We live in a time of drag! Drag cabaret, drag karaoke, drag pole dancing, even drag aerobics classes, are popping up across London. But nothing can compete with classic drag brunches.
With the timeless format of bottomless drinks, endless pastries, sizzling bacon and the hottest drag superstars in the city, London’s drag brunches have been breeding like rabbits, with new shows and venues being launched every month! Entertainment enthusiast Mark T Cox gives us his pick of some of the best drag brunches in town.
Strictly Come Drag Queen
When & where: Every Saturday, The Breakfast Club, Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf, a thriving, shining, glistening centre for business, commerce and wealth is also home to one of London’s best-loved drag brunches; truly, opulence in all its glory. Every Saturday at The Breakfast Club, tuck in to two hours of unlimited prosecco, bucks fizz and draft beer (and food of course) while professional, seasoned queens give shocking performances, lip syncs and ridiculous routines, hosted by beloved queen ‘That’s Drag’. Jump in and get involved in Strictly Come Drag Queen’s spin off game show where you can live out your drag fantasy live on stage. Sounds terrifying? It's the weekend, who cares? ... and the bubbles will help.
Drag Brunch
When & where: Every Saturday & Sunday, Dalston Superstore, Dalston
Hop on the Overground (the ginger line) to the East London neighbourhood of Dalston to see how the hippest Londoners live. Overloaded with vintage shops, trendy cafes, markets, and a major centre for LGBTQ+ bars, clubs, cafes and happenings, Dalston Superstore sits right bang in the middle of this diverse district. For 10 years this space has squeezed in alternative club nights, live performances, art exhibitions and even secondhand drag costume sales. Every Saturday & Sunday, pop in for the famous drag brunch. Super fun, chilled and welcoming, this brunch has a local, warm, friendly feel. With alternating hosts and themes each week, this brunch likes to switch it up, but you can guarantee good food and coffee, served with a side of lip sync, arts and crafts, live music and maybe even an impromptu conga line.
Drag Brunches with Dolly Trolley
When & where: Third Saturday of each month, The Fence, Farringdon
What could possibly be more fun than a drag brunch? How about a drag AND burlesque brunch? Dolly Trolley is an international cabaret sensation with an incredible blend of drag and burlesque. While you nibble on tasty food and sip your bottomless booze (prosecco or Aperol Spritz), Dolly and her guest stars bring you high energy, high camp, high-kicking performances. If the weather is nice, they’ll even perform the show outside in the garden so you can soak up the sun. This is fun, silly, feel-good stuff – expect cowboy hats, lots of sequins, endless costume changes and occasional bum tassels. Not nipple tassels, bum tassels. If the brunch leaves you in the mood for more burlesque, we’ve got a guide for that.
Drag Royalty Brunch
When & where: Monthly, venues across London
We’ve all seen our share of drag queens, but what about the rest of the royal family? Drag Royalty Brunch brings you London’s first and only fabulous, fun bottomless brunch for fans of drag kings, hyper queens and other under-represented drag acts. The art of drag is much, much wider and more varied than you might think. Leave everything you think you know about drag at the door and enter the exciting world of drag royalty. Before the show, get glittered up at the complementary biodegradable glitter station, with all donations going to LGBTQI+ homeless charity The Outside Project; helping vulnerable people from the community find safe housing.
Vinegar’s Filthy Brunch
When & where: Monthly, The Prince of Wales, Brixton
Pop down south to Brixton, where Vinegar Strokes, star of the West End hit musical ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ hosts a very special brunch with fabulous food, tasty cocktails on arrival, first class cabaret entertainment, audience games, guest performers as well as live music. Phew, she’s not on the West End for nothing! A treat for the ears, eyes and tastebuds, let a glamorous Vinegar serenade you with a ballad while you tuck in to your avocado toast.
Comedy Drag Bottomless Brunch Gameshow
When & where: Every Saturday, Beach Blanket Babylon, Shoreditch
Infamous Ginger Phlappage brings a new, revamped, relaunched, reworked comedy drag brunch, right to the heart of trendy Shoreditch. With a massive cast of drag stars from across the London scene, this brunch is perfect for that boozy weekend birthday party, hen party, retirement party, funeral party, whatever! Gather a gang and head down for a fun afternoon of games like ‘Wheel of Certain Misfortune’, performances and two hours of bottomless prosecco and espresso martinis.
