A comprehensive list of all the best venues in York for a queer-friendly night out

Despite its small size and crumbling castle walls (maybe suggesting a bit of ancient tradition), York is a welcoming and inclusive city hosting a vibrant LGBTQIA+ community.

As you take a stroll through York, LGBTQIA+ Pride flags hang in the windows of quaint bookshops and cafes. June in York witnesses the celebration of York Pride, with the annual parade illuminating the paths of the city with a sea of rainbow colours.

If you’re a new LGBTQIA+ student in York, you might feel apprehensive about finding those queer safe spaces in the city where you can really let your hair down, have fun, and be your authentic self without having to worry about being accepted and embraced by those around you. Trust me, I’ve been there, and I’ve felt exactly the same way in the past. However, as a member of the queer community, I am here to assure you that there is plenty of fun and celebrating to be had as a queer person in York, all year round.

This Freshers’ Week, you may be planning a fun night out with your flatmates or friends if you identify as a member of the queer community, and if you’re searching for the perfect venue to venture to for your queer-friendly night out, look no further. Here is a compiled list of hidden queer gems nestled within York’s cobblestone streets, and the best queer-friendly on-campus bars and events if you prefer your nights out just a stone’s throw away from your accommodation.

Flares

Flares has been described among students as the ‘unofficial official’ gay nightclub of York

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The epitome of queer nightlife in York, Flares is the place to be if you’re an LGBTQIA+ clubber. The colourful and quirky nightclub, which often hosts themed club nights exclusively for the students of York, offers neon dance floors, quirky music to sing your heart out to, and plenty of booze, beverages and soft drinks to gear you up for those nights of boogieing.

Various Yorkshire-based drag queens have also hosted special events at Flares, including the iconic drag queens Lois Carmen Denominator, Gayle Force, Sue Pertrouper and Koko Popperz. Local drag act, The Family Shambles, regularly host events at both Flares and Yates, which I’ll mention later on in this article…

Quizzes & film nights with the LGBTQIA+ Social

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The LGBTQIA+ Social is a student society at York dedicated to organising queer-friendly events at the uni. These events often include LGBTQIA+ themed film nights and fun quizzes which is the perfect way to wrap up weeks of seminars and studying.

Getting a group of friends together to watch a queer film and munch on popcorn is a great way to de-stress and recharge from the busy and bustling weeks of uni. Alternatively, if quizzes are more your thing, visit the LGBTQIA+ Social’s social media to find out when and where you can show off all of your fabulous knowledge in front of your friends.

Nights out with the LGBTQIA+ Network

The LGBTQIA+ Network are a student liberation group at the uni, dedicated to advocating for equality for everyone who is a member of York’s diverse student body, and events that they hold include queer-friendly nights out. These social events are a great way to meet other LGBTQIA+ people, make friends, catch up over a glass (or two) of your favourite alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink, and dance the night away under disco lights.

There are also identity-specific events organised by the network that cater to so many different LGBTQIA+ identities, no matter who you are or who you love. Whether you identify as gay, lesbian, bi, pan, trans, non-binary, ace or aro, there’s a network for you to join, providing you with a safe space to meet like-minded people, and, of course, to have fun!

The Glasshouse

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Located in the middle of Langwith College on Campus East, the Glasshouse regularly hosts a variety of LGBTQIA+ themed and queer-friendly events, such as drag and disco nights in collaboration with the Uni of York Drag Society. Previously, the Glasshouse has also played host to SwiftSoc’s You Need to Calm Down night, in collaboration with the LGBTQIA+ Social, during which a prize raffle was held to raise money for the LGBTQIA+ charity Stonewall. Local drag queen Lois Carmen Denominator has also performed at the Glasshouse.

However, the fun doesn’t stop there. In addition to their queer-themed events, there are also opportunities to sing karaoke with your squad every Friday night after long weeks of lectures and assignments – if you’re brave enough to take centre-stage!

So don your best rainbow-coloured outfit and head down to the Glasshouse for a night of LGBTQIA+ Pride!

Drag nights at Yates (or Flares) with The Family Shambles

The Family Shambles are a group of local drag queens championing pride and queer expression in and around Yorkshire. On selected evenings, Yates and Flares play host to extravagant drag shows celebrating expressions of LGBTQIA+ Pride. Why not join in with the fun and fabulousness of the shows by heading to Yates or Flares?

As you can see, there are plenty of venues hosting queer-friendly events in York. If you’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, please be reassured that these venues are safe spaces in which you are welcome (and encouraged) to celebrate your queer identity with those who love and accept you for who you are. York is an inclusive and diverse city that is welcoming to all, regardless of your sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity, so don’t be afraid to don all of your Pride accessories and head out on the town for a night of music, dancing, drinks, and, most importantly, having fun!

So get out there, let your hair down, be your authentic self, and always be proud of who you are.