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Since 2008, Glyn Fussell has established himself as a powerhouse of the UK gay club scene, putting queer culture on the map and changing London’s music festival calendar forever. After co-founding LGBTQ club night Sink The Pink, Glyn launched Mighty Hoopla, one of the UK’s most inclusive pop festivals, a glitter-strewn celebration of alternative culture where new and established pop acts perform alongside cabaret shows and drag performers.
Now a host of the podcast We Can Be Heroes, Glyn shares his favorite spots in London, his adopted hometown. Though he may be an incorrigible party boy, he’s also a lover of London’s green spaces and now the proud owner of a dog.
Glyn Fussell’s Favourite Places in London
The Best Shopping for Labels and Streetwear
Before leaving home, Glyn throws on an outfit from Broadwick Street’s End Clothing, purveyors of flamboyant, luxury and streetwear brands. “I don’t like shopping as an activity,” he says, “I know exactly what I like. I don’t understand when someone chooses to spend their time going shopping. So I go to End because it guarantees that I can get what I need. As a former crossdresser, I want something a little fruity. They stock labels like Versace and JW Anderson – my favourite label of all time – and Marni. They also do more everyday streetwear from labels like Fucking Awesome and Acne Studios.”
Cool Restaurants
For lunch or dinner, Glyn recommends Rita’s in Soho. Located in a Grade-II listed building that has stood on Lexington Street since 1758, the restaurant is a nostalgic throwback to the Bohemian vibe of the Soho he used to love, with its “Vaudevillian sense of danger where every back alley told a story.” Rita’s, he says, is “co-founded by Missy Flynn, an amazing young restaurateur whose vibe, food and cocktails feel like a performance. They do these unbelievable amuse bouches: olives, anchovies, cream cheese and jalapenos all on a little stick. That with a Martini – whoa! It’s really important to support these independent restaurants in Soho. I like to support the underdog, especially when they taste that good.”
In the evening, Glyn likes heading east across town to Bistrotheque, whose industrial, white-washed exposed brick interiors belie a menu of elegant European cuisine. “It’s an old warehouse on a pedestrianised street in Bethnal Green. Upstairs, you’ve got a great modern, French-inspired menu, serving dishes like rabbit schnitzel with mustard sauce. And the cocktails, like the Tootsie Trade (mezcal, apple juice, lemon juice, brown sugar) are off the scale. There’s a drag cabaret in the dinner theatre downstairs, which is so much fun. You could go at 5pm and still be there towards midnight.”
Clubs, Bars, and Live Music
When he wants to stretch the evening even longer, Glyn heads to House of Koko, the new members’ club behind the iconic theatre of the same name. Housed in a 123-year-old, Grade II-listed building, Koko’s has had a major makeover, its vintage-style decor playing homage to its theatrical past. Glyn is excited about its four floors of bars, dining areas, lounges, the breezy rooftop terrace, and speakeasy. “Gig venues are disappearing, especially post-pandemic, so places like Koko form the backbone of Camden’s live music identity. They do club nights, there’s a record store in there and a live music studio – Puff Daddy was there the other week recording, and you could just watch. It’s got a comedy club and roof restaurant. It’s incredible. Really impressive.”
Gorgeous Greenery
Glyn is a more domesticated beast these days, with a stronger appreciation for greenery. His house is filled with plants from Jekyll and Wild, a nursery, garden centre, and self-described ‘jungle oasis’ in Clapham Old Town. “Kevin, the owner, is one of those middle-aged homosexuals of London who were once former ragers [he used to be a dancer at Sink The Pink] but now do things like own plant shops. Kevin won’t only sell you the plants, he’ll visit your house, give it a consultation and tell you, ‘This plant will not thrive here.’ So hopefully I’ll never kill a plant again.”
For a more thorough immersion in the city’s greenery, Glyn goes for strolls in bucolic Hackney Marshes. “It was the first place where I became a grown-up. I got my first proper apartment and a dog, and I stopped partying through the night. The Marshes became this rediscovery for me, this great green space in the middle of Hackney. It’s got a foresty element and a beautiful river. It’s great for people watching. There’s a little strip of the River Lee which the locals call ‘Hackney Beach’, and in the summer they have barbecues (it’s all illegal, but who cares!) and a fun, beach-style party. It’s my happy place.”
The Must-See Market
Just west of Hackney Marshes is Chatsworth Road in Clapton, the last of the authentic high streets where old-school cash ‘n’ carry retailers rub shoulders with French-style outlets like L’Epicerie 56 Deli. “15 years ago it was massively run down – they called it Murder Mile – but it’s managed to keep hold of its local community. There’s a market on Sundays with lots of independent retailers. It’s a small road but it has such a vibe. Millfields Coffee is a breakfast and brunch place that’s really popular with dog walkers. They do this carrot cake brownie that’s exquisite – so dense and gooey.”
