The Jester
February 1970 to February 2006
or The Court Jester, as it was originally known, was a large cellar situated underneath Scala House on Holloway Circus, built as part of the Inner Ring Road developments in 1964. The bar was notable for its large oval shaped bar at its centre. Originally a straight bar it became very popular with gay men from the mid 1970s through to the 90s. It slowly declined in popularity during the late 90s due to competition from newer Hurst Street bars, eventually closing as a gay bar in late 2006. The feature bar was ripped out in the early 00s. Its sign was an engraved jester on the black granite cladding of the entrance.
For many gay men The Jester was their first experience of the commercial scene in Birmingham.
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