Breweries aim to cash in on gay bar market

Breweries keen to take advantage of lucrative niche markets are investing in opening and refurbishing gay-friendly bars and pubs.

Pub managing company Ansells, part of Allied Domecq, opens its first gay-friendly bar tomorrow (Friday) with interiors and identity by London group Langford & Williams.

Jo Joes in Birmingham is aimed at the alternative market and will attract the gay crowd, says Ansells retail development manager Pat Lees.

Ansells has identified other possible sites with a view to rolling out the concept. Langford & Williams is likely to work on further outlets, says Lees.

Bass Taverns is carrying out a major refit and expansion at its gay community pub Comptons of Soho, with design by Cube in Chingford.

A new first-floor bar will be linked to the ground floor bar by a grand staircase, says Bass Taverns project manager Rod Pitcher.

The pub will be “slightly grander”, but will still be geared towards the same market. Pitcher adds: “It’s a very profitable outlet.”

Comptons is due to reopen next month and Bass Taverns is also planning to refurbish The Black Cap, its gay pub in London’s Camden.

Highland Village Taverns, the new owner of Soho bars The Village and The Yard, has plans to revamp The Village’s interiors. Details of the refurbishment are likely to be finalised later this month, according to operations manager Kirk Richmond.