Fund the new community-led lesbian & FLINTA bar in South London

There’s a particular kind of energy you can feel when a space is built and funded by the people who actually need it. Across London, FLINTA-led nightlife has proven its demand – and now, La Monocle is building that momentum in South London. The FLINTA-led event company is working toward creating a permanent, community-focused space, answering a need that still goes largely unmet.

Founded in November 2024 by Zoe R. Murphy, La Monocle began as a response to something London still struggles with: consistent, accessible spaces for lesbian and FLINTA communities that don’t disappear as quickly as they arrive.

“I started La Monocle in November 2024 to build the space I couldn’t find, and to make sure it stayed standing.” – Founder, Zoe R. Murphy

What followed wasn’t a soft launch or a trial run. It was a deliberate choice to build something slowly, publicly, and with accountability.

La Monocle is a South London lesbian and FLINTA bar project that has grown through affordable pop-ups rather than private backing. Working-class owned from the start, the team chose to prioritise access over speed – keeping doors open in the present while planning carefully for the future.

Related article: The Ultimate Guide To Lesbian Nightlife, Bars & Hotspots In London

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Their first event, held at the Peckham Pelican in March, saw over 350 FLINTA people arrive within two hours of opening. Since then, residencies in Elephant and Castle have repeatedly sold out 150-capacity venues, showing sustained demand for a dedicated lesbian and FLINTA space in South London.

“Each pop-up is not a rehearsal, but a living piece of the future we are already building.”

Why London Needs More Lesbian Bars That Are Built to Last

La Monocle’s next chapter is the push toward a permanent, community-led lesbian and FLINTA bar in South London – ideally with a beer garden, on a street where people can move through the night unhurried and unafraid.

“The permanent bar is not about scaling up. It is about staying open, staying affordable, and staying accountable to the people who built it.”

Accessibility, safety, and fair pay are non-negotiable in how La Monocle operates – from staffing and pricing to programming and who gets to feel at home in the room. The vision extends beyond nightlife, too, with plans for workshops, conversations, and collaborations that give the community somewhere to gather outside of party hours.

The People Behind La Monocle

La Monocle is founded by Zoe R. Murphy, alongside Aimee – social media manager, partner, and a vital part of turning the project from a DIY idea into a sustainable, values-led business.

They’re supported by a wider team including Sam, Ella, Nina, photographer Emily Henman, and many friends and community members who have helped build La Monocle. The project’s growth has been collective.

Where did the name La Monocle come from?

There’s a smidge of history behind the name La Monocle. It harks back – not by accident – to a real lesbian bar in 1920s Paris called Le Monocle, one of the earliest and most talked-about lesbian nightclubs of its era. Opened in the Montparnasse district by Lucienne “Lulu” de Montparnasse, the venue ran through the 1920s and into the early 1940s, offering a rare space where women could gather, dance, and be visibly themselves.

The name itself was a quiet signal. In 1920s–30s Paris, some lesbians wore monocles as a coded marker of identity – a subtle way of recognising each other in public at a time when openness wasn’t always safe. La Monocle borrows that lineage: a nod to queer history, coded visibility, and the idea that sometimes the smallest signals can build the strongest sense of belonging.

How to Support the New Lesbian Bar in South London

Later in 2026, the team plans to launch a rewards-based public funding system, allowing supporters to donate or invest and receive rewards in return. A wider activation is planned around the same time to mark the moment.

For those looking to support in the meantime, donations are open via Ko-Fi or directly in person at La Monocle events. Every contribution helps keep the project community-led – and keeps its future accountable to the people who believe in it.

“All donations are greatly appreciated, and show the unlimited kindness and community that lives here in South London.”

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Nonchalant Magazine

This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.