PROUD to be Kentish: Kent’s LGBTQ+-Run Businesses Thrive
Kent has long been a county of contrasts – coastline and countryside, cathedral cities and creative quarters, ancient history and modern innovation – but the county is also home to a growing network of LGBTQ+-owned and LGBTQ+-run businesses that are further shaping its social and cultural life, building greater confidence within the community as they thrive. In recognition of LGBTQ+ History Month (1 – 28 February), this feature celebrates the standout places where inclusivity is built into the way spaces are designed, nights are programmed and people are welcomed.
From intimate cabaret basements to sunlit seafront bars, these venues show how Kent’s queer-run businesses are creating spaces that are warm, expressive and community-led – places to meet friends, discover new artists, dance into the night or simply feel at ease.
The Alley Bar (Screaming Alley), Ramsgate
Tucked beneath Salt House Ramsgate, an inclusive barbershop on Ramsgate High Street, The Alley Bar is deliberately discreet. A hidden basement venue with low ceilings, close seating and a sense of anticipation as you descend the stairs, it draws on underground club and cabaret traditions where the proximity between performer and audience is part of the experience.
Run by Screaming Alley, a Ramsgate-based cabaret production company, the space exists to support independent artists working across live performance. Cabaret open mics, performance parties and larger-scale productions sit alongside workshops and mentoring programmes, all designed to give artists space to develop new ideas and reach wider audiences. Their partnership with Salt House has made it possible to maintain a visible presence on the high street while keeping the performance space intentionally intimate.
Creative Director Lara Clifton describes the ethos clearly: “At Screaming Alley, supporting the LGBTQIA+ community means doing the work: programming nights that prioritise LGBTQIA+ performers and DJs, paying artists properly and building a space where queer artists can test new work, take risks and grow audiences without having to explain or dilute who they are.” The result is a venue that feels focused, generous and alive with creativity.
The Twelve Taps, Whitstable
In Whitstable, The Twelve Taps is a familiar and much-loved fixture; a relaxed, welcoming pub that works just as well for an afternoon pint as it does for an evening out. Opened in March 2016, it has been owned and run by Becca and Libby since day one and is proudly an LGBTQ-owned and LGBTQ-run business as well as a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and allies.
From the outset, Becca and Libby’s aim was to create a pub that felt open and inclusive, particularly to women and queer customers. “When we set up The Twelve Taps nearly 10 years ago, one of our main aims was to create a space that was as inclusive as possible to women and the LGBTQ+ community because drinking culture has often been both male and straight dominated,” they say. “It is very important to us to be visible queer business owners, to offer a safe space for the queer community and to have a zero-tolerance policy on homophobia and transphobia, especially at this time when hostility towards LGBTQ+ people is sadly on the rise again.”
With its great range of beers, relaxed colourful interiors and loyal local crowd, The Twelve Taps shows how inclusivity and good hospitality can go hand in hand.
La!, Margate
Opened in December 2024, gay-owned, gay-managed La! brings a sense of theatre to Margate’s LGBTQIA+ nightlife. Bold, colourful and self-described as ‘out and proud’, it positions itself as a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, with a strong emphasis on performance, cabaret and late-night fun and frolics.
Inside, the atmosphere is playful and expressive, with neon-lit interiors designed to match the show-led programme. Cabaret sits comfortably alongside club nights and food here, creating a venue that works well across the entire evening – from early drinks to full-on nights out – and crowd is mixed and sociable, drawn together by the promise of entertainment as much as the welcoming mood.
La! adds a confident, celebratory note to Kent’s queer nightlife, offering a space where visibility is embraced and enjoyment comes first.
CAMP, Margate
CAMP describes itself as a queer bar and community space, and that dual identity is central to its appeal. Owned and run by a team of five, it has quickly become a place where Margate’s LGBTQ+ community gathers not just to drink, but to connect.
The space is informal and welcoming, designed to encourage conversation as much as celebration – regular events, DJ nights and collaborations sit alongside quieter evenings, giving CAMP an upbeat energy that reflects the breadth of its audience. Its success also solidifies that it’s somewhere people come back to, whether to meet friends, support events or simply spend time in a space that feels comfortable and familiar, which speaks volumes.
In a town known for its creative energy, CAMP plays a key role in making queer culture visible as part of everyday social life.
The Coterie, Folkestone
Self-described as queer and inclusive, The Coterie offers a softer, daytime-to-evening take on queer-inclusive hospitality, combining café-bar energy with a garden setting that encourages lingering, whether that’s over coffee, wine or a casual catch-up with friends.
The stylish interiors are relaxed and calming, and the atmosphere attracts a broad mix of customers from locals dropping in during the day, creatives working remotely and evening visitors looking for a welcoming place to meet. Events and gatherings are thoughtfully programmed, reinforcing the sense that this is a space built around connection rather than crowds.
For Folkestone’s LGBTQ+ community – and for visitors who they welcome with open arms (and some great homemade pastries!), The Coterie provides a place that feels gently social and genuinely inclusive.
The Ship Inn, Rochester
A long-established presence in North Kent (the oldest gay/ gay friendly pub in the county no less), The Ship Inn describes itself as one of the county’s premier gay venues and has built its reputation on lively nights and a consistently welcoming atmosphere. Entertainment is central here, with drag, disco and themed evenings drawing a loyal and varied crowd.
Reviews regularly highlight the friendliness of the space and the ease with which newcomers are welcomed. For many, The Ship is a regular meeting place – somewhere to celebrate, socialise and feel part of a wider community, and its longevity speaks volumes, offering a reminder of the importance of sustained LGBTQ+ spaces beyond the coast.
Margate Beach Club, Margate
With its seafront setting and cool day-to-night feel, Margate Beach Club combines hospitality and nightlife in a way that feels distinctly suited to the town’s artsy crowd. Proudly describing itself as a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community and widely recognised as gay-owned, it offers cocktails, cabaret and a strong sense of occasion.
By day, it’s a place to sit back and take in the view; by night, the mood shifts with performances and events that draw both locals and visitors as the energy rises and the . The balance between ease and entertainment is part of its appeal, making it as popular for a casual visit as it is for a celebratory night out.
Together, these businesses highlight the range and richness of Kent’s LGBTQ+-owned and LGBTQ+-run spaces. During LGBTQ+ History Month, they offer a reminder that history is also made in the present – in venues where people gather, create, celebrate and feel welcome. Proud to be Kentish, indeed.
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