.
Tomorrow night we’ll be putting the last things in boxes and draining the brandy bottle – so if you can’t make today or prefer a more somber occasion there’s your chance.
From the bottom of our hearts and written in the sky.
Good bye to the George as we know it, but here’s to a fabulous next chapter.