, one of London's leading gay clubs, is being forced to close

One of London's biggest gay nightclubs is facing closure.

XXL, which has been open for 19 years and is the only LGBT venue left in Southwark, is under threat from Native Land, the developers of an £1.3bn apartment, hotel and office development. The club has been given three months to close.

Mark Ames, co-founder of XXL told The Guardian: “Yet again, London is about to lose something that is unique to its character – the idea of open arms. This is a reflection on our society. There is no room for difference; everything has to be sterilised and the same. This is being done by people who don’t care about London’s community. All they care about is turning a buck.”

DJ Fat Tony also told the publication: “London can’t afford to lose another big gay venue. The gay scene has been so crippled over the last few years. We [still] need gay clubs because the world we live in is not going forwards, it is going backwards. In some areas of London people still can’t walk down the street together.”

The riverside development due to be built above the club’s railway arches and the surrounding land will comprise of 489 apartments, a hotel, offices, shops and towers up to 34 storeys tall. The club’s arches are set to be made into independent shops and undecided cultural uses, according to Native Land.

James McNeil, co-runner of the club, and Mark Ames had proposed an LGBTQ cultural venue in the development but the plan was turned down, leading them to question whether the nationality of investors had affected decision making, given that attitudes towards homosexuality in Malaysia and Singapore (where the two main investors are based) are vastly different from those in the UK – with gay sex being illegal in both nations.

Fat Tony has said that the club “wouldn’t go down without a fight”, but unless the planning permission for the redevelopment of the club is overturned, or the developers offer another solution, the last “bear” club in London will be closing its doors for the last time in three months.