The Friendliest Society of All

In trying to describe this bar, the description that is most fitting seems to be “The Gay Cheers Of Great Britain.” Everybody knows your name, the cliental are regulars, the bartenders are sweet, and the drinks are strong. What could be better? On this particular night we arrive just before 10pm to discover we’re the last ones in before the tradition “one in, one out” policy starts to ensure that, were there to be a fire, we would not all burn to a crisp while trampling one another in an attempt to get up the stairs and out the door first. As we descend into the bar below the thumping of the bass begins to permeate our bodies. Upon reaching the bottom my eyes are immediately drawn to the barbie dolls and troll dolls suspended from the ceiling. It’s like a gay boy’s inner 8-year-old erupted, leaving the shards of memories watching your sister play with her dolls while you were stuck with GI Joe’s and Legos. The walls are padded with large sky blue disks that look like they were seat cushions at the Brady’s house in the 60s and 70s. They’re perfectly suited for catching the dancing boys and girls who are now busting a move to a mash-up of “Brick House” and “Poker Face.” We aim for the bar, where the bartenders - clad in black tank-tops and jeans - are pouring the strongest cocktails in London. This is, perhaps, the only bar I’ve even been to where they actually free pour liquor (meaning they’re actually bartenders!). Very strong drinks in hand, we head for the enormous goldfish bowl (complete with enormous goldfish) in the middle of the cozy dance area. Sadly all the garden gnome-shaped seats are taken and a group of eight are already settled into the giant private padded bed area that is nestled behind a short wall divider. The music continues to pop, the people continue to filter in and out, the drinks continue to flow and the half a dozen disco balls continue to spin. Save for one trip to the underwater themed bathroom, I stay firmly planted by the goldfish - the perfect place to scan the room for cute boys. Just as the clock strikes 11pm, the DJ spins “Last Dance” (as she does every night at 11pm) and the crowd is off, headed somewhere to dance their asses off until the wee hours of the morning. Still, there’s no place like Friendly Society to start off a great night... The Venue: Friendly Society (79 Wardour Street, London W1D 6QB) -- Kyle Taylor