COVEN Transforms Historic Former G-A-Y Bar Into Queer Sanctuary

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, London’s iconic 30 Old Compton Street has officially reopened as COVEN: HEADQUARTERS, a vibrant new five-storey queer sanctuary and cultural hub taking over the historic former G-A-Y Bar.

London’s iconic Soho has officially welcomed a major new addition to its nightlife and cultural landscape. On June 19, 2026, the renowned queer collective COVEN opened the doors to its new permanent home, COVEN: HEADQUARTERS, located at the historic 30 Old Compton Street.

Taking over the legendary five-storey building that previously housed G-A-Y Bar, this launch marks the first new LGBTQ+ club to open on Old Compton Street in over a decade.

From Pop-Up to Five-Storey Legacy

What started as a single Christmas party in Hackney Wick has rapidly evolved into one of London’s most dynamic queer cultural movements. After the historic Soho site sat vacant from October 2025, COVEN founder Matthew Jacobs Morgan stepped in to guide the venue into its next chapter.

Supported by Soho Estates as part of a long-term commitment to preserving LGBTQ+ spaces in the area, the move ensures that 30 Old Compton Street continues its decades-long legacy as a vital meeting point for the queer community.

A Multidisciplinary Hub by Day and Night

COVEN: HEADQUARTERS is designed to be much more than a standard nightclub. The five-storey building functions as a hybrid space to support the community at all hours of the day:

• By Day: The venue operates as a welcoming café, community hub, and artists’ salon.
• By Night: The space transforms into a multi-level entertainment complex featuring live music, club nights, cabaret, film screenings, and educational workshops.

The overarching goal of the venue is to provide a multi-generational space where community support is the core mission rather than just a marketing aesthetic.

A Sanctuary for Creative Expression and Resistance

At a time when LGBTQ+ venues across the United Kingdom face ongoing closures, the establishment of this permanent home serves as a vital act of cultural preservation. COVEN has built a reputation for fostering an inclusive, expansive network of underground collectives, DJs, poets, and performers.

The venue’s future programming will mirror its diverse roots, offering QPOC-led club nights, alternative drag, sober dance events, and multidisciplinary art showcases. Notably, the calendar will also feature accessible events, including specialized raves tailored for D/deaf queer audiences.

Founder Matthew Jacobs Morgan—an accomplished filmmaker and actor who recently appeared in Charli XCX’s The Moment—conceived the project to counteract modern challenges like community isolation. Having visited the building as his very first gay bar, Jacobs Morgan designed the revived space to ensure future generations feel safe, connected, and supported while enjoying a world-class night out in Central London.

Find more from COVEN now:

WEBSITE
https://worldwidecoven.net/

ADDRESS
30 Old Compton Street
London W1D 4UR

INSTAGRAM
@worldwidecoven
@covenhq
@jacobsmorgan_