Gay London Calls: Jodie Harsh's Guide to the British Capital

Presented by Las Vegas

Name: Jodie Harsh
Age: 23
Profession: DJ, club promoter, TV personality
City: London
Relationship Status: Single
Sexual Orientation: Gay

What are some of the things you love most about London?

Like New York, London has a huge diversity of village-like pockets spread across the city, each with its own personality. I love the abundance of creativity, the melting pot of cultures and tastes, the random nights out, the chance meetings, the glorious royal parks, the bagel shop on Brick Lane, the hang-over cooked breakfasts at Balans ...

What are some of your least favorite things about London?

It's a massive place, and if you're travelling from one borough to another at night, taxis can be quite expensive. We have an amazing public transport system, but that's sadly not really an option for me. Can you imagine if I had to run for the bus in these heels?

What are some great restaurants for a night out with gay friends in London?

The essential place for any discerning homosexual to check out while staying in London is Balans on Old Compton Street in Soho, the original gay-borhood. They do a great burger, the waiters are cute and it's packed anytime you visit. It's open 24-hours so it's great for a post-club breakfast, and I hear they sneakily serve liquor in coffee cups after-hours. Allegedly.

What are some great restaurants for a romantic gay date in London? What about these restaurants appeals to you?

Hakkasan is fabulous -- dimly lit and sexy. They do a great lychee martini and their food is divine. It's very Samantha Jones. The Rivington in Shoreditch serves mouth-watering oysters and steaks. I just don't date enough people to get to eat in these places as often as I'd like.

What are your favorite gay bars and/or dance clubs in London? What do you like about them?

Anything I spin music at, clearly! There are three main gay neighborhoods in London town: Soho, which is mainly bars, coffee shops and cute boutiques, not dissimilar to West Hollywood or Chelsea, NYC. The Shadow Lounge reigns supreme here -- a luxe basement cocktail bar and dance club where the boys are cute and the daddies are rich! The alternative gay will much prefer East London's Shoreditch and Hoxton area -- plenty of hipster hangouts like Trailer Trash, The George and Dragon and The Joiners Arms. Jeans are skinny and the beer is cheap in this 'hood. Finally, there are larger dance clubs south of the River Thames in Vauxhall, popular with gym bunnies, bears and those who like their music housey and their highs chemical.

What are your favorite gay parties or events in London, if any? What is the crowd or scene like at those places?

There's a massive gay pride in London every summer with a parade and multitudinous after parties around the city. But then, I guess every major city has a Pride. It's always a fantastic atmosphere and I've met some great friends on the marches. If you visit the UK in the summer, there are hundreds of festivals around the country with huge artists headlining and dance tents. Camping at these weekend-long parties is half the fun! Glastonbury and Lovebox usually have a tent called Downlow which is packed with trannies and cabaret performers and everyone who enters has to wear a fake moustache.

What is the gay community like in London? Do you consider yourself to be part of any particular "scene"?

It is so diverse, partly because the city is so colossal. There is a scene for everyone here, whether you're into chavs, drag, cabaret, indie music, or getting urinated on. I am into none of the above, by the way. I find the gays in London to be quite cliquey; people tend to stick to their own scenes. The lesbian scene is small but perfectly formed, but lady-lovers tend to hate me. I think it's the gender insecurity thing.

Are you involved with any LGBT community organizations in London? Which ones? What do you like about those groups?

I'm not really. I'm such a bad gay. I do give money to the Terrance Higgins Trust which is a fantastic LGBT charity. One day I'll open a drag school, would that count?

What do you think of the annual LGBT pride celebration in London? Do you usually attend? What are the highlights for you? What do you like least about it?

When it doesn't rain on our parade it's high camp and loads of silly fun with a serious underlying message. I used to walk in the parade but I can't take the blisters anymore, so I tend to find a float to sit on nowadays.

Do you have a particular fashion style? Where do you shop for clothes?

I'm certainly a quirky dresser. I like the boutique Kokon to Zai in Soho for colorful oddities, Unconditional Plus in Covent Garden for smarter attire and the Hoxton Boutique near Old Street for jewelry. Selfridges and Harrods are essential destinations for retail addicts but I tend to find huge department stores a bit daunting. Prowler in Soho is good for gay stuff -- clothes, books, poppers and porn! And Topman on Oxford Circus is the biggest and best place for the latest in affordable fashions that look hot on the dance floor.

Where do you go for other forms of entertainment -- live theater, concerts, movies, art exhibits? Are there any local gay performance groups, bands, or artists that you're a fan of?

Bistroteque is a fantastic venue in Bethnal Green which is both a restaurant and a cabaret lounge, mainly utilized by offbeat gay artists. "The Texas Chainsaw Mascara" is one of the alternative queer performances I attended there recently. There are countless cinemas across the capital but, let's face it, if you're only visiting the city for a few days you don't want to be sat in a dark room facing a screen for long. The Tate Modern tends to put on a fantastic array of exhibitions and the White Cube gallery on Hoxton Square is the ultimate place to check out what's going on in the young Brit art scene.

If you had gay friends visiting from out of town for the first time, what are some "musts" that you'd recommend they see or do?

Experience the usual tourist attractions such as the London Eye and the London Dungeon as they are top notch and also quite fun, but try to get off the beaten track as well. Visit the very gay-friendly town of Brighton -- it's only an hour outside of London by train.

Photos: Jodie Harsh and Getty Images

For more information on Jodie Harsh and her merchandise please see: www.jodieharsh.com.