The legendary Southbank Surfing returned to London for the first time in two years, with a special pop-up event at YOTEL London City, as part of Lesbian Visibility Week. The event last week saw over 150 women return to the largest free, regular gathering for LGBTQIA women in the country, as the UK prepares to mark 50 years of Pride. Ensuring lesbian visibility goes beyond just one week, Southbank Surfing has found a new permanent home at YOTEL London City and is set to return at the venue on the 3rd Friday of every month, beginning Friday 20th May.
Making its highly-anticipated return to the London scene, Southbank Surfing hosted a special pop-up event at YOTEL London City’s stylish bar Komyuniti in the heart of Clerkenwell. Returning especially to mark Lesbian Visibility Week, the pop-up was a huge success, with people from across London joining together for a night of socialising and mingling, in an inclusive space for all LGBTQIA women and supportive allies. Now, the community will have a regular, free gathering at Komyuniti on the 3rd Friday of each month, following two years without the event.
Southbank Surfing has a long and remarkable history in the city, and the event’s return for the first time in two years was truly special. With the aim of providing a safe, welcoming space full of people looking to meet and have fun with new friends, Southbank Surfing’s community enjoyed a spectacular reunion in YOTEL London City, before announcing the event’s permanent return.
Southbank Surfing was reinvigorated for 2022 by Polly Shute, Co-Founder of Out and About and former board member of Pride in London. Determined to create events focused towards gay women, Polly and her team have also launched Out & Wild, the UK’s first Wellness and Experience festival for LGBTQIA women and those who are non-binary.
Polly Shute said, “It’s been a real joy to bring back Southbank Surfing for 2022, first as a pop-up event for Lesbian Visibility Week and now as a permenant event in YOTEL London City each month. It was incredible to see so many women and allies back in one room together, highlighting the real sense of community Southbank Surfing events have created over the past 10 years, outlasting any particular venue.
“As we prepare to mark 50 years of Pride in the UK, we’d like to officially relaunch Southbank Surfing as a regular event, once a month in YOTEL London City’s bar Komyuniti. The event provides a friendly, welcoming environment for LGBTQIA women to meet and we hope the return of Southbank Surfing will welcome back old friends and new, and provide an inclusive, comfortable space for LGBTQIA women in the UK’s biggest city.”
Southbank Surfing began over 10 years ago at the BFI in Southbank as a volunteer-run event, growing to encompass a variety of venues, and last week’s event was the first in over two years since lockdowns began. Its cult status stems from the fact the event is free, open to all and regular on the third Friday of every month, with the focus on simply meeting up, with no specified music or entertainment. Southbank Surfing has kept its status as an independent event, with an organic, natural warmth to the events, showcased in the fact there are always hosts who can meet and welcome any women who attend solo.
Stay up to date with future Southbank Surfing events at www.facebook.com/groups/southbanksurfing and find out more about Out & Wild Festival, the UK’s first wellness festival designed for queer, questioning and curious women and those who are non-binary – www.beoutandabout.co.uk
The ideal base for exploring central London, YOTEL London City hosted the pop-up event in its contemporary bar and restaurant Komyuniti with over 150 women enjoying Southbank Surfing once more.
