Our heritage, who we are and what we stand for
At the City of Quebec, we believe in equality, being proud of who you are and standing up for what we believe in. We're a place for everyone and anyone to step inside, let their hair down and breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that a good time is always guaranteed.
Take a look at a snapshot of our history to learn more about the City of Quebec. From our days as allies before being gay was legal to our allyship now as we partner with LGBTQIA+ organisations such as Switchboard, we're sure you'll soon see why we're one of the best LGBTQIA+ pubs in Marylebone!
The history of the City of Quebec, Marylebone
Since 1946, we've been a home for the LGBTQIA+ community and a cornerstone of London's gay culture. Some believe us to be the oldest gay pub in London, but this has not yet been verified. In our early days, we were frequented by members of the Royal Air Force who were involved in battles across the skies of the UK and Europe during World War II. It is alleged that World War II code-breaker Alan Turing enjoyed visiting our pub before his unfortunate death in 1954. We were also a home for gay rights activists after the war.
The LGBTQIA+ community in London
Gay culture throughout Marylebone and the wider city has transformed over the years to become the inclusive space we know it as today. As you may know, homosexuality was criminalised in England until 1967, when the act was overturned, and gay marriage was only recently legalised in 2014. In 1972, the first Pride event was held in London, which continues annually today and has become one of the most iconic dates in the queer calendar across the UK.
To find out more about the timeline of the UK's LGBTQIA+ history, Stonewall's key dates are a great place to start, and to find some more incredible queer-owned third spaces and businesses in London, take a look at this list curated by Secret London.
Allies then, allies now
Today, we celebrate our status as a long-standing hub for the LGBTQIA+ community with drag nights, burlesque and more in an environment that welcomes all shapes, sizes, identities, sexualities and beliefs. We have previously been known to attract an older clientele, but that has changed over recent years as we have transformed into an LGBTQIA+ venue that anyone can call home. From the outside, we may look like your typical West End boozer, but step through our doors and you'll see that there's so much more than meets the eye.
We also run fundraising promotions that support local, national and international LGBTQIA+ charities such as Switchboard, who run a UK-wide helpline for the LGBTQIA+ community, and Stonewall, who fight for the freedom and equality of all LGBTQIA+ people.