Halfway To Heaven

Before traveling to London, I perused a list of gay bars in central London. So I recognized the name after leaving a concert at St. Martin in the Field. I slipped in for a drink and ended up staying a couple of hours. Upstairs, small groups were huddled in conversation around tables. It didn’t look like a typical gay crowd and I wondered if some guests may have stopped by for a drink after the theatre not realizing it was a gay bar. Which speaks to the welcoming atmosphere of Halfway to Heaven.
I grabbed a pint and headed downstairs, which was noisy with music and had more of a party atmosphere. There was a small stage, a small dance floor and an absolutely terrific dj keeping a mixed crowd entertained until the drag show started. Evidently the regular performer was absent and we were waiting for a substitute to arrive. And when they did, they were fabulous, singing in their own voice and engaging in some bitchy banter with the crowd.
It was all great fun and I’d definitely return.

Seedy. That’s ok.
V mixed clientele. That’s ok.
Door staff. NOT OK.
Dodgy overweight black guy with severe chip on his shoulder and dreadful attitude refused entry to one of our party as he was «too drunk» & «stumbling» around outside. Which is very Odd. Considering he doesn’t drink. Or do drugs.
Manageress couldn’t care less when we confronted the situation.
Then. To add insult to injury. Said door man lets through a bunch of straight Essex girls and black men. Cliché religious gay hating mummy’s black man? Maybe???
Hmmmmmmmm. Go figure.
First and last time at this dive.
Avoid if I were you. Plenty of better bars in the area.

Halfway to Heaven is an acquired taste.
A bit seedy. Bar staff are friendly. Fabulous location. Usual London bar prices. Old school drag across various nights of the week, often with live singing.
My favourite pastime is cradling a pint while I watch tourists (often families) stumble in thinking they are about to have an authentic ‘olde timey’ pub experience in London. You can literally see the thought process play out across their faces.
This looks like a pub. Why are there only men in here? I haven’t heard that Diana Ross megamix in forever! Why is that old man kissing that young guy so passionately? Oh!
Then they leave and I order another pint with a wry smile on my lips.

I’ve been here twice.
From entering it’s just like any old man’s pub. Couple of leery, beer stained gentleman. Grand, we all know where we stand.
But come on in on a Weds night and (well when I was there) there was a musical drag act. It was magical. There was even a guest appearance from the actress who played Rafiki in the Lion King along the road at the time. It was packed and there was a great vibe.
Standard bar fare altogether.

I had first been to Halfway to Heaven a long time back. I still remember this lonely bar located just off the Strand because frankly its difficult to forget a place that serves you vodka with coke for under £2.
However the experience was different last night. The drinks were still inexpensive but the behaviour of the staff wasn’t exemplary. Most bars in central London closes by 12 … all of us know that. But to force people out by shoving plastic glasses in front of them and forcing them to pour their drinks onto them (so that they could take them and be gone) was not classy at all. I don’t understand why they needed to behave like jerks … why shout when a polite request can work with most people?

Hearing about this little place, I stopped in after a show to grab a drink with my date. I was a bit dissapointed that it just seemed to be a regular pub. Nothing stood out to me at all.
There is a downstairs area, which is a bit more cozy, and the prices aren’t bad. Closes at 11 like every other pub and looks like every other pub. I might go back if I walk by it but otherwise, would visit something a little more unique if I’m all the way in Trafalgar/​Leicster square to begin with.

Nice, but tiny, gay pub. Usually packed after work with business-​suited gentlemen, and the space taken by the pool table doesn’t help. It’s a friendly enough place for anyone to hang out and have a pint, though, and a convenient place to meet people, being just steps from Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross station.

Not my style, but friends of mine are regular visitors, especially Disco Dave the legend!
There is another club called heaven which is located next to Charing cross station (underneath the arches), perhaps it is the same place?
I went there once with my GIRLFRIEND and it was quite an enjoyable night. I told her that she can only go out without me if she is going there lol!

Located in the shadow of St Martin’s-in-the-Fields church, just off Trafalgar Square, the Halfway is a traditional pub with a predominantly gay clientele. The name is a play on its location between the main gay area in Soho, and the famous ‘Heaven’ nightclub under Charing Cross station.
The pub serves a choice of real ales, and limited bar snacks. On the ground floor there’s a pool table, and limited seating, with another, quieter, area with more seating downstairs. They hold regular quiz nights, and the staff are generally friendly and efficient.
The clientele consists mostly of gay men and their friends, generally in the 30’s-50’s age range. The gents’ toilets downstairs have a reputation as being a bit cruisy during the day, although I’ve not found this to be the case. Good for a pint on the way to or from the nearby Charing Cross station.