Open until late with no door entry, the staff are a friendly bunch and the funky bar attracts such a variety of people, you’ll soon be making friends with your fellow Escape goers.

Where Is It?
Set in the heart of Soho down Brewer Street, just a short stroll away from the rest of the gay village and Tottenham Court Road/Leicester Square tube stations.

Address: 10a Brewer Street, Soho, London, W1F 0SE, 0207 734 2626

Has it Entered The Multimedia Age?
Sadly, no it hasn’t, and the information I came across on the internet is very dated and limited, which is a shame as not enough people know about this cool venue. I stumbled across a few websites which claim www.kudosgroup.com is the official website for Escape, but upon closer inspection, it’s only a website for the Kazbar and Kudos bars.

What Can People Expect?
This is one of the best places in Soho where people can get together, have a boogie with up and coming DJs and watch old and new music videos. Crowds tend to swarm in here after hitting the bars and pubs as you can easily have a dance and mingle with the crowds, and it’s also a very chilled out place to come at lunchtime to enjoy a pint or two. If you like to dance and check out new tunes, get your dancing shoes on and waltz on down to Escape!

What About the Deco?
Very, very funky. Like a lot of upcoming places in Soho, it could easily be mistaken for a straight bar by the simple deco on the outside. It’s the sort of place you’ve probably walked past a thousand times and when someone asks if you know where it is, you have trouble remembering. But don’t let this put you off, Escape is decorated very tastefully inside and it’s well worth a visit. With tables, chairs and bar stools around the outside and on the outskirts of the bar, the middle floor is used as a dance-floor, and boy does it get used!

What Are the Punters Like?
The Edge happily welcomes any drinkers regardless of age, gender, sex and sexual orientation. But like most venues in Soho, Escape tends to mainly attract the blokes and fag hags! You’ll be made very welcome if you’re a newbie, boy or gal, and fancy venturing out somewhere on your tod as the crowds have always been very open and easy-going. With the DJs whipping out their new tunes and video screens showing all of the popular music videos, you’ll never be lost for conversation.

The crowds are as friendly (and fit!) as the bar-staff - which is quite a change for Soho’s scene - and the atmosphere is always relaxed and fun. If you’re a bloke and you fancy a night out on the pull, you’ll be spoilt for choice at Escape.

What Should I Wear?
Camp it up or straight it down, wear whatever takes your fancy but don’t be too scruffy in case you don’t get in. The door staff do tend eye you up as you go in along with checking your bags.

What About the Booze?
Escape sells wines, spirits, bottled and on tap beers, alcopops and soft drinks, all quite expensive, which isn’t a surprise for this popular location. Unfortunately Escape doesn’t host any special evenings or regular happy hours, so make sure you take a trip down there to find out about any new promotions.

Anything else I Should Know?
Escape is very small, and this seems to be a big complaint with its drinkers. As it’s only got one floor to accommodate everyone, it can get very hot and sweaty on a Friday or Saturday night, which could be appealing to some. If not, make sure you get there early to secure a dancing/drinking spot.

Escape
10a Brewer Street, Soho, London, W1F 0SU. 0207 734 2626; Monday-Saturday: 3pm-3am; Sunday: Noon-10.30pm.


Want more? Then get Time Ou'ts excellent Gay and Lesbian London guide. Buy it online and save some money to put towards Perils and Pleasures in the Sexual Metropolis and A Gay History of Britain: Love and Sex Between Men Since the Middle Ages.