The WayOut Club

The WayOut Club is a nightclub venue in Minories, London. Formed in 1993,[1] it is one of London's best known transgender venues and was the first to hold a regular Saturday night event.

The WayOut Club
IndustryNightclub
Founded1993 (1993)
London, England, U.K.
Key people
Vicky Lee and Steffan Whitfield/DJ)
Websitewww.thewayoutclub.com/

The WayOut Club was founded in 1993 by Vicky Lee and Steffan Whitfield.[2] In 2008 the club won an online people's vote award from transgender charity Sparkle for "Best Transgender Nightclub".

The club moved from venue to venue around London seven times before settling at Charlie's in Crosswall (off Minories)[3] in the City of London in 1998, where it remained for 15 years. In June 2012 Charlie's had to close and the club moved using two venues on the same block; 33 Minories and 2 Crutched Friars.[4] The reason for using two venues was due to availability of Saturday dates at short notice. After Abbey gave up its Saturday late licence Lee took the club to Gilt in Crutched Friars. This venue changed management and again the club moved, this time to two venues The Minories[5] and Mary Janes both in Minories. The club is now settled at The Minories for the foreseeable future.[6]

The WayOut Club's performances were led by female impersonator Steffan Whitfield, until his death from cancer in 2005.[7] His stage partner and co-founder of the club, trans woman Vicky Lee, took over his duties.

The WayOut Club has been a breeding ground for transgender and drag talent. The club has held talent searches and offers a guest spot before the booked show to anyone who has a talent to share. Many of those that have taken up this offer have gone on to perform regularly at WayOut and other venues.

References
  1. Lewis, John Lucas, Photos: Jake (2015-04-28). "Partying at WayOut, One of the UK's Oldest Trans Clubs". Vice. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  2. http://www.timeout.com/film/features/show-feature/2917/%5B%5D
  3. "Inside Way Out Club: London's finest transvestite bar". Time Out London. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  4. Team, Q. X. "WAYOUT CLUB". QX Magazine. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  5. "London's best LGBTQ+ clubs and nights". Evening Standard. 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  6. "London's best LGBTQ+ clubs and nights". Evening Standard. 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  7. "The Way Out Spices: bringing that extra little something to girl power | The Independent". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-11-27.


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