In the heartfelt post which delved into the owners justification behind the “tough decision”, Joseph stated: “This isn’t an easy decision, to me this is more than just a bar, it’s also my home, I’ve lived above it for over 15 years, but it’s now time to make some changes”.

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A post shared by Jeremy Joseph (@jeremy_joseph)

G-A-Y opened in 1976 and has since served as a vital pilar to the LGBT community by bringing individuals together with live music, club nights and culture to vibrantly exist and celebrate their identities.

The decision to close such a historically iconic LGBT venue came after Heaven nightclub’s temporary closure last year left Joseph at crossroads while fighting for the re-opening of the venue. The temporary closure of Heaven came after it was discovered a security guard allegedly sexually assaulted an 18-year-old who had been in the queue for the venue for over two hours.

In the social media post, the G-A-Y owner reflected on Heaven’s closure, stating: “I was clear to Westminster CC’s Licensing committee that if they closed Heaven for even a short time it would potentially put G-A-Y Bar at risk financially, & I was clear & transparent with everyone as to the financial & mental damage which the fight to reopen Heaven had on me. Even now after Heaven’s re-opening, the damage financially & mentally has been irreparable”.

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A post shared by Jeremy Joseph (@jeremy_joseph)

Furthering the decision to permanently shut G-A-Y Bar, Joseph pinpointed the “constant up hill battle” surrounding the socio-economic issues caused by the Cost of Living crisis and the lack of assistance available for those within the hospitality and the late night sector, which has already resulted in substantial closures in the last year.

Joseph argued: “it doesn’t feel like anyone with power cares about hospitality & it definitely doesn’t feel like they care about LGBT venues, Old Compton Street has lost its queer identity”.

He continued: “I firmly believe Soho has lost it vibrancy […] Old Compton street is not the same anymore, it has a new identity & when you look down the street, you see restaurants, cafes, take aways but the street that was the LGBT capital, is no more”.

As the legendary LGBT venue’s life comes to an end, Joseph has urged fans of the venue to be reminded of G-A-Y’s original purpose and the difficulty of his decision: “Making tough decisions but for the best. Making the changes I need to find peace of mind”.

The North Hertfordshire venue hosted iconic British artists during its run, including Glen Matlock of Sex Pistols and Neville Staple of The Specials. Club 85’s landlord and owner, Jas Lidder, told Hitchin Nub News, “It wasn’t an easy decision.”

The venue has served the Hitchin community for 60 years, with Lidder going on to further explain the difficult decision in his statement for Hitchin Nub News. Lidder wrote, “The most important thing in life is your health and mental wellness. Therefore, it’s time for both [Jas & Ranjit Lidder] to enjoy their life after working 70+ hours per week for multiple years.”

Lidder continued, “We can assure you that every option was explored and evaluated, but we’ve decided the best choice was to develop the site. The decision wasn’t easy for both after all the hard work that the family has put into Club 85 since 1985 and the sacrifices to make it the best community hub in the area.”

This news comes shortly after NME reported that the UK is set to lose 10% of its grassroots music venues in 2023. 67 venues have already closed this year, with a further 90 currently working with MVT’s Emergency Response. It is predicted that half of these will be closed, marking a 10% loss in venues this year alone.

Club 85’s Lidder pointed towards a potential new grassroots venue project in the works for his colleague Bob Mardon however, writing, “We’d like to additionally pass our thanks on to [manager] Bob Mardon for the last 20 years, his hard work and dedication have led to Club 85 being the best live music venue in the area. We will both support Bob in developing a new grassroots venue.”

Lidder also thanked Club 85’s patrons, saying, “Lastly, we’d like to thank all the great people who have come through the doors over the last 38 years and becoming a part of the Club 85 family.”

The news has been met with negative feedback, with one Twitter user writing, “It’s ridiculous to tear it down to make a handful of flats.”

BOO! Club 85 offers great opportunities for live music and comedy. It’s ridiculous to tear it down to make a handful of flats #Hitchin #Club85 https://t.co/x43d30j270

— Phoenix Phil Morley (@PhoenixPhilM) September 19, 2023

Another called the news “pretty devastating.”  

The last time I played Club 85, I was much smaller.

Hitchin’s lucky to have a full-time music venue with so much love & history behind it. Club 85’s a cultural asset that gives so much to the community. So the news of the proposal to replace it with flats is pretty devastating. pic.twitter.com/tj3o30xyQj

— David Ephgrave (@David_Ephgrave) September 20, 2023

Hitchin councillor, Ian Albert, summed up the news by saying, “This is desperately sad news for the residents of Hitchin and music lovers far and wide.“