Earlier this year, London’s BFI Flare debuted the Gateways Grind: “the first film to tell the story of the iconic lesbian venue, the Gateways Club.” The documentary is “the story of an extraordinary place built on love and acceptance, run unwaveringly as a place without judgement or politics.”
“What do you picture when you think of King’s Road? The swinging 60s? Vivienne Westwood pioneering punk fashion?,” BFI’s website reads, “One notable establishment in this enclave of history that’s often forgotten about is Gateways, London’s longest-surviving lesbian club. Alongside a host of its patrons over the years, Sandi Toksvig highlights the legacy of the club from its original owner, who won it in a bet, to its blossoming into a hotspot and safe space for lesbian life. From its signature green door to the risqué dance move that gives this film its name, Gateways was a crucial part of London’s queer history. In this charming and informative film, it’s celebrated in all its glory.”
The documentary features a range of interviewees, including more than 20 who went to the club. In fact, the film highlighted the five survivors from the original 80 who Jill Gardiner interviewed for the 2003 book, From the Closet to the Screen – Women at the Gateways Club 1945-85.
“The Gateways Club, at the heart of 1960s Swinging London, was one of the few places where lesbian women could meet openly. This book tells its story, from its rise in the 1950s to its closure in 1985, as a secret world of escapeùnew clientele often found the club only by following likely members to its anonymous exterior on the Kings Road, Chelsea. Celebrities, straight and gay alike, from Diana Dors to Dusty Springfield, relished its bohemian atmosphere, and the club reached a wider audience when it was featured as a backdrop in the 1968 film The Killing of Sister George.”
The mythology surrounding this club is intriguing, to say the least: not only did the original owner win ownership of it in a bet, but the club was so protected that even Mick Jagger was denied entry into the lesbian hotspot!
What inspired the film? Lucie, the producer, fills us in on the project’s Kickstarter:
“When I was first introduced to the Gateways Club I assumed there would be a documentary to watch so I could discover more, but I was really surprised that was not the case. So I thought, someone must tell this story on film!
“This project began in late 2017, an idea of making some kind of documentary-style film about the Gateways Club.
I made contact with Gina Ware, the daughter of the owners of the club, Ted and Gina Ware, I read Jill Gardiner’s book and I began planning a short film.
“In October 2018 I visited Gina Ware in Greece, where she now lives, for 3 days of research – talking for hours and looking through photos and newspaper clippings…she is a massive advocate of getting this film made and has been so helpful already!
“I then met with Joe Galliano, the founder and CEO of the forthcoming Queer Britain, which will be the UK’s national LGBTQ+ museum. He was very excited about the idea of a Gateways film being a part of the museum, and has been an enthusiastic supporter throughout my journey.
“Fortunately I was in a position to make a start on this project without outside funding as I co-own a video production company, so, after receiving help from Rob Baker at Flashbak in booking initial interviews, I began filming interviews with women in May 2019.
“Very quickly it became clear this needed to be a feature length documentary, to enable more women’s stories to be told and explore the full story of the club on film, and interest in the film was growing!”
While the documentary isn’t currently available for viewing online, the creaters hope to make it so soon.
