London has lost more than half of its LGBT+ venues since 2006, new research has found.

In 2006 there were 125 venues in operation around the capital, but in 2017 there are 53, with just one each in Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow.

Kensington and Chelsea lost all four LGBT+ venues between 2006 and 2017, including iconic venue The Queen's Head.

Westminster still has the highest concentration of LGBT+ venues but has lost 16 over the same period despite Soho being an iconic LGBT+ neighbourhood.

The report by University College London (UCL) Urban Laboratory has led Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to re-emphasise his commitment to the protection of LGBT+ venues.

Dr Ben Campkin, director of UCL Urban Laboratory, said: “Over the period of the study, a large number of venues have succumbed to changes of use, development, and the inability of operators and customers to defend themselves against rent increases and unfavourable changes to their terms of lease."

The change in concentration and number of LGBT+ venues over the last decade

The Mayor has ordered his Night Czar, Amy Lamé, to make it an urgent priority and as a mediator between venue owners, and developers and pub companies.

Sadiq Khan also proposed that venues sign up to an LGBT+ Venue charter to protect against moves to target the venues at a broader audience.

The five-point pledge has been endorsed by Stonewall, Pride in London, UK Black Pride, Queer Spaces Network and many venues themselves.

Amy Lamé has already stepped in to save Soho venue Molly Moggs, which will re-open as The Compton Cross later this year and be the first signatory of the pledge.

Points include marketing as an LGBT+ venue with a clearly visible rainbow flag outside and LBGT+ focused programming as well as LGBT+ friendly management and staff.

Somerset House flying the Pride flag ahead of Pride in London

In addition the Mayor has added an annual audit of LGBT+ venues in London to his new Cultural Infrastructure Plan, which looks to incorporate culture into the Mayor's future planning.

Sadiq Khan, said: “I hold LGBT+ venues in very high regard and have made it clear that protecting them is an integral part of my plans to grow London’s night-time economy and culture.

"The importance of LGBT+ venues cannot be overstated in the role they play in helping members of an often vulnerable community to take pride in their identity, and enriching London as a whole.

“These shocking figures show that more than half of the capital’s LGBT+ venues have closed down in the last decade and urgent action needs to be taken.

Pride in London takes place on Saturday July 8

"I want London’s LGBT+ community to feel truly valued, happy and safe in our great city and know how important these spaces are to its wellbeing.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for LGBT+ venues to exist, and as difficult as possible for them to close."

Amy Lamé, said: “I want to say loud and clear – if you own or visit an LGBT+ venue which you believe is in trouble, reach out to me before it’s too late.

"I am also calling on all venue operators, developers, pub companies and others to sign up to the Mayor’s LGBT+ Venue Charter and show that you are committed to keeping our precious venues open and thriving."

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