Gay London Life | Dec '23 & Jan '24 Issues - Magazine - Page 49
What’s in the Vault?
Photo: Nicolas Chinardet
Gay London Life shines a light on London’s longest-running cruise bar
A Week at Vault 139
When’s the best time to pay a visit? You decide…
Monday: CRUISE 1pm-7pm
NKD 7pm-1am
Cruising is one of the oldest artforms around. As long as there have been
Tuesday: CRUISE 1pm-1am
slightly hidden spaces, men have been giving one another suggestive glances
All day free for students and Blue Light cardholders
and a whole lot more once they’re reciprocated.
Often this ancient dance happens outside, but there’s a big drawback
Wednesday: CRUISE 1pm-7pm
here — what happens if it’s raining? What happens if it’s cold? Or to put it
UNDERWEAR 7pm-1am
another way, what happens if you live in the UK?
All day free for those aged 25 and under
Well, the answer is you can head to a cruise club, just like Vault 139. This
venue has been welcoming in punters for more than 15 years now and most of
Thursday: CRUISE 1pm-7pm
them leave with a huge grin etched across their faces.
NKD 7pm-1am
For all those who’ve never been, let us paint a picture. Once you’ve found
the inconspicuous doorway on its peaceful side-street, you head down the
Friday: CRUISE 1pm-1am
stairs, pay your entry and enter the Vault. Depending on time and day, you
might be required to strip down to your underwear or even your birthday suit.
Once you’re appropriately dressed, you’re free to explore. The bar sits in
Saturday: CRUISE 1pm-7pm
ALL or NOTHING 7pm-1am
the middle of the space and is a good place to get settled in. However, if you
want to get straight into the heat of the action, you only have to disappear into
Sunday: UNDERWEAR 1pm-7pm
the low-lit corridors and corners populated by other curious guys. And you
ALL or NOTHING 7pm-1am
can use your imagination to picture what the rest of a visit looks like.
All day free for those aged 25 and under
Occasionally, there are special events, too. On New Year’s Eve
for example, there’s a neon party to celebrate the end of 2023 — the
CRUISE = Fully dressed
dress code is all or nothing, so anything from full fluorescent jumpsuit to
UNDERWEAR = Boxers, speedos, jockstraps, y-fronts,
completely starkers is A-OK.
g-strings etc
NKD = Strictly Naked
Vault 139, 139-143 Whitfield Street, W1T 5EN
Nearest Station: Warren Street, vault139.com
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All or Nothing = Any of the dress codes listed above