Retro Bar

Saw the flags, but did not get the hint. I’m certainly not opposed to dropping into a gay bar now and then, but was surprised to see the Ladies room sign on the back of the entrance door. :)
Anyway, we stayed for a drink and it was fine. Retro is a sticky little bar that seems like it would be a good party spot if you’re a bit tipsy. We were here at about 5 on a Saturday, so the crowd was thin and no one was tipsy, but I’m sure that the place gets more splashy later in the evening. A place better visited after a drink or two elsewhere, I think.

Only a few months since my last review, but it’s lost a star.
The last few visits to my favourite bar in town have been disappointing to say the least. The service has gone downhill.
A friend had booked the upstairs for her birthday and the service was shocking. The barman, who I’ve known to be rude before was on top form. Very offensive, shout-​y and overcharged me twice on drinks. I feel a bit like a plonker for not complaining at the time, not wanting to rock the boat in a local, but I just feel a bit ripped off.
So alas, it’s gone down in my estimations. Maybe, just maybe I’ll be able to reinstate it’s final star. But the whole experience has put me off going there for a while, which is a shame cos its a cracking place.

I adore the Retro Bar. I have been coming here for over ten years, mainly to the monthly Douze Points Eurovision night they host on the second Thursday of every month (
). Although a gay pub, straight people/​couples are made to feel very welcome, and I have never failed to have a top time here. The staff are lovely (though Wendy is sorely missed), and I’ve seen the same people behind the bar for years, which means that you get recognised when you come through the door, which is really nice for a pub you only visit at best once a month, bang in the centre of London.
The main problem with the pub is the quality of the sound system. You can barely hear the music sometimes, and on Eurovision nights there have often been some problems with getting adequate sound to come from the big screen. However, it is a great venue, and drinks are well-​priced for the location: I think a pint is about £3.50 and you can go large on spirits+mixers for an extra quid.

What a win. A visiting friend discovered this gay bar (thanks Unilocal!) while in London and brought me along to check it out. The drinks were CHEAP, especially considering the area. £3 for Smirnoff drinks that magically got even less expensive the more you ordered (2 doubles for £8? I’ll take it!).
The music was FANTASTIC (pet shop boys, Morrissey, the cure, the ronnettes) and atmosphere really low key.
For a gay bar with an 80s lean and called «retro» I totally expected obnoxious Madonna to be blaring, snooty bartenders and an overall club-​y vibe. But this is more alternative. We actually scored seats (both nights we came in, yes we liked it that much) in the high-​tourist traffic of the Strand and could even have a conversation over the din.
The crowd was a mix of older men in suits, young hipster types, and co-​ed young professionals having a drink together post-​work. I honestly would have never gone in and had a clue it was a gay bar (aside from the two men in suits holding in hands at one point and the shelf of flyers for drag queen DJ nights). Just a low key, good vibe pub. I can’t speak to how it stacks up in terms of a gay bar destination but both myself and my friend who sought it out far preferred its low key vibe to the loud, flashy, bouncer-​protected Soho stops.
In fact, I may come back on my own for the weekly Wild Thing night; rock n roll girl groups, retro, pop, and punk. My kinda night
Oh … almost forgot. One big con for me is the super early Friday night last call — 11p?! Ick

Hidden away in a nook, good happy hr crowd and then some

I’ve been to Retro Bar a few times now and each time it never lets me down. The best time was after a Prosecco fuelled birthday brunch a few years ago and we felt we wanted a few more drinks and time to hang out some more and have a good time. This is exactly what we got at Retro Bar.
The bar is nothing special to look at in terms of attractiveness but that’s why you should never judge a book by its cover folks! I love how the walls are covered with celeb photos from many an era but what I love more are the board games! On the above occasion we had a fab time playing Jenga and Trivial Pursuit and another time my friend and I have had a Pictionary fest there too!
The staff & clientele are friendly and welcoming to all and sundry and it’s location off the Strand is central and very handy.

I– I’ll do anything that you want me to do,
And I’ll do almost anything that you want me to do,
But I can’t go for that, (No can do)
No, I can’t go for that, (No can do)
Oh, I can’t go for that, (No can do)*
That sums up my opinion of Retro (also what I said when I went out with someone who was into diapers… no thanks!). I gave it a shot, but I just can’t go for that. There was nothing compelling about it. The jukebox was good and the posters on the wall were neat, but the beer was mundane, the crowd didn’t have a great vibe (kind of «clique-​ish») and it was so bright! Oh my goodness, maybe I should have quoted a line from «Blinded by the Light» it was so lit up in there.
Trust me I look better in dim lighting and maybe a filtered lens. This place was very bright, like when a policeman shines a light inside your car when you’re parked by a dumpster in a deserted Wal-​Mart parking lot and catches you… well never mind about that last part.
In short, nice enough place, not my scene.
_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​
*the dudes from Philly, Hall & Oates

Retro Bar is a regular haunt of a friend of mine so he took a few of us there after a Prosecco-​filled Sunday brunch in Aldwych. We had a lovely relaxed afternoon playing jenga and pictionary amongst other games. I loved the walls lined with celebrity photos and the bar staff were all very friendly and welcoming. Great place to relax on a lazy Sunday with some friends, some drinks and some board games!

The first bar I was introduced to in London when I went for a Trip to visit some friends.
Has that hip/​indy/​studenty slightly grungy, old leather sofa feel, there just don’t seem to be any places like this on the Manchester gay scene.
Had a really nice relaxed night here, good music, friendly staff and to top it all the drinks wern’t even as much as I expected! would deffinately go again.

This place is ok. Its neatly hidden off of the Strand down an alleyway.
I’ve been here twice and it feels like many other pubs that I went to with the exception that it caters to a gay clientele.
It’s ok. Nothing really special IMHO.

«And it feels like home.»
Walking in here to hear a techno remix of RuPaul’s «Supermodel» followed by the Spice Girls’ «Wannabe» brought back the familiarity of Castro & 17^th.
If only there were a dance floor.
But given that there’s a «Wall of Shame» featuring customer photos, it’s probably better that there isn’t one.

Move over Eddy’s, I think I have a new favourite gay bar in town!
Retro Bar is clean, über cute and hidden off the Strand, making its location classy without being in the ‘burbs. Walking in, the décor is unique and I wish I’d had more time to stop and investigate.
The upstairs barman was super friendly and joked around with us when we walked in. He even complemented my clevage, which is what every girl in a corset wants to hear.
Of course, this all sounds like every other review, but honestly, walking into the bar, it’s just like a wave of friendliness and low-​key come at you. People SMILE at you (how many times in London does THAT happen?!) for no reason and it just seems like a fabulous place to hang out and cheer people on :)
Will definately be back!

My first full day in London was yesterday, and the boys and I felt like our bodies could handle a venture to find a great gay bar in the area… and so we set out asking the locals and all of them recommended Retro Bar.
With a pocket full of foriegn currency in town, the boys and I headed to Retro Bar… and we LOVED IT. This place is really cozy, and had a certain feel to it that made up want to stay into the wee hours and just be merry. A table of guys next to us overheard our «American» accents, and came over and introduced themseleves… sweet!
Can’t wait to go back again before I leave Friday.

This bar effectively combines two of my favorite things in a bar: Hidden in an alleyway and filled with gays. That sounds bad, but you know how I love a bar off the beaten path. Retro Bar is a great place to stop if you’re looking for somewhere to go that isn’t filled with pretension and has a cozy relaxed crowd.
They get gold stars for 1) Jukebox 2) Seating that allows you to actually be social 3) Not super-​expensive drinks 4) Fantastic & friendly service.

I had to laugh as I let my colleague pick the bar that we went to tonight and as we were walking down the street she points to Retro and says, «There».
There, indeed. Retro is a gay bar located in the Covent Garden area and situated down a narrow alley. We walked in, and unbeknownst to my colleague found ourselves right smack dab in the middle of men playing board games. singing along to the old songs on the jukebox (great juke box with everything from old show tunes to the Smiths) and spilling out into the street.
We sidled up to the bar and I was thrilled to see my favorite beer Kronenbourg on tap! Yay! I knew my night was going to be fun! And the prices were reasonable given what other places charge in this neighborhood.
We found a leather sofa in the back to perch on and watched the comings and goings on this warm night. About 30 minutes later, my colleague turned to me and said, «OMG– I think this is a gay bar!» Really.
I continued to laugh as at this time I was busily singing along with the others to some Judy Garland hit from the past and enjoying myself at my colleague’s expense.
Oh– and ladies– if you are looking for your restroom– it’s at the top of the stairs (and there is another bar and more laid back room up there)
We couldn’t stay long as last call here is at 10:50 pm and you are out and on your way by 11– no ifs ands or «buts». And trust me– there were lots of cute «butts» in this place!

Retro Bar is a hidden gem to those gays in the know. basically, if you’re desperate to get away from the Soho crowds and relax with a few good friends (including Kate Bush on the juke box) then this is the place for you. Hidden down a small alleyway, you’d blink and you’d miss it, when you get to the ‘Superdrug’ pharmacy turn right.
Drinks are reasonably priced for central London. There’s a great selection of board games to play but usually the place is pretty busy. Great for indie /​alternative gay kids, or people with zero attitude, Retro Bar is a welcome haven from the hustle and bustle of London.
Great bar, lovely people. Just beware of the land lady, this place only stays open until 11pm and then it’s ALL out. Drink up and be merry.

Un pequeñito pub londinense en una callejuela cerca del centro y de la zona de Piccadilly, no muy lejos del Soho.
Me sorprendió que era barato, aunque quizá lo fuera por lo baja que está la libra.
Fue extraño que hubiera en la planta de arriba una zona para una fiesta particular, pero era pequeña, y al final se estaba mejor en la no zona que en la zona privada, no estaba muy bien organizado.
También creo que el local era de ‘ambiente’.

oh come on… you know you wana…
Ok, this is a wicked place where the booze is cold and the men (apparently) are hot. Yes, this is a gay bar, but look at the bright side. at least here you do not have to worry about getting your ass kicked by some lout of a guy.
And check out their Karaōke night!

This is possibly the smallest bar I’ve ever ever been too. It’s like drinking in a school classroom. But smaller.
I met my best friend in here, at a birthday party, so I’m a big fan of the place. It doesn’t have a huge amount of charm, it’s not very pretty, and it’s a very strange bar indeed, but it pulls in a friendly gay crowd.
If you don’t mind the crowds.

For many years I couldn’t find this damn place, sited in a side-​street just off the Strand, but, fortunately, a friend took me here a few months back and I’ve since returned many a time.
Not the greatest looking bar, it is aimed at those into alternative music of the past from Bowie to the Smiths. It has two floors, the 2^nd floor is quite gaudy looking but always good to bear in mind as sometimes the downstairs area is taken over with pub quizzes or such-​like annoyances, unless you’re into that type of thing.
I must praise the price of the drinks which for the area are quite low and the service is quick and polite. A shame that it’s so far from other gay bars but, if you find yourself near Charing Cross, it’s definitely worth a visit.

3 minutes from Charing Cross tube station, this retro and cosy little bar is very welcoming, and although the clientele is mainly gay, they will not frown at the sight of an overtly straight philanthropist. The soundtrack is a great RETROspective of 70s and 80s gay-​friendly pop (think Depeche Mode, Blondie).
This is the best place to meet centrally and avoid Soho’s hubbub.