THE legendary G-A-Y venue has been put up for sale with its owner warning Soho has lost its reputation as “the LGBT capital” along with its “queer identity”.

Owner Jeremy Joseph, who lives upstairs from one of the club brand’s bars in Old Compton Street, said he was facing a constant uphill battle against a strict licensing regime, the police, and The Soho Society.

The Soho Society has hit back saying crime and disorder and public nuisance linked to late-night venues was harming quality of life for residents, adding that the collapse of the gay scene was connected to soaring rents and overdevelopment.

In a post on Instagram, Mr Joseph said: “My goal would be for G-A-Y to remain an LGBT venue and will consider franchise options. But my gut is that in the current climate it won’t. When you look down the street, you see restaurants, cafes, takeaways – but the street that was the LGBT capital is no more.”

Mr Joseph said the decision to sell followed irreparable “financial and mental damage” from a battle to reopen another of his G-A-Y club venues, Heaven. That club in Charing Cross Road was recently shut down following an alleged rape by a security guard, but has now reopened.

He said he did consider applying for an extension to G-A-Y’s late licence in Old Compton Street, but added: “What’s the point when I know Soho Society will object, policing licensing will object, environmental health officers will object.

“It’s a constant uphill battle and another fight in the face of a cost of living crisis that has negatively impacted nearly all of the hospitality sector.

“It doesn’t feel like anyone with power cares… Old Compton Street has lost its queer identity.”

G-A-Y is a long-run­ning nightclub brand based in Heaven and also in a sister gay bar in Old Compton Street.

It operated from The Astoria in Soho in the 1990s and noughties.

The Soho Society said it was sad to learn about the potential closure of the venue given the area’s “long association with LGBTQ venues”.

Responding to the criticism, it said “respectfully, we do not agree”, adding: “Soho is both less gay and more dangerous than it has ever been but it’s nothing to do with The Soho Society whose volunteers have fought for 50 years to protect its culture and heritage. We are keen to engage in a debate that is based on the facts that would help us retain Soho’s special connection with LGBTQ visitors and residents.

“In December 2023 the council completed its own in-depth analysis of crime and nuisance in the West End Cumulative Impact Zone (where G A Y is located) which found that, given the severity and amount of crime linked to late night alcohol uses it would be wrong for it to grant any alcohol licences or extend existing ones.”

Soho has 40 premises licensed to 3am and the licensed capacity between 1am and 6am, it said.

“We might add that the more likely cause of the loss of gay venues in London is increased rents and intense property development in London.”

The society said that big money landlords were driving up rents in Old Compton Street that were set around £410,000 a year for less than 5,000 square feet.