Joiners Arms: New LGBTQ venue to open on site of iconic Shoreditch pub

The gay and transgender community have won Tower Hamlets Council’s green light for a new venue on the site of the Joiners’ Arms that was shut down in 2015.

Planning consent has been given for a late-night music LGBTQ venue at Hackney Road in Shoreditch, which closed for redevelopment.

Developers have agreed to increase the size of the replacement pub along with £130,000 towards fitting it out and seeking an LGBTQ+ operator for at least 25 years.

Late night opening hours have been granted, up to 2am Monday to Thursday, 3am Saturday and 4am Sunday on a one-year trial.

The venue would be able to apply for those hours to be made permanent if there were no significant objections from neighbours including noise.

The redevelopment also includes offices, shops and employment space.

The council sees the move as reversing the decline in LGBTQ venues across London.