What we’re about
We are a safe, friendly, social environment for bisexual, biromantic, pansexual/romantic, polysexual, queer, fluid or other non-monosexual people (aka. m-spec, bi+). Bi-curious / questioning people and supportive partners, friends, allies also welcome: but please learn & understand (at least) the basics - don't ask the same biphobic questions we get outside this safer space or make equivalent assumptions of anyone here.
Come make bi+ friends, hang out, chat, have fun; see, learn and take part in some bi / LGBT+ culture, history, and activism; and feel part of a community in a (usually) free-to-attend, casual informal environment.
🟣 What do we do?
* Events
Most are social informal chatty hangouts on weekday evenings. We've always had monthly pub drinks evening in Soho on the same fourth Thursday (18+ age limit). Online events replace in-person when necessary (via Zoom/our Discord) without the age limit; the link is set as the location (sometimes in the event description).
Turnout is strong - reliably 40 or more for the in-person monthly bar socials pre-pandemic, usually 10-30ish for most other official meets, online socials tend to be smaller.
Others include clubbing nights, or regular cultural events (usually run by others but listed here for us to go to as a group) - e.g. cabaret/comedy/plays. In summer, picnics and walks, and we want to get back to the occasional dinner out too.
Several regular events are shared here from other London bi groups/organisers, e.g. Bi Underground, Bi Coffee, Opening Doors' Bi the Way meets, and (less-regular) the BiCHE dance club night & CaBiRet.
Members can suggest events too (but we'll remove+ban spammers of irrelevant commercial events; ask first) - either you can run them or an organiser may help if they have time/motivation. We prefer you've previously attended our own events, so we both know what to expect.
We also publicise, attend, and run groups / sessions at the largest local/national bi events and Prides like BiCon, Pride in London, London BiFest, Croydon and other local Prides (10 of them in 2019 including London, Croydon, Para Pride, Black Pride and Trans Pride).
We now have a Discord server under the group's name for text chat/updates between events (the Discord invite link is in your introduction email when you join, sometimes in event descriptions, or ask the organisers).
* Merch!
We support bi creators through our/their merch in our online shop.
🟣 Join in / Support Us!
Join and RSVP to try us out!
Besides our meetups, we invite you to follow and engage with our social network accounts for other discussions and what the organiser gets up to outside the group, plus wider community things (if you partake)!
See links page (bottom of): https://campsite.bio/londonbi
* Shop
Consider buying bi+/trans/pride/intersecting-identity supporting products (merch) or donating at our shop: https://londonbisexualsmeetup.sumup.link/
Organiser John produces the high quality, well-loved bi & trans pride full-size umbrellas ☂ (limited stock, no bi ones for now); via shop (above).
* Donations
Organiser John covers Meetup/other service fees out-of-pocket (can afford to); but appreciates help for extra costs (e.g. pride stalls often need insurance, travel/material/equipment/volunteer costs) – donate via cash/card at our pub socials/some other events, via ko-fi online; or even PayPal directly, by request.
🟣 Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility
People of all abilities, religions, sexualities, ethnicities and genders welcome as long as you respect other members, their identities, and appearance. Some regular events require ability to use stairs and will have background music/noise.
🟣 Rules
• Keep your main profile picture for this group 'family-friendly' or you will be removed or (for repeated/unfixed offences) banned; we are not a swingers or nudists group. You get one warning ever (by private message), ~ 1 week to fix it (and offers of help if needed).
• Don't be a dick! ie. Respect others, especially their privacy, at all times. e.g. get permission for photos, & what you'll do with them; don't "out" anyone without permission; try to assume good intent – you don't know what (else) is going on in people's lives. Disabilities & mental health struggles are not always visible/obvious.
• Abuse at events or via Meetup messages/actions will not be tolerated (organisers may need to be notified, they cannot see your private messages). Infractions will lead to the perpetrator's removal from the event+group, possibly a ban; reports presumed honest until evidence otherwise. Trivial first instances (level decided by target of abuse or representative if available) may be warned instead. Meetup also has ways to block/report users in messages or via profiles.
🟣 Final Notes & Conventions
80% of getting anything out of being a member is about showing up and taking part, so turn up to a few events (or offer to run one - anything social, the main organiser John/others may offer help). You're sure to have fun! No need to be nervous about anything sexual, as its a regular social group; report and block anyone who is behaving inappropriately.
* Commercial event to advertise? - talk to the organiser first. Spam not tolerated - we block & remove it a.s.a.p.
* Show/researcher/casting agent wanting people? We have a Discord channel for that, or discuss with the organiser / post to our FB page.
* Member stars! Some members have 1-2 star(s) '★' under their name (in their title), they celebrate our best contributing and reliable members (who've run great events/are an activist here or externally); or a black mark '∎' hints of a failure to respect the group - e.g. not turning up for a limited-space ticketed event without letting us know or apologies, and shouldn't be relied on as much. Black marked members will not have guaranteed space at any limited-ticket event until they redeem themselves (getting the mark removed) by showing up enough, and would not be trusted to run events.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- BiCamp - weekend camp in Staffordshire (by BiCamp CIC) £Kinver Scout Camp, Kinver
BiCamp is a bi+ weekend takeover of a camping site, and it returns this year for the 7th time at the end of May. Connection, community and communing with nature at Kinver Scout Camp in Staffordshire, run by bisexuals for bisexual+ people and their loved ones.
Its run by volunteers in a gorgeous woodland site with 23 acres to roam in - basic camping facilities and some (limited) indoor accommodation. There is a code of conduct and they require participants without lived experience of racism to do anti-racism training and everyone to engage with their sessions on consent. Covid-protective policies are in place, please test before travelling and be vaccinated where possible / masks are supported for indoor use and choosing outdoors for socialising is encouraged (it is camping, after all!).
Activities may include archery, abseiling, ziplining, nature exploration, boardgames, drama games, pampering, nature walks, karaoke, poetry, and specific sessions for people of multiple marginalisations, e.g. for bis of colour, those new to the community, trans bis, the asexual spectrum, disabled bis. Just like at most BiCons, they host a ball on Saturday night. Children are welcome (with parents/guardians), but they aren't specifically catered for in the entertainment.
This year's theme is birds.
🟣 Tickets:
Regular rate £160 for the whole weekend (their break-even cost is £130/person), but several concession rates apply for low-income/other marginalised groups (e.g. £25 for children) - remember this is semi-catered so this includes some meals. Fly over to the ticketing outsavvy page and see their website for more details (link below) on catering, accomodation, and other activities (also note the training).🟣 More Info:
Website: bicamp.org.uk
Facebook: bicampuk - Ambi Nights (bi nightclub) £Cocktail Akademia, Bromley, London
Ambi Nights is back in Cocktail Akademia after it's launch in May (with Danny Beard), with a new special guest, DJ Kaspa, and guest DJs.
Billed as "a safe space for bi/pan/trans+/queer people", I counted at least 70 people later on (was busiest after midnight) at their launch night. The front desk staff/bouncer checks were thorough and did their best to check people understood what the club was and expected behaviour on entrance for anyone who's attitude suggested otherwise. I found it by and large a friendly crowd - there are photos on the tickets page and their instagram.
Cocktail Akademia is the only queer space in Bromley (SE London). Tickets in advance (see below) or on the door. The resident DJ Kaspa (and others on rotation) will keep ithe beat dropping, with music styles listed as House, RnB, Afrobeats, Reggaeton, Dancehall and more.
For an idea of prices: tickets are £10, their website drinks/cocktail menu prices soft drinks mostly at £2.50, cocktails from £12.60 to £16.90 (slightly cheaper for low-alcohol versions), mocktails like a virgin mojito for £8.90, beers £4.50-6.50 and wine by the glass (~£7.50-10.90) or bottle, with most shots at £6.
🟣 Accessibility/Rooms and Spaces:
The nightclub core space is a basement, accessible via stairs (only), for up to 175 people. There is also a cocktail bar on the second floor, open from 5pm until 1am or 4am depending how busy it gets - so can be used to relax and unwind. They also have a Lobby where guests can sit down to talk / relax.They reached out to this group to introduce themselves for May's launch event as an independent venue "that looks after our guests needs" and mentioned they would love to build more access but are limited by being a listed building. There are bi people among the main organisers and the headline DJ for the night is lesbian but I don't know more than that.
The bar has a happy hour 5-8pm before the clubnight (buy-one-get-same-one-free on cocktails, check for details).
There is a smoking area on the first floor as a covered and heated garden, it’s not massive but holds 15/20 guests. People can also use the alleyway next to the front entrance for that if necessary.
🟣 Tickets:
£10, available here on their site (RSVPing via Meetup doesn't count for anything except spotting who else from the group might be there).🟣 More Info:
Further details: ambi-nights.com (also see flyer posted as event photo)
Venue website: cocktailakademia.com and event page (email:info@cocktailakademia.com) - Bi Coffee [other group]Caffè Nero, London
Hot Bi Beverages! The Bi Coffee group (a separate group) meets at 3–6.30pm on the first Saturday of every month. The old Leon venue is permanently closed, so the group now meets in a Caffè Nero near Tottenham Court Road/Shaftesbury Avenue.
The venue: Caffè Nero, the Central Saint Giles one; at the bottom (south end) of Earnshaw Street, at the corner with Shaftesbury Avenue (a big junction); round the corner from Tottenham Court Road Station.
Address: 1a St. Giles High St, London WC2H 8AGVicki is running Bi Coffee each month, come and go as you please. Find us by looking for our little purple unicorn and sign.
Respect each other. Newcomers and quiet people are most welcome. There are regulars from outside our group (but in the general London bi community) so even if there's no-one else listed from here you'll be in a friendly and safe group.But do please note this is a separate group from our meetup group and for most reliable updates check out the facebook page. Its run enthusiastically by upstanding bi community member(s) and heartily recommended if more relaxed and quiet hanging out in a café is more your thing.
🟣 Accessibility:
The cafe is ground floor and claims disabled toilet and access, baby changing facilities, wifi, and air conditioning (only one toilet though, which can occasionally mean a longer queue for that than for service).The cafe is opposite Tottenham Court Road bus stop S (busses 14, 176). It is on the junction so taxis will need to stop outside it.
🟣 More Info:
Facebook group: facebook.com/bicoffeelondon/
Old Bi Coffee website (ignore the outdated location,map): bi.tocotox.org/bicoffeelondon/
Venue: website / tel:02072407412.
![Bi Coffee [other group] cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/b/1/5/event_497867893.webp "Bi Coffee [other group]")
