Greene King Reinvigorates London’s Oldest LGBTQIA+ Venue With Six-Figure Transformation

The City of Quebec – London’s oldest LGBTQIA+ pub, owned by pub company and brewer Greene King – has officially reopened its doors to the public following a six-figure investment.  

Situated on Old Quebec Street in the heart of Marylebone, the City of Quebec is an iconic social hub in central London, having been a cornerstone of the LGBTQIA+ community since its establishment in 1946. The pub was originally frequented by RAF pilots following the venue’s opening after World War II.

The investment has completely transformed the City of Quebec’s interior to enhance the pub’s reputation as a leading late-night entertainment venue. On the ground floor, the stage has been upgraded with the installation of a projector screen, effects lighting and a new DJ booth to elevate customer experiences with the return of the pub’s weekly live music and cabaret events.

The venue’s club area in the basement has been fully redecorated with the introduction of artwork that evokes the pub’s rich history, whilst an improved furniture layout and sleek lighting ensure an inviting atmosphere for guests. The toilet facilities have also been improved to provide a more modern look and feel.

The City of Quebec’s investment is a marker of Greene King’s longstanding commitment to champion diversity and inclusivity across the board, by providing safe spaces for everyone to enjoy throughout the year. The pub’s reopening is also the latest of Greene King’s historic London sites to receive significant investment, following the relaunch of the Sherlock Holmes, the Crown and the Garrick Arms earlier this year.

Darren Dunn, general manager at the City of Quebec, said: “Pubs are the hubs of local communities, and they play a central role in providing safe and welcoming spaces for people of all backgrounds. The City of Quebec has long been established as a vibrant hotspot for the LGBTQIA+ community in the heart of London, and we’re thrilled to showcase a new and improved look from 26 June.  

“As one of Greene King’s Heritage pubs, the City of Quebec’s investment looks to honour the pub’s rich history, whilst bringing a modern twist to the pub’s original Art Deco design. We are celebrating the pub’s relaunch in style with a wide range of exciting promotions and events throughout the summer, kicking off with cabaret hosted by Dolly Diamond and karaoke with Tania LeCoq on our opening day. We look forward to welcoming guests back very soon to enjoy all we have to offer.”

As part of this year’s wider Pride Month celebrations, Greene King has partnered with Absolut Vodka to raise funds for Switchboard, the national LGBTQIA+ support line. Every time a customer orders a single measure of Absolut Vodka in selected pubs this June, Greene King is donating 10p to Switchboard.* Full details on Greene King’s participating pubs can be found here.

The City of Quebec officially reopened on Thursday 26 June, and it is located at 12 Old Quebec Street, Marylebone. For more information, please visit https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/city-of-quebec.

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*Terms and conditions: For every single measure of Absolut Vodka (non-flavoured) sold in selected Greene King pubs from 1st June 2025 to 30th June 2025, 10p +VAT, subject to a maximum £50,000 +VAT, will be paid to Switchboard LGBT+ a registered charity in England & Wales (296193).

For more information or any other media enquiries please contact pressoffice@greeneking.co.uk

Notes to editors

Greene King is the country’s leading pub company and brewer with c.2,600 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland.

At Greene King we are passionate about delivering our purpose to ‘pour happiness into lives’. That’s for our customers, our team, our pub partners, our suppliers and the communities in which we live, operate and serve. Founded in 1799 with offices in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and Burton on Trent in Staffordshire we employ around 40,000 people across the group with three divisions: Greene King pubs, Destination Brands & Ventures, and Brewing & Brands.

• Greene King pubs: Greene King pubs is our mainstream pub brand located where people and communities come together; pubs enjoyed in cities, towns and villages throughout the country with clear ambition to be “The Nation’s Most Loved Pub Brand”. Pub Partners runs our tenanted and leased pubs business and Hive Franchise pubs.

• Destination Brands & Ventures: Destination Brands is a portfolio of distinct brands which includes Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer, Farmhouse Inns and Flaming Grill that bring friends and family together, delivering great service, quality and value for money for a range of eating out and drinking occasions. Venture includes Hickory’s, Premium (Crafted Pubs & Metropolitan Pub Company) and Hotels which operate autonomously of Greene King’s managed pub brands. 

• Brewing & Brands covers the brewing sides of the business. Quality ales are brewed at the Westgate brewery in Bury St Edmunds and the Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar. Our industry-leading portfolio includes Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale, Ice Breaker and Belhaven Best and our premium beers, Level Head and Flint Eye, brewed for the modern-day drinker. 

For more information or any other media enquiries please contact pressoffice@greeneking.co.uk

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