Candybar Girls, the Channel 5 reality show, has put London's lesbian nightlife under the spotlight but it's not the only bar in town. Lucy McKay asked six of London's hippest gay women where they hang out
Ronx
27, doctor
"As a gay black doctor, I feel like I need to inspire other women, whatever they are."
Coming out: Before, it [my sexuality] helped me carve my identity but now, being gay is not about sleeping with lots of girls; there's more to it. It's about being a woman, being strong, empowering others, being passionate.
Going out: I loved Ghetto and all those old school places. Since that ended I don't feel like I've got anywhere but random nights. The importance of going out to gay nights goes away when you're older, though, because you've got your friends and don't feel like you have anything to prove anymore.
27, doctor
"As a gay black doctor, I feel like I need to inspire other women, whatever they are."
Coming out: Before, it [my sexuality] helped me carve my identity but now, being gay is not about sleeping with lots of girls; there's more to it. It's about being a woman, being strong, empowering others, being passionate.
Going out: I loved Ghetto and all those old school places. Since that ended I don't feel like I've got anywhere but random nights. The importance of going out to gay nights goes away when you're older, though, because you've got your friends and don't feel like you have anything to prove anymore.
Shiraz M
24, lawyer and blogger
"We started The Most Cake blog because there's nothing good to read for lesbians in London. There is Diva and G3 but they try to cater for everyone. We write for gay women our age but it's not about being a lesbian. It's culture, art and music and more. We are getting about 70,000 hits overall per month."
Coming out: "My family live in Malaysiaand they would die if they knew I was doing this. Although they know [about my sexuality], we don't talk about it. And at work I don't see the point in bringing up my personal life. I think gay women tend to be treated as the exotic. People need to get over it now. There are boring lesbians, exciting lesbians and mind-numbingly awful lesbians."
Going out: "I do prefer gay nights out because it's just really awkward having to tell some guy who's trying to hit on you that you're not playing hard to get, you're just really not interested."
24, lawyer and blogger
"We started The Most Cake blog because there's nothing good to read for lesbians in London. There is Diva and G3 but they try to cater for everyone. We write for gay women our age but it's not about being a lesbian. It's culture, art and music and more. We are getting about 70,000 hits overall per month."
Coming out: "My family live in Malaysiaand they would die if they knew I was doing this. Although they know [about my sexuality], we don't talk about it. And at work I don't see the point in bringing up my personal life. I think gay women tend to be treated as the exotic. People need to get over it now. There are boring lesbians, exciting lesbians and mind-numbingly awful lesbians."
Going out: "I do prefer gay nights out because it's just really awkward having to tell some guy who's trying to hit on you that you're not playing hard to get, you're just really not interested."
Naomi Nehemen
21, fashion stylist and photographic librarian
"I don't understand why people think because you're gay that it's a different way of living."
Coming out: "The only bad thing is that my parents don't accept it [my sexuality], so I try and keep my outside life away from them. My mother, especially, just doesn't want to know. It's just really tedious. But apart from to my family I am the most overtly lesbian person out there. [I can be open about it] in the fashion world, yes. Not really with my other job, because it's quite a professional environment."
Going out: "I hang out either in Soho or east London. I do love a bit of G-A-Y for the cheesy music. I also like grime music, so I go to a few grime events. If I'm going out for a night on the pull or just a good night, I go to gay nights. But I do go to straight nights."
21, fashion stylist and photographic librarian
"I don't understand why people think because you're gay that it's a different way of living."
Coming out: "The only bad thing is that my parents don't accept it [my sexuality], so I try and keep my outside life away from them. My mother, especially, just doesn't want to know. It's just really tedious. But apart from to my family I am the most overtly lesbian person out there. [I can be open about it] in the fashion world, yes. Not really with my other job, because it's quite a professional environment."
Going out: "I hang out either in Soho or east London. I do love a bit of G-A-Y for the cheesy music. I also like grime music, so I go to a few grime events. If I'm going out for a night on the pull or just a good night, I go to gay nights. But I do go to straight nights."
Anna Leach
25, technology journalist and blogger
"There's not as much lifestyle or fun stuff in the media for lesbians. It could definitely be better and at The Most Cake I'm in the perfect place to do something about that. So why not?"
Coming out: "I came out a bit late, when I was about 21, so the scene was a bit more exciting for me than for girls who came out earlier."
Going out: "Largely around Shoreditch and Dalston. It's the hub of the gay scene like at Dalston Superstore, The Macbeth and The Joiners. There's Twat Boutique, which is a really good night and Holla! which is kind of r'n'b stuff, and of course Dick and Fanny. I wouldn't go to Candybar. I really enjoyed going to Soho about three or four years ago. But then things just opened up in the east and it's all really exciting."
25, technology journalist and blogger
"There's not as much lifestyle or fun stuff in the media for lesbians. It could definitely be better and at The Most Cake I'm in the perfect place to do something about that. So why not?"
Coming out: "I came out a bit late, when I was about 21, so the scene was a bit more exciting for me than for girls who came out earlier."
Going out: "Largely around Shoreditch and Dalston. It's the hub of the gay scene like at Dalston Superstore, The Macbeth and The Joiners. There's Twat Boutique, which is a really good night and Holla! which is kind of r'n'b stuff, and of course Dick and Fanny. I wouldn't go to Candybar. I really enjoyed going to Soho about three or four years ago. But then things just opened up in the east and it's all really exciting."
Sophie Brémaud
25, lesbian DJ from France
"Overall I think the lesbian scene is still a bit underground ... but there is also a big circle of friends, with culture, music, books."
Coming out: "I got onto the scene very quickly which was surprising but I think the lesbian scene is one big circle here. I went to some of the gay nights, asked to play and that was it. Once you've met one of the main people, you know everyone, which can be frustrating and good."
Going out: "I only have gay friends because my whole network is in the gay scene so I end up going to gay places. I play for Twat Boutique, a lesbian night called Holla! I just play everywhere in London. Soho sometimes, it's very different. I only do gay girls nights.
"I used to DJ in Candybar and I think it's very good that there's another lesbian TV show but it's not very representative. If I was watching Candybar Girls in another country I do not know if I would move to London."
25, lesbian DJ from France
"Overall I think the lesbian scene is still a bit underground ... but there is also a big circle of friends, with culture, music, books."
Coming out: "I got onto the scene very quickly which was surprising but I think the lesbian scene is one big circle here. I went to some of the gay nights, asked to play and that was it. Once you've met one of the main people, you know everyone, which can be frustrating and good."
Going out: "I only have gay friends because my whole network is in the gay scene so I end up going to gay places. I play for Twat Boutique, a lesbian night called Holla! I just play everywhere in London. Soho sometimes, it's very different. I only do gay girls nights.
"I used to DJ in Candybar and I think it's very good that there's another lesbian TV show but it's not very representative. If I was watching Candybar Girls in another country I do not know if I would move to London."
Sophie Wilkinson
23, journalist
"I really like going along to straight nights and being the only lesbian there but I also like lesbian nights because you can walk in on your own and get to know people so vicariously."
Coming out: "I don't usually tell employers because it's not really a concern. My dad, I wouldn't talk about it with - but what girl talks to their dad about their sex life?
"If The L word (American lesbian TV drama) had come along earlier I would have had a much easier adolescence. I think people are unwilling to invest in lesbian TV in Britain because to be realistic you have to show women that aren't the porn ideal, and why would men watch that?
"Watching something like Candybar Girls makes me want to apologise to every single 14-year-old girl out there who's questioning their sexuality and thinks this is what it is to be a lesbian."
Going out: "Mostly in East London, there are so many great gay nights but I'll go all over if the music is going to be good."
23, journalist
"I really like going along to straight nights and being the only lesbian there but I also like lesbian nights because you can walk in on your own and get to know people so vicariously."
Coming out: "I don't usually tell employers because it's not really a concern. My dad, I wouldn't talk about it with - but what girl talks to their dad about their sex life?
"If The L word (American lesbian TV drama) had come along earlier I would have had a much easier adolescence. I think people are unwilling to invest in lesbian TV in Britain because to be realistic you have to show women that aren't the porn ideal, and why would men watch that?
"Watching something like Candybar Girls makes me want to apologise to every single 14-year-old girl out there who's questioning their sexuality and thinks this is what it is to be a lesbian."
Going out: "Mostly in East London, there are so many great gay nights but I'll go all over if the music is going to be good."
Six of the best gay nights out for girls
Holla! (The Macbeth, 70 Hoxton Street, N1)
Last Thursday of each month with sounds from the Nineties and the Naughties, hip hop, garage and reggae.themacbethuk.co.uk
Last Thursday of each month with sounds from the Nineties and the Naughties, hip hop, garage and reggae.themacbethuk.co.uk
Twat Boutique (Dalston Superstore, 117 Kingsland High Street, E8)
A regular Thursday slot plus occasional parties. Expect disco-punk and electro music. twatboutique.com
A regular Thursday slot plus occasional parties. Expect disco-punk and electro music. twatboutique.com
Other People's Property (The Korsan Bar, Kingsland Road, E2)
First Saturday of each month. Billed
as "Eclectic noise for girls who like toys." facebook.com/clubotherpeoplesproperty
First Saturday of each month. Billed
as "Eclectic noise for girls who like toys." facebook.com/clubotherpeoplesproperty
The Joiners Arms (Hackney Road, E2)
A friendly gay pub that is mostly for men but is also very popular with lesbians - especially on Sundays.joinershoreditch.com
A friendly gay pub that is mostly for men but is also very popular with lesbians - especially on Sundays.joinershoreditch.com
Unskinny Bop (The Star of Bethnal Green, Bethnal Green Road, E2)
Sing along to a nice bit of Lionel Ritchie and Girls Aloud on the third Saturday of every month. Facebook group: Unskinny Bop Appreciation Society
Sing along to a nice bit of Lionel Ritchie and Girls Aloud on the third Saturday of every month. Facebook group: Unskinny Bop Appreciation Society
Dick and Fanny (Location Varies)
Saturdays quarterly. A techno and disco night for a "crowd of dykes, fags, trannies and their admirers"
Saturdays quarterly. A techno and disco night for a "crowd of dykes, fags, trannies and their admirers"
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