The 1930s was a time when being openly gay would frequently lead to prosecution and imprisonment; we sought to tell the important story of many similar clandestine LGBTQ+ spaces that were raided and closed by police.
Photographs, court reports, police papers and witness statements on The Caravan and other clubs of the era were used to re-create the striking bohemian interior of the underground club.
Selected from The National Archives’ extensive collection, these documents reveal great detail and insights into club culture and the everyday prejudices facing the homosexual community at the time.
Tours, events and club nights
In March 2017 we ran daytime tours of the Soho area that focused on LGBTQ+ heritage and club culture, which was followed by a visit to The Caravan.
In the evenings visitors could become a club ‘member’ and enjoy a bespoke cocktail menu with drinks drawn from clubs of the era provided by the expert bartenders of Freud Café-Bar.
We hosted a themed programme of talks, debates and performances that explored queer life before the Sexual Offences Act of 1967.