Jonny Woo tells all about his new venue The Glory, opening this week

Work underway to transform the former Paradise Inn into The Glory

Tell us about the venue!
Our new place is called The Glory and is a pub with shows and a secret disco! My boyfriend Colin and myself spent over two years looking for the right place and when we first saw this we knew it was the right one, although not everything aligned for a while. We looked at other places, partnerships changed and then a few months ago we teamed up with Zoe, the manager from Dalston Superstore who was looking to go it alone, and my long term pal and collaborator John Sizzle, who called up out the blue and said, ‘I want in!’ We think it’s a great team!
We want a relaxed but lively drinking vibe in the ground floor pub, and of course there is a stage so I’ll be making shows. Downstairs is a fab dark disco space. Who knows what secret gatherings will happen there? I hope alongside the dancing we’ll be having some great scratch performances – really off the wall. We want it to be our own space but of course all our local friendly venues inspire us. We mainly think that what is lacking is a pub that opens late where you can chat, see a show or dance.

Tell us about the cabaret!
Currently the stage is in the bar. We’ll be bringing back Tranny Talent from the Bistrotheque days, to get everyone excited but also to start the search of new talent. It will be a basic tech set-up but as good as what we had at Bistrotheque – actually better. I want people to be lost in the show. The other main night will be Saturday-night shows, later in the evening, and short acts. I will curate and work with performers, help shape their ideas and take them to the next level. I want this place to be about new stuff.
I have been misty-eyed about Bistrotheque lately and realising what a place for developing material it really was for some great artists. I want that to be what our place is all about. You know that you are going to get shows with an edge which are not just fun but have some kind of commentary too. Also, I will develop longer pieces but this will come with stage two of the refurb happening next year.
Next week I have some very special guests in to celebrate and christen the space: Gateau Chocolat, Bourgeois and Maurice and, back for a few nights only, my dear friend Russella [who now lives in Canada]. I can’t wait. It is ticketed, so book to get seats, although you should be able to get in on the night.

Tell us about the name! Last I heard, The Hackney Carriage was the favourite…
Ha ha! Long story. New partnership. New name. We sadly lost an old friend and gained a new chum, basically. I was pretty hooked on The Hackney Carriage, as was Colin, so compromises were made and after some very funny market research and some silly names, The Glory came about, which we think says ‘celebrate’ and maybe has the potential for more mischievous nicknaming…

Jonny Woo (left) and John Sizzle (right) with their Gay Bingo co-host Ma Butcher (seated)

Tell us about the team! What does each of you bring to the project?
Ok, Colin kicked it all off! It was his idea originally to open a bar with me. How shall we say it… he was looking to invest, I needed a new performance home. Zoe had also begun a search and was ready to do her own thing and a change in our circumstances collided with her change of situation. She will be running our bar. Make no mistake. John is far more organised than I am but will definitely be honing his own performance skills. But we are both quite different and having worked with each other for so long we compliment each other’s styles. Colin also knows a thing or two about throwing parties… ahem… The Shed… and we will all be coming together often to really go to town – often without warning, so be prepared. You’ll see a lot of all of us around the bar in the run up to Christmas and in the new year we launch our signature nights.

Tell us how you did it! It feels like queer and alternative spaces are totally besieged at the moment – with doubts of various kinds over the futures of the Joiner’s Arms, Madame Jojo’s and the RVT – so it’s brilliant you’re creating a new one.
We have big long-term plans and intend to be around a while. We want to be a great queer space which promotes amazing performance. We want to do it our way and on our own terms. It has been struggle but not insurmountable. We are all in the right places personally to make it work and whilst of course four partners are going to find new challenges, we are coming at it with a barrage of ideas, integrity, personality, warmth and excitement. That’s where we are going. We will make mistakes. This isn’t a pre-packed commercial venue. We want to work with the other venues who have all supported us with advice and goodwill. Whatever naysayers may say, east London has a pretty strong queer community.

Tell us when we can go!
Open from the 11th December. There’s ticketed seating for the shows the following week but you can still pop in and have a drink at the bar and enjoy the show. Weekends are free with a new year’s party planned. Just come! Say hi, have a drink and a natter. It’s definitely different to other places, as it should be, but hopefully will feel very familiar.

The Glory opens on Thursday December 11 and its first show – Jonny Woo says ‘Hallelujah!’ – plays on Monday 15 (featuring Gateau Chocolat), Wednesday 17 (featuring Fabulous Russella) and Thursday 18 (featuring Bourgeois & Maurice) plus a XXXmas Carol Singing Special on Friday 19. Shows start at 8.30pm and tickets cost £10.