The Black Cap
A historic Camden pub and LGBTQ+ cabaret venue associated with drag performance, which closed in 2015 and reopened after refurbishment in March 2026.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Black Cap is a historic pub and entertainment venue in Camden Town, London, best known for its long association with LGBTQ+ nightlife and drag cabaret. Although the venue operated as a pub for much longer, its modern cultural identity was shaped particularly from the winter of 1965–66, when it became predominantly associated with a homosexual clientele. During the later twentieth century it developed a reputation as one of London’s most important drag venues and promoted itself as the “Palladium of drag.” Its upstairs performance space, completed in 1952, provided a compact setting for cabaret, variety acts, music and theatrical events. The site has a much older history. Licensing records indicate that the establishment was known as the Mother Black Cap as early as 1751, a name linked to a local legend about a witch. Census evidence suggests that the shorter name, The Black Cap, came into use between 1839 and 1843. The pub originally stood near the present site of Camden Town Underground station, but had moved to its later location by at least 1781. The earlier site was subsequently used as a parish workhouse. The building at the current location was reconstructed in 1889, and its surviving facade includes a bust of Mother Black Cap at the top. The venue became especially significant as a platform for drag and variety performers. Tony Page served as resident compère from 1969 to 1976, while Frankie Rae and David Thallon formed an important resident duo. Hinge and Bracket began their careers at the pub, and Rex Jameson regularly performed there in his celebrated drag persona Mrs Shufflewick. Jameson’s Sunday lunchtime appearances in the 1970s drew substantial crowds and helped establish the venue as a destination for theatrical variety entertainment. After Jameson’s death in 1983, the upstairs bar was named the Shufflewick Bar in his memory. Paul O’Grady later identified his first performance as Lily Savage at The Black Cap as taking place on 7 October 1978. The Black Cap remained culturally relevant into the twenty-first century. Its later programming included The Meth Lab, a queer cabaret night associated with Meth and the Familyyy Fierce. The event hosted performers connected with RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Bianca Del Rio, Adore Delano, BenDeLaCreme, Raja Gemini and Trixie Mattel. In 2013, the pub also staged a queer interpretation of Macbeth to raise funds for the Terrence Higgins Trust, demonstrating the venue’s role as both an entertainment space and a platform for LGBTQ+ cultural and charitable activity. The pub was owned by Faucet Inn when it closed on 12 April 2015 amid controversial redevelopment proposals. The building subsequently remained vacant and deteriorated, with reports in 2019 noting damage and illegal occupation by squatters. Local campaigners and discussions with Camden authorities eventually helped revive plans for the site. Reports in January 2024 indicated that preliminary steps toward reopening had been taken with the council, and reopening plans were confirmed later that year. Following an extensive refurbishment, The Black Cap reopened on 21 March 2026. Its current significance rests on the combination of historic pub architecture, LGBTQ+ heritage, drag performance and the preservation of a prominent London nightlife institution.
History
The Black Cap’s history reaches back to the eighteenth century. Licensing records identify the pub as the Mother Black Cap as early as 1751, a name associated with a local story about a witch. The original establishment stood near the location now occupied by Camden Town Underground station. By at least 1781 it had moved to the site associated with the later venue, while the former location was converted into a workhouse serving the parish of St Pancras. Census records suggest that the name changed from Mother Black Cap to The Black Cap between 1839 and 1843. The building on the present site was rebuilt in 1889. Its architectural identity included a facade crowned by a bust of Mother Black Cap. The first-floor performance room was completed in 1952, creating the physical setting that later enabled the pub to become a significant cabaret venue. The Black Cap’s best-known period began in the mid-1960s. In the winter of 1965–66, it became predominantly associated with a homosexual clientele, at a time when LGBTQ+ social spaces in London were limited and often subject to legal and social pressure. During the late 1960s and 1970s, the venue developed a strong reputation for drag and variety entertainment. Tony Page was resident compère from 1969 to 1976. Frankie Rae and David Thallon performed as a resident duo, and Hinge and Bracket began their careers at the pub. The performer Rex Jameson appeared in the persona Mrs Shufflewick, a character that became closely identified with the venue. Mrs Shufflewick’s Sunday lunchtime shows attracted large audiences, supported by a small stage featuring a Hammond organ and drums. The room drew entertainers and public figures interested in British variety and drag culture. A performance by Mrs Shufflewick at The Black Cap was recorded in 1972. Paul O’Grady later recalled that he made his debut as Lily Savage at the pub on the afternoon of 7 October 1978. The venue continued to host drag acts during the 1980s, including Reg Bundy’s Regina Fong persona and Lily Savage. After Rex Jameson died in 1983, the upstairs bar was renamed the Shufflewick Bar as a memorial. The building and its cultural reputation also entered popular culture: the pub shown in the 1986 film Withnail & I was called the Mother Black Cap, although that fictional or filmed setting was located on Tavistock Crescent and may have combined the name of The Black Cap with that of another Camden pub, the Mother Red Cap. In the twenty-first century, The Black Cap remained a venue for queer performance. The Meth Lab, a cabaret night associated with Meth and the Familyyy Fierce, presented performers including several artists connected with RuPaul’s Drag Race. In 2013, the pub staged a queer adaptation of Macbeth that raised money for the Terrence Higgins Trust. These events extended the venue’s role beyond conventional nightlife, connecting its historic drag identity with contemporary LGBTQ+ performance and activism. Faucet Inn closed the pub on 12 April 2015 during controversy over redevelopment proposals. The premises then stood unused for years. By 2019, the building was reported to be in poor condition and had been occupied illegally by squatters. Local campaign groups advocated for the site’s preservation and reuse, while discussions with Camden’s local government eventually produced a route toward reopening. In January 2024, reports said that initial steps had been taken jointly with the council. Reopening plans were confirmed later that year, and the pub returned on 21 March 2026 after extensive refurbishment. The reopening restored a venue with an unusually important place in London’s LGBTQ+ and drag-performance history.
- 2026
The Black Cap reopens
[1]The venue reopened on 21 March 2026 following an extensive refurbishment and an eleven-year closure.
- 2024
Reopening preparations advance
[1]Local campaigners and council discussions helped move forward plans to reopen the venue at its historic site.
- 2015
The pub closes
[1]Faucet Inn closed The Black Cap on 12 April amid controversial redevelopment proposals.
- 2013
Queer Macbeth raises funds for the Terrence Higgins Trust
[1]The Black Cap hosted a queer interpretation of Macbeth in support of the Terrence Higgins Trust.
- 1983
The Shufflewick Bar is named in memory of Rex Jameson
[1]Following Jameson’s death, the upstairs bar was renamed the Shufflewick Bar to commemorate his contribution to the venue.
- 1978
Paul O’Grady performs as Lily Savage
[1]Paul O’Grady later identified 7 October 1978 as the date of his debut performance as Lily Savage at the pub.
- 1972
Mrs Shufflewick performance is recorded
[1]A performance by Rex Jameson’s drag persona Mrs Shufflewick at The Black Cap was recorded.
- 1969
Tony Page begins his residency as compère
[1]Tony Page became resident compère, a role he held until 1976, during the pub’s emergence as a major drag-cabaret venue.
- 1965
The venue becomes predominantly associated with a homosexual clientele
[1]During the winter of 1965–66, The Black Cap developed a predominantly homosexual clientele and began its defining period as an LGBTQ+ venue.
- 1952
First-floor performance space is completed
[1]A performance room was completed on the first floor, later becoming central to the pub’s cabaret identity.
Products and positioning
Historic LGBTQ+ pub and drag-cabaret venue
Hospitality
Pub and bar service
The Black Cap’s core commercial function has been as a pub and bar serving patrons in Camden Town. Its drinks service provided the financial and social foundation for the venue’s entertainment programming, while the historic building and upstairs rooms supported its reputation as a destination rather than an ordinary neighborhood pub.
Live entertainment · 1965
Drag cabaret
Drag cabaret became The Black Cap’s defining offering from the late 1960s onward. The venue presented resident compères, drag personas, musical performers and variety acts in its upstairs performance room. Its programming helped make the pub a landmark in London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife and supported performers including Mrs Shufflewick, Lily Savage and later generations of queer cabaret artists.
Queer cabaret night
The Meth Lab
The Meth Lab was a later queer cabaret event associated with Meth and the Familyyy Fierce. It connected The Black Cap’s historic drag tradition with contemporary performance culture and presented artists from the wider international drag circuit, including performers associated with RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Theatrical event · 2013
Queer Macbeth
In 2013, The Black Cap hosted a queer interpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The event demonstrated the venue’s use as a theatrical and cultural space as well as a bar, and raised funds for the Terrence Higgins Trust.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Save and reopen The Black Cap
United Kingdom
Local campaign groups supported the preservation and reuse of The Black Cap after years of vacancy. Their efforts, combined with discussions with Camden’s council, helped establish a pathway toward reopening the historic LGBTQ+ venue.
Outcome. The venue was refurbished and reopened on 21 March 2026.
Brand decisions
2024
Decision to pursue reopeningStrategyBackground
After prolonged vacancy and pressure from local campaign groups, discussions with Camden authorities created an opportunity to restore the site as a venue.
Action taken
Plans were advanced to refurbish and reopen The Black Cap at its historic location.
Aftermath
The pub reopened on 21 March 2026 after extensive refurbishment.
2015
Closure during redevelopment discussionsStrategyBackground
The Black Cap was operating under Faucet Inn when the pub became subject to controversial redevelopment proposals.
Action taken
Faucet Inn closed the venue on 12 April 2015.
Aftermath
The building remained vacant for approximately eleven years, deteriorated and later became the focus of preservation and reopening campaigns.
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