on the scene
from October 2007

They said it would never work - but the proof’s in the pudding. And what a pudding!

The Viaduct in Leeds, despite being right in the heart of the city’s gay village, always stood out as a strange little island of straightness, popular with footie supporters and the like. So when it was added to Terry George and Michael Rothwell’s business empire, people wondered if they hadn’t gone completely mad.

But they needn’t have worried: slowly but surely, The Viaduct has been well and truly queered. Thanks to the work of manager Hayley Healey and the arrival of local drag legend Anna Glypta, The Viaduct’s one of the most popular gay pubs in the city. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming, and, perhaps surprisingly, the inside has been left pretty much alone, giving it real character. The presence of a courtyard area has won it popularity with smokers, and the all-week-round entertainment (see the advert on the front cover of this issue for full details) keeps the customers coming back for more! If you’ve not had a pint or two in there, you don’t know what you’ve been missing!