The Queenshilling, Bristol’s longest-running LGBTQ+ pub and nightclub, is set to introduce a new house beer named Queer. The venue, based on Frogmore Street, has collaborated with Good Chemistry Brewing in Old Market to create a bespoke pale ale that will be exclusive to the bar. Owner Paul Stoodley says the beer is a fruity session pale, coming in at 3.4 per cent ABV, and was developed by slightly tweaking one of the brewery’s existing recipes rather than simply rebadging a cheap lager.

The choice of the name Queer is a deliberate departure from the venue’s usual branding. Stoodley explained that he personally never warmed to the word, having always considered it derogatory. However, after speaking with younger customers and students who proudly identify as queer, he has changed his perspective. He now views the term as positive, noting that people can openly declare themselves as queer in a way that was not possible in previous decades. The beer is therefore intended to celebrate that shift.

Founded in 1992 by Kevin Martin, The Queenshilling began as an unassuming pub on the corner of Frogmore Street and Culver Street. It rapidly grew popular among the LGBTQ+ community, partly due to its proximity to the now-closed Oasis club. Over the 2010s it evolved from a quiet pub into a late-night nightclub, expanding its dance floor and becoming known for karaoke, drag events and fundraising. The venue celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022 and remains a pillar of queer nightlife in the city, now under Stoodley’s ownership. It has maintained a strict door policy for more than a decade: no racists, no homophobes – and colloquially, no arseholes.

The new Queer beer will be launched on the Friday evening before this year’s Bristol Pride. It will be available on draught as well as in cans. Stoodley confirmed the kegs and tap badges are already on site, and the team is simply waiting to sell through the remaining stock of their outgoing products before switching over. A can of the beer has been shared with us here at ShoutOut for a preview which can here in an upcoming show/ And the venue is inviting listeners to come down during Pride festivities to try a pint.