A new inclusive LGBTQ+ venue is coming to Salisbury

A new, relaxed, safe and inclusive venue for the LGBTQ+ community is coming to Salisbury.

Taking over the former Koh Thai building on Endless Street, ‘Progress Bar’ will be run by Salisbury Pride CIC as a community Café and Bar that serves food and drink with a choice of coffee, wine, spirits, cocktails, draught beers and soft drinks.

There will also be music and entertainment nights at the venue including drag dinners, cabaret, comedy, craft clubs, workshops and more.

The space will not be LGBTQ+-exclusive, but a community venue where anyone can go and feel welcome, accepted and safe.

The team at Salisbury Pride are behind The Progress Café and Bar.

Speaking to Pride Festival Director, Caroline Corbin said, “Times are changing in Salisbury and there is a need for an LGBTQ+-focused venue in the city. We need more vibrancy in Salisbury and this will be something a bit alternative.

“It is called ‘Progress’ because that is exactly what it is – Salisbury didn’t have a Pride festival until 2015 and there has been a huge progress leap to where we are now.”

The venue will be a space where anyone can go to feel confident and supported and where they can be signposted for specific support or opportunities.

The café and bar will also be disability aware and a disability employer. Many of the volunteers currently painting and renovating the venue are autistic.

“We also want to register to be a warm and welcoming space over the winter. We will be right opposite a few of the central bus stops, so those waiting for a bus might want to come and wait inside with a cup of tea,” added Caroline.

Currently, the venue is seeking more funding opportunities, service donations and volunteers.

“We would love a kitchen company to come and revamp our kitchen so we can do food. We want to offer a vegan menu as we’ve been told there is a huge gap in the market for vegan dining in Salisbury.

“We need some painters and decorators to volunteer to help us transform the space. We also need volunteers to come and do some bar work when we open and some more committee members too,” said Caroline.

Eventually, Caroline would love to turn the upstairs space into a meeting room and a low-key wedding venue.

“We are going to listen to our customers and ask what they want. The Everyman Cinema is also coming to Endless Street so we can make this a really quirky corner of the city.”

The Progress Bar and Café is expected to be open 7 days a week from around 10am-11pm – turning into a community pub venue in the evening hours.

If you would like to get involved with Progress Bar or Salisbury Pride by volunteering your time or donating your services, email hello@salisburyprideuk.org

If you would like to support Salisbury Pride and the Progress Bar through a donation, click here.

Follow Salisbury Pride on social media for the latest updates and for the opening date of the new venue.