Everyone loves a night out, but sometimes it’s nice to hang out somewhere that isn't a club at 1am. Whether you’re catching up with friends over a coffee or looking for a queer-friendly space to work; here are 10 of the UK and Ireland's LGBTQ+ coffee shops and cafés you should visit if you ever get the chance:
Sugar Daddy's
Worcester, England
Sugar Daddy's is Worcester’s LGBTQ+ café. Opened in 2022 by business partners Andre and Sam, the café is a hub for Worcester's LGBTQ+ community offering events, social meets and support groups as well as delicious coffee and sweet treats.
The Cafe is wheelchair accessable.
Open: Wed-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4
Location:
Trinity Passage,
Worcester,
WR1 2PQ
Flamingos Coffee House
Leeds, England
Situated in Central Arcade in Leeds City Centre, Flamingos is Leeds' premier queer-friendly Coffee House, providing a friendly, safe space for all, 7 days a week. They're one of the UK's only queer sober spaces and put on events throughout the week.
Open: Mon-Fri 10-5.30, Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5
Location:
10 Central Arcade
Leeds
LS1 6DX
Rainbow Tea Rooms
Chester, England
The Rainbow Tea Rooms is a café and community space that offers a safe space for everyone, regardless of gender, race and sexual orientation, focuses on the LGBTQ+ community, offering them an extra safe space to eat, drink and meet up. It was created by Chester Pride and generates income for the charity throughout the year.
Open: Mon-Fri 9:30-5, Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5
Location:
28 Bridge Street
Chester
CH1 1NQ, UK
Flirt Café
Bournemouth, England
Whether you're just popping in for a quick coffee, or you spend the day working and making the most of the WiFi, Flirt are a super friendly family-run café that host regular events throughout the week in Bournemouth.
Open: Sun-Tues 9am-6pm, Wed-Thurs 9am-10pm
Location:
21 The Triangle
Bournemouth
BH2 5RG
Kafe Kweer
Edinburgh, Scotland
Kafé Kweer is an award-winning sober queer space based in Edinburgh. They're a cafe that serves some truly excellent food and they host monthly art exhibitions sourcing work from local artists.
Open: Every Day 8:30am-5pm (7pm on Thursdays)
Location:
5 St. Peter’s Buildings
Edinburgh
EH3 9PG
Over The Rainbow Café
York, England
Formally Lunar Café, Over The Rainbow Café is located upstairs above The Portal Bookshop, with a downstairs table available for anyone who struggles with steps. The queer cafe serves hot and cold drinks, including shakes, and savoury and sweet food options - including their legendary flag cakes modelled after different LGBTQ+ flags!
Although the café is up a flight of stairs, Portal is equipped with a ramp for wheeled access and all efforts will be made to accommodate any other accessibility needs.
Open: Every Day 11am-5.30pm
Location:
5 Patrick Pool
York
YO1 8BB
Outhouse Café
Dublin, Ireland
When you purchase a drink or treat from the Outhouse Café, you are helping to provide life-saving services to the queer community in Dublin. That's why we strive to serve you the best coffee, made by the best baristas, at the best coffee shop in town. LGBTQ+ artists often exhibit their work on the walls of the Café.
Open: Mon 1pm-8.30pm, Tues-Fri 10am-8.30pm & Sat 12pm- 6pm
Location:
105 Capel Street
Rotunda
Dublin 1
D01 R290
Social Refuge
Manchester, England
Queer Lit recently moved to their new location on Great Ancoats St and have expanded their LGBTQ+ bookshop to include Social Refuge - a bar, cafe and queer co-working space. It's a truly beautiful space with some excellent coffee. You can also book the venue for private events.
Open: Mon-Wed 9am-6pm & Thurs-Sun 9am-11pm
Location:
27 Great Ancoats St
Ancoats
Manchester
M4 5AJ
The Queer Emporium
Cardiff, Wales
The Queer Emporium a queer community space, events space and shop based in Cardiff - stocking over 20 local LGBT+ businesses. They offer refreshments that are locally sourced, plant-based and made by LGBTQ+ folks.
Access to The Queer Emporium can be via our shop front entrance, which includes a step or via our side entrance, which is level with the ground. There is also a disabled toilet on site.
Open: Fri-Tues 11am-6pm & Wed-Thurs 11am-9pm
Location:
2 Royal Arcade
Cardiff
CF10 1AE
Kweek Kream
London, England
Kween Kream were recently offered a space as a museum café at the Vagina Museum (you know we had to add them to this list). They offer overtly sexual slices of sweet stuff and treats of all things fanny related - along with beautifully decorated grab and go biscuits and other edible souvenirs.
Open: Wed-Sun 10am-5.30pm
Location: The Vagina Museum
275 -276 Poyser St
London
E2 9RF
The Queery
Brighton, England
The Queery is a volunteer-run co-operative based in Brighton. The space encompasses a queer radical bookshop, a vegan pay-as-you-feel café and a sober community space for the use of the local queer community.
You can volunteer at the query
Open: Wed-Sun 12pm-6pm
Location: 46 George St
Kemptown
Brighton
BN2 1RJ
An honourable mention to some of the UK's queer coffee shops and cafés that have closed in recent years:
First Out Café Bar - London
די ראָזעווע פּאַווע - Pink Peacock - Glasgow
Café Bistro - Fleetwood
Sol Café - Birmingham
The Pod Café - Edinburgh
Lunar Café - York
Have we missed your favourite queer coffee shop off our list? Ping us a message on twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk and we'll add it to our blog so more people can find it ✌
