Admiral Duncan

The Admiral Duncan stands in Old Compton Street, a narrow lane in Soho that has long been the heart of London’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Built in the 19th century, the pub is one of the oldest in the area and carries the name of Admiral Adam Duncan, who won a great naval battle in 1797. Its front room is lined with photographs of drag queens and local personalities who have made the pub their stage. The walls also hold a memorial chandelier and a plaque for the three people killed in the 1999 bombing. Rainbow flags once flew outside, though the council briefly tried to remove them. The pub became a gay pub during the 1980s, though it had always welcomed all kinds of drinkers. In April 1999 a neo-Nazi bomber left a sports bag in the bar, and at 6:37 pm it exploded, killing three and injuring 83. The manager who opened the bag was among the badly hurt. A candlelit vigil was held the next day in Manchester, and a large meeting took place in Soho Square. The police set up a crime scene van staffed by openly gay officers to gather statements. The bomber was caught within hours and later sentenced to life imprisonment. Inside, the bar still shows the scars of the blast on its walls and floors. A memorial plaque lists the names of the dead and the injured, and the chandelier hangs above the main room. The pub’s regulars include drag performers who hold cabaret nights, and the walls are covered with signed photographs of local stars. Outside, the street is busy with people heading to theatres, clubs and restaurants. The Admiral Duncan remains a place where people gather to remember and to celebrate.