Down a flight of stairs at 17 John Street, in the middle of Glasgow’s Merchant City, is a low-ceilinged basement that queer women in this city will recommend to you within about ninety seconds of meeting you. Katie’s Bar has been open since 2013, runs live entertainment seven nights a week, and at a point when queer venues across the UK are closing at pace, it has become something closer to a fixture than a night out.
The Bar Edit is where we step inside the lesbian bars and queer-friendly venues worth knowing about, city by city, and tell you what they actually feel like.
We wanted to know why it keeps coming up. So we went and asked.
What is Katie’s Bar?
Katie’s is an LGBTQ+ venue in Glasgow’s Merchant City, founded by Susan and Diane in 2013 and open every day of the week. It’s open to everyone regardless of gender or sexuality, and it has a particularly loyal following among queer women and lesbians, who describe it as a space that feels like theirs on an ordinary Tuesday, not just on a designated night once a month.
Dedicated lesbian venues have all but disappeared from British cities, and what’s left are the queer bars that have made room. Katie’s has been doing that for thirteen years.
“When Diane and I opened Katie’s Glasgow in 2013, our goal was to create more than just a night out,” co-founder Susan told Nonchalant. “We wanted to build a space where LGBT people in Glasgow, and beyond, could feel safe, visible, and celebrated.
“Community has always been at the heart of what we do. We know how important it is to have places where people can connect, express themselves freely, and feel a sense of belonging. Over the years, the venue has become a home for so many friendships, performances, conversations, and memories, and that’s what continues to motivate us every day.”
What it’s like inside
Push through the door at the bottom of the stairs and you’re into sparkly curtains, rainbow flags, exposed brick and warm yellow light. No airs, no graces. The drinks are reasonable. By night the room fills up to the point where you’ve made friends with everyone within a one-metre radius whether they wanted that or not.
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The stage is in near-constant use. Drag shows, live singers, DJs, tribute acts, karaoke and themed nights run every day of the week, with familiar faces from the Glasgow drag circuit in regular rotation.
Who goes
There’s a deliberate mix. Students walking into a queer space for the first time share the room with people who have been part of the Katie’s family for decades, and the venue is clear that the generational spread is a large part of its character rather than an accident of location.
Daytime is the quieter version of the place: coffee, a game of pool, a catch-up. As the evening comes in, the volume climbs and the entertainment takes over.
What’s on
The weekly programme is built for different crowds on different nights. Monday bingo and Tuesday trivia are the sit-down end of things. Fireball Fridays and Live Saturdays are for going out properly. Tribute Sundays start at 4pm and wind the week down, or up, depending on your commitment.
In their words
“While the scene has changed massively over the years, spaces like Katie’s still matter because they provide somewhere people can truly be themselves, feel safe, celebrated and connected,” a spokesperson for the venue said.
“What makes Katie’s special is that it doesn’t try to be exclusive or intimidating. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, which we think has helped people feel comfortable coming back year after year.
“As a venue, our mission has always been to create a space where people can relax, switch off and enjoy themselves for a few hours, laugh loudly, sing badly, celebrate who they are and make memories. Queer venues are more than just bars, they’re community hubs, safe spaces and places where friendships and support networks are built and grow.”
The details:
Address: 17 John St, Glasgow, G1 1HP
Nearest stations: Glasgow Queen Street & Argyle Street Station, a five-minute walk
Website: katiesbar.co.uk
Instagram: @katiesbarglasgow__
See you there,
Nonchalant x
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Molly is a full-time journalist based in London covering legal and business, alongside culture, music, arts, and tech.
