A Bit About My Locations
Many of the locations in my books are fictionalised.
Garside, in 'Boundaries' for instance, is inspired by Bradford, but also has features of other Yorkshire towns. And Spatown, in A Tale of Two Sisters, is loosely based on Harrogate, again with some fictionalised elements.
But some of my locations are real.
So, on this page, from time to time, I'll be adding some interesting snippets about some of the real life locations in my books.
Click the pictures of First Out, Gateways and Abney Park for more information....
Full info on The Junction and The Woodpecker are under their photos.
While I was trying to get information about these places, I began to realise how little is available on record about them. So, if you have personal recollections or anecdotes about any of the lesbian and gay locations here, please do let me know and I'll try to include them.
After all, these places provided a safe haven for us when we weren't welcome elsewhere.
They're a big part of our social history. They deserve to be remembered.
FIRST OUT CAFE BAR

- 'We got out at Tottenham Court Rd, by the Dominion Theatre. It felt strange to surface into the air - hardly fresh, with all the traffic crawling past, engines throbbing, exhaust fumes I could taste. All those people too, hot, jostling, chattering... chaos really... though I loved central London - always had. I steered Turner past the newspaper stand, past Burtons, under the vast concrete outcrops from Centrepoint - to First Out'
- The Full Legacy
First Out was London's first openly gay cafe bar. It was located in St Giles High Street in the West End.
1986 - 2011
Friendly, relaxed and welcoming.
Served wonderful vegetarian food and coffee.
Very sadly missed
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