LGBT-friendly bar creates safe and open environment in London
Any student taking a trip to
downtown London for a night of
drinking can vouch for one fact:
there are a ton of places to drink,
dance or socialize in this city.
There are so many different
options to choose from — everything
from casual pubs to loud
nightclub — which almost guarantees
that any individual will be able
to find an establishment that is
tuned to their interests.
For any members of the LGBT community in London, however, the majority of local bars may not be able to provide what they are looking for in terms of a night experience, except for one.
Located at 238 Dundas St. in the heart of the downtown community, Lavish is carrying on London's long tradition of openness, positivity and fun in the LGBT community.
After the closing of London's well-known LGBT nightspots Fusion and SEVEN, Lavish was opened in 2008 by Eddy Phimphrachanh to provide not only the LGBT community a 100 per cent welcome place to go at night, but to provide a premier night club and lounge experience to the London community as a whole.
“While we are a ‘gay-friendly' location, especially in terms of reputation, we don't like to market ourselves as such. This is a place where anybody can come and let their hair down.” Phimphrachanh has designed the bar to deliver the same sort of nightlife experience that one would find in Toronto to the people of London, with a spacious dance floor, flashing lights and the music turned up loud, as well as a lounge area for those who are looking to have more of a relaxing evening.
In addition to providing the LGBT community a safe and welcome place to be themselves, Phimphrachanh said he feels that his establishment serves a more important purpose: cultivating a positive image of the LGBT community at large within the city. “We have become more and more active within the community and the city; we sponsor the London Pride Parade, a number of LGBT sports teams, we also enter a team in each year's dragon boat race,” said Phimphrachanh. “Getting our name out there as a representative of LGBT people all over the city in this way is an important method of showing the rest of the city what we as a community has to offer.”
“I think it's liberating for someone moving to London to be able to find an LGBT-friendly bar so easily,” Phimphrachanh explained. “It can definitely be hard for any gay students in a new city to feel comfortable at a bar such as Jacks.” For this reason, Lavish often gets together with the LGBT organizations at Western University and the Spectrum club at Fanshawe in order to raise awareness and lend support to their events. These partnerships have helped foster a true sense of community among LGBT people at both of these schools, as well as the city at large.
For any members of the LGBT community in London, however, the majority of local bars may not be able to provide what they are looking for in terms of a night experience, except for one.
Located at 238 Dundas St. in the heart of the downtown community, Lavish is carrying on London's long tradition of openness, positivity and fun in the LGBT community.
After the closing of London's well-known LGBT nightspots Fusion and SEVEN, Lavish was opened in 2008 by Eddy Phimphrachanh to provide not only the LGBT community a 100 per cent welcome place to go at night, but to provide a premier night club and lounge experience to the London community as a whole.
“While we are a ‘gay-friendly' location, especially in terms of reputation, we don't like to market ourselves as such. This is a place where anybody can come and let their hair down.” Phimphrachanh has designed the bar to deliver the same sort of nightlife experience that one would find in Toronto to the people of London, with a spacious dance floor, flashing lights and the music turned up loud, as well as a lounge area for those who are looking to have more of a relaxing evening.
In addition to providing the LGBT community a safe and welcome place to be themselves, Phimphrachanh said he feels that his establishment serves a more important purpose: cultivating a positive image of the LGBT community at large within the city. “We have become more and more active within the community and the city; we sponsor the London Pride Parade, a number of LGBT sports teams, we also enter a team in each year's dragon boat race,” said Phimphrachanh. “Getting our name out there as a representative of LGBT people all over the city in this way is an important method of showing the rest of the city what we as a community has to offer.”
“I think it's liberating for someone moving to London to be able to find an LGBT-friendly bar so easily,” Phimphrachanh explained. “It can definitely be hard for any gay students in a new city to feel comfortable at a bar such as Jacks.” For this reason, Lavish often gets together with the LGBT organizations at Western University and the Spectrum club at Fanshawe in order to raise awareness and lend support to their events. These partnerships have helped foster a true sense of community among LGBT people at both of these schools, as well as the city at large.
