For 27 years, revellers looking to dance the night away to ska, dancehall and funk were drawn in droves to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern every Saturday night.
There they would find Duckie, a pioneering LGBTQ+ club night set up in 1995 featuring distinctive sounds, a free buffet and cups of tea in an inclusive environment. The nights were set up by veteran queer club runners, featuring DJ sets and stage performances.
After a change of management, Duckie moved down the road to The Eagle in a partnership which was to be short-lived. In 2022, organisers hung up their dancing shoes for the last time and Vauxhall fell quiet.
But former regulars missing the good old days need not fret. Duckie bosses have now confirmed the much-loved events will be returning this year, with the first taking place on 7 March.
Die-hard attendees can expect to relive much of what they enjoyed during the bygone RVT days. The free buffet will still be there, as will the tea and a “cheap bar” for those wanting something stronger. Expect performances from Duckie host Azara, Midgitte Bardot, Pink Suits and Symoné.
However, Duckie nights are going to look a little different from now on. Organisers have swapped what they describe as the “greedy, right-wing south London pub landlords” of Vauxhall in favour of a new venue north of the river — St Paul’s Church Hall in Stoke Newington.
Simon Casson, Duckie’s promoter, told East End Review: “We are coming back to Hackney, which is where I grew up.
“I am hoping that Hackney will save Duckie and give it a new lease of life after 30 years”.
Regulars may notice a few more changes beyond having to hop on the overground north. Duckie’s ‘door whores’, Jay Cloth and Father Cloth, have hung up their — well, cloths — for the last time. Following their retirement, they will be replaced by ‘door butchers’ Libro and Tink.
The ‘Readers Wifes’ who frequented the DJ decks back in the day will also be missing from the new venture, at least at first. “One day they will make a dramatic comeback, like Hazell Dean”, a post to Duckie’s Instagram page reads. In the meantime, Little Cloud, Joe Egg and Stav B will take their place.
“We play ska, rocksteady, dancehall, funk and sweet soul music”, Duckie’s Instagram post continues. “Not just glam rock and jangly pop (but a bit of that)”.
The night promises to attract an “intersectional, mixed-gender crowd” featuring “loads of old people on the dancefloor… and loads of young people with interesting haircuts”.
Asked what sets Duckie apart from other club nights, Casson added: “We will have loads of lesbians”.
The first Duckie 7/11 event — so named because the night will run from 7pm until 11pm — has already sold out, but tickets are still available for four further club nights later in the year.
Duckie 7/11 will take place on 7 March, 16 May, 4 July, 5 September and 31 October. Purchase tickets from the Duckie website.
