A duo of die-hard south Londoners is opening a new lesbian and sapphic pub in Camberwell this autumn, promising drinks by queer-owned brands, supper clubs, rotating kitchen residencies, a pool room and an eclectic array of women’s sport on the screens.
Dorothy’s is taking over the former St George’s Tavern at 14 Coleman Road, on the corner of Rainbow Street in Camberwell, where couple and founders Molly McCabe and Beth White are hoping to open in early October following a four- to six-week refurbishment.
“I think south London’s really lacking in queer spaces at the moment.” McCabe tells Broadsheet. “There are some really great ones such as the Old Nun’s Head, but not many sapphic-specific places. The main ones you have to travel for ages to get to, and I’m lazy. I don’t want to travel. I think there are a lot of people like me, who don’t want to travel an hour across London to get somewhere.”
White agrees. “There’s only like two or three spaces that are actually dedicated to the sapphic community.” There’s also another very practical motivation, she continues – “we couldn’t find anywhere, really, to go and watch the women’s Arsenal matches.”
Finding a home for Dorothy’s happened relatively quickly. “It’s on Rainbow Street, so we thought it’d be rude not to take up that opportunity,” McCabe says. “We want it to be a safe and welcoming space for everyone within the sapphic community,” White says. “But we don’t want to exclude anyone from the LGBTQ+ community, or allies and neighbours.”
During the day, they picture Dorothy’s being a relaxed neighbourhood gathering space. “Somewhere that people with their families, maybe new parents, can come and meet up with other people who’ve recently had kids within the community – other LGBT parents,” McCabe says. Come the evening, they plan for it to be “a bit more fun, a bit more lively”.
A major part of Dorothy’s ethos will be “championing brands, producers, talent from the lesbian, sapphic community and really give them a platform to showcase their products and their skills,” says White.
“We’re not going for big-batch brand names that people would always recognise, but they’re really high-quality products that we’re hoping everybody will really like, at a price point that’s affordable,” she continues. “It’s been a bit of a journey, meeting all of these amazing smaller, family-run businesses, but they’ve all got a story to tell that we really want to give a platform to.”
Behind the bar, one of the producers already lined up is Closet Brewing, a small Scottish brewery run by a lesbian couple in Scotland, plus natural wines from queer winemakers Chateau Baby Girl. The Dorothy's house lager will come from a carbon-neutral, wind-powered, family-owned brewery in Shropshire.
For every purchase of the house wine and lager, the pair intends to make a charitable donation. “We know that there is a need for support within our community, especially at the moment with the changes that have happened around particularly trans rights,” White says.
There’ll also be a cocktail menu, and dedicated Negroni and Martini menus showcasing Brighton Gin and Vodka, as well as an “amazing” plantain-infused rum by London brand Kromanti.
On the menu? “We’re looking at doing a mixture of kitchen residencies and supper clubs,” White says. “We’re hoping to have pizza or something a couple of days in the week, as well as a supper club.”
The main pub will feature round pendant lights, neutral tones and as much second-hand furniture as possible. “We’re not going down the sort of more brash gay, like, ‘Here’s loads of rainbows’ and all that sort of stuff,” says White. “That’s not really the vibe we’re going for.”
It won’t be entirely restrained, though. A corridor leading towards the garden and toilets will be colour-drenched in what the McCabe calls “Dorothy’s blue”. The bathrooms will be bold, too. “We’re both huge fans of a leopard print ... we want to incorporate [it] into the bathrooms” she continues. “The main space will be quite calm and pared back, and then suddenly you have an assault on all your senses walking down the corridor.” The garden will return to natural plants and calmer colours, while another outbuilding is earmarked for a pool table.
Despite the founders’ Arsenal allegiances, the pair promises it won’t become an exclusively Gunners pub. “I think it’ll be quite unfair in south London to be strictly an Arsenal pub,” says McCabe, “even though I feel like most women’s football supporters are Arsenal fans.” Instead, they want Dorothy’s to become somewhere Londoners can reliably find women’s sport on show. “We want to basically champion women’s sports,” she continues. “Unless it’s the World Cup or the Euros, it’s so hard to find any pub that’s screening them.”
The pair initially launched a £20,000 crowdfunder to help get the pub off the ground, which they surpassed before they’re due to get access to the site this week. “It’s particularly exciting and heartwarming because we don’t actually have the keys,” says McCabe. “It’s not even open yet and people are already buying into it. It’s so lovely that people believe in our dream and want it as well. It proves to us that there is a need and want for it in the area.”
The crowdfunder has since been extended to a £35,000 stretch target, with the additional money intended in large part to improve accessibility in the old pub. “We want to kit it out with an accessible toilet because we want to make it a space for everyone, not just people who can physically get in,” White says.
At the time of publication, McCabe and White’s Crowdfunder has raised £22,654 from pledges, which include rewards including wine, beer, cocktail and merch vouchers, as well as the opportunity to become “A Friend of Dorothy”.
If the refurbishment goes to plan, the duo hopes to have Dorothy’s pouring its first pints in early October.
Dorothy’s is aiming to open in early October at 14 Coleman Road, Camberwell, SE5 7TG.
