Compton's of Soho: what to order and when to go
A Victorian-style gay pub on Old Compton Street with two floors, a balcony and a history that stretches back to 1890.
By Only Soho Editorial
Compton's of Soho sits at 51 to 53 Old Compton Street, in the middle of Soho's gay village. It is a large, Victorian-style pub, and it has been one of Soho's original gay pubs since June 1986. Come for a pint, a window onto the street and a building with more past than most.
What it is
Two bars, one pub. The ground floor is horseshoe-shaped and draws a varied crowd, with plenty of visitors among the regulars. Upstairs is a lounge, and a staircase leads to a balcony for watching Old Compton Street go by. Visit London describes the wood-panelled interior and says the programme includes DJ nights, cabaret and live sport on screens. The Gay Passport says to expect a more mature crowd than the trendier end of Soho.
A little history
The building dates from 1890, when it went up as the Swiss Hotel, designed by W. A. Williams and Hopton. According to Wikipedia, the design was shown at the Royal Academy that year. The site was the Grapes until at least 1851 and the Swiss Tavern by 1856. In 1972, as the Swiss Tavern, it hosted the Playroom Theatre Club, a lunchtime fringe company, according to A London Inheritance.
In the 1950s it was known as “not entirely straight”, and Wikipedia reports that Dylan Thomas left the manuscript of Under Milk Wood here in 1953, later recovered by his BBC producer. It was renovated and renamed Comptons of Soho in June 1986. For its 20th anniversary in 2006, QX Magazine called it “The Grand Dame of Queer Street”, as recorded by the LGBT History Project.
What to order
Start with the beer. CAMRA lists two cask ale handpumps alongside craft beers and lagers, so a pint at the horseshoe bar is the straightforward order. The pub's own site carries a drinks menu with seasonal cocktails, and offers have included three for two on Polari pints, though promotions come and go, so ask at the bar. Take whatever you pour up to the balcony and claim a spot at the rail.
Food is less certain. One listing mentions a traditional pub menu, but the pub's own site shows drinks only, so treat it as a place for a drink.
When to go
Opening hours, from the pub's site and CAMRA:
- Monday to Thursday: noon to half eleven
- Friday and Saturday: noon to midnight
- Sunday: noon to half ten
For a seat and a quiet pint with a view, go at opening or in the afternoon. Friday and Saturday evenings are likely to be the busiest, and the crowd tends to spill onto the pavement. It is a Friday as this is published, so the doors open at noon and stay open until midnight.
Booking and prices
The pub's website has a booking button, and DesignMyNight offers online booking, but nothing suggests you need one for a drink. Walking in is the norm. The pub's site also lists a MiXR Rewards app. We have no current price list to give you; a recent Tripadvisor reviewer called prices good. The phone number is 020 7096 5470. The nearest station named by The Gay Passport is Leicester Square.
For after: Admiral Duncan
Directly across the road at 54 Old Compton Street, the blue-fronted Admiral Duncan is another of Soho's best-known gay pubs. Visit London describes cabaret, karaoke and drag performances every night, and the pub's own site promises live entertainment seven days a week and cocktails. Order a cocktail and take a spot facing the stage. It opens at noon on Friday and Saturday and closes at midnight. The pub was bombed in 1999, and it remains a place of remembrance as well as a place for a night out.
Details are on the pub's own page at admiral-duncan.co.uk. For more on Compton's, see the pub's opening times and the LGBT History Project entry.
