I saw the many reviews listed here and could not just skirt by without having to say something about this fabulous place, and what a fabulous place it is, a place that holds many good memories
My very first visit to Comptons of Soho was back in 1989 and came across many interesting characters including Lily Savage, (well before her TV fame), Dale Winton, Andy Bell from Erasure, Steve Bronski from Bronski Beat, but as soon as I walked into the place I immediately fell in love with it, and I knew then that this was to become my local.
I lived in Little Venice at the time just off of the Edgeware Road and you could always find me in there. At the time George & Steve ran the pub, they were always known as "Lord & Lady Compton", and was the first place I have ever done drag. It was Lady Compton who had asked me to dress up in Miss Purple, as "Comptons" was going to enter the Pride March and were going to enter as people dressed as the rainbow flag. I remember having to go upstairs for a fitting, there was no upstairs for customers to venture at the time, which came many years after, it was virtually floorless with just a computer stuck in the corner and ran the entire operation of "Comptons of Soho".
This led me to organise "A Night of a Thousand Bras" in aid of Crisis at Christmas a few years later. Well, living in London, the world was my oyster, everyone I wanted to approach already lived in the city. We raised some good money for the charity and had some great guests including the scenes, at the time, Lily Savage, Adrela, Ruby Venezuala from Madame JoJo's, (another venue which holds great stories along with Madame JoJo's Piano Bar round the corner in Brewer Street and Walkers Court) to name a few. A really good night was had by all.
We used to start at Comptons, then go to The Golden Lion in Dean Street or the KU Bar or The Village, the latter two we newly opened at the time, then off to Heaven for the rest of the night. Comptons was a place where people of all tastes, styles. colour and creed would meet up at the start of the evening then venture off to complete the rest of their night, but Comptons was always known as the central hub, a meeting place because everyone knew where it was.
Lots of things have changed, come and gone and some places are still there, no matter what you chuck at them, and Comptons of Soho is no exception to the rule, and is still there. Living in Bristol now, I will always pop into Comptons whenever I am in the "smoke", and this is a venue where everyone should visit at least once, or better still, make it your local. I did and loved every single minute of it, and I'm sure you will too. Even from the photos below, all those nights started with a good night at Comptons of Soho.
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