‘G-A-Y’ London Club Partners With A McDonald’s Restaurant to Reopen

Large ‘super-club’ London venue Heaven, that’s world renown for being home to the “G-A-Y” nightclub, was looking forward to reopening when COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted. Initially, though, they did not qualify to, until a nearby McDonald’s franchise decided to step in.

London is moving to a “Tier Two”, or ‘high alert’ lockdown protocol, on December 2, in hopes of lowering infection spreading before the holiday season. Under those restrictions, hospitality venues can open – but only if they are serving “substantial meals,” which Heaven didn’t previously offer.

“G-A-Y” owner Jeremy Joseph revealed that the popular showcase would open on December 5 with performances from former X-Factor contestants Lucie Jones and Shanay Holmes. For the venue to open in compliance, orders for drinks must be accompanied with said “substantial meal,” and a McDonald’s franchise within walking distance – about 130 meters – from the venue reportedly “teamed up” to offer them.

After initially promoting the reopening event with a flyer complete with a McDonald’s logo, the images were apparently deleted and reposted without the logo.

“The Show Must Go On,” Joseph later wrote on Twitter.

He claims that while the space “can’t be a nightclub” due to the restrictions still in place, “we can become the biggest LGBT bar in the UK.”

Joseph has criticised leadership in the UK government, and repeatedly “warned about the impact of government restrictions on his venues,” even taking several unsuccessful legal steps to prevent the coming restrictions from going into effect as they are “arbitrary and nonsensical,” as ‘LGBTQ Nation’ reports. He has also called the restrictions “crippling” for G-A-Y venues.

He has used his social media reach and that of his venues – which includes another G-A-Y club in Manchester and theatres throughout the country – to consistently slam Prime Minister Boris Johnson and ask followers to reach out to their representatives. “If you disagree with Tier you’re in or rules within your Tier, your MP votes on Tuesday,” he writes.

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has approved emergency funding for certain LGBT+ venues, but most others are left to try to survive the effects the restrictions will have on business.

Over the last two months until this week, Joseph and supporters of G-A-Y events had been regulated to virtual shows.

Read related myGwork articles here:

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