New Lesbian Pub Dorothy's to Open in Camberwell, South London

A new LGBTQ+ venue focused on the lesbian and sapphic community is set to open in Camberwell, south-east London, after co-founders Molly McCabe and Beth White successfully launched a fundraising campaign to take over the former St George's Tavern, located on the corner of Rainbow Street behind Burgess Park. The pub, named Dorothy's, was announced publicly on 16 October 2026. McCabe and White have described it as warm, welcoming and joyful in character, with a drinks list drawn entirely from queer-owned brands and a food offering sourced from queer chefs and kitchens. The programme will include live music, cabaret and drag shows on a regular basis. The venue joins a very small number of LGBTQ+ spaces in south London and comes at a time when London's lesbian-specific pub and club scene has shrunk considerably over the past decade. The name Dorothy's is a nod to the 'friend of Dorothy' phrase long used as a discreet signal within the queer community. The address on Rainbow Street was noted by organisers as a fitting coincidence. A community fundraise was used to help secure the takeover of the site. The opening is expected to provide an important social and cultural anchor for the sapphic community across south and south-east London.