About us
We are a safe, friendly, social environment for bisexual, biromantic, pansexual/romantic, polysexual, queer, fluid or other non-monosexual people (aka. m-spec, bi+). Bi-curious / questioning people and supportive partners, friends, allies also welcome: but please learn & understand (at least) the basics - don't ask the same biphobic questions we get outside this safer space or make equivalent assumptions of anyone here.
Come make bi+ friends, hang out, chat, have fun; see, learn and take part in some bi / LGBT+ culture, history, and activism; and feel part of a community in a (usually) free-to-attend, casual informal environment.
🟣 What do we do?
* Hosted Events
Most are social informal chatty hangouts on weekday evenings. We've always had monthly pub drinks evening in Soho on the same fourth Thursday (18+ age limit). In summer, picnics and walks, and we want to do dinners again.
Online events replace in-person when necessary (via Zoom/our Discord) without the age limit; the link is set as the location (sometimes in the event description).
Turnout is strong - pre-covid was 40+ in-person for monthly bar socials, now usually 25-ish; and 10-30 for other official meets, our online socials smaller.
* Attend External Events as a Group
Including things like clubbing, comedy, cabaret, plays, talks, and of course Prides.
Several regular events are shared here from other London bi groups/organisers, e.g. Bi Underground, Bi Coffee, Bi+ Brixton, Opening Doors' Bi the Way meets, and (yearly/occasional) CaBiRet, BiFest.
Members can suggest events too (but we'll remove+ban spammers of irrelevant commercial events; ask first) - either you can run them or an organiser may help if they have time/motivation. We prefer hosts to have previously attended our own events, so we've met you and each know what to expect.
We also publicise, attend, and/or run groups or sessions at the largest local/national bi events and Prides like Bi Pride, BiCon, Pride in London, London BiFest, BiCamp, Croydon and other local Prides (10 of them in 2019 including London, Croydon, Para Pride, Black Pride and Trans Pride).
We now have a Discord server under the group's name for text chat/updates between events (the Discord invite link is in your introduction email when you join, sometimes in event descriptions, or ask the organisers).
* Merch!
We support bi creators through our/their merch in our online shop.
🟣 Join in / Support Us!
Join and RSVP to try us out!
Besides our meetups, we invite you to follow and engage with our social network accounts for other discussions and what the organiser gets up to outside the group, plus wider community things (if you partake)!
See links page (bottom of): https://campsite.bio/londonbi
* Shop
Consider buying bi+/trans/pride/intersecting-identity supporting products (merch) or donating at our shop: https://londonbisexualsmeetup.sumup.link/
Organiser John produces the high quality, well-loved bi & trans pride full-size umbrellas ☂ (limited stock, currently awaiting enough orders for a production run); via shop (above).
* Donations
Organiser John covers Meetup/other service fees out-of-pocket (can afford to); but appreciates help for extra costs (e.g. pride stalls often need insurance, travel/material/equipment/volunteer costs) – donate via cash/card at our pub socials/some other events, via ko-fi online; or even PayPal directly, by request.
🟣 Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility
People of all abilities, religions, sexualities, ethnicities and genders welcome as long as you respect other members, their identities, and appearance. Some regular events require ability to use stairs and will have background music/noise.
🟣 Rules
• Keep your main profile picture for this group 'family-friendly' or you will be removed or (for repeated/unfixed offences) banned; we are not a swingers or nudists group. You get one warning ever (by private message), ~ 1 week to fix it (and offers of help if needed).
• Don't be a dick! ie. Respect others, especially their privacy, at all times. e.g. get permission for photos, & what you'll do with them; don't "out" anyone without permission; try to assume good intent – you don't know what (else) is going on in people's lives. Disabilities & mental health struggles are not always visible/obvious.
• Abuse at events or via Meetup messages/actions will not be tolerated (organisers may need to be notified, they cannot see your private messages). Infractions will lead to the perpetrator's removal from the event+group, possibly a ban; reports presumed honest until evidence otherwise. Trivial first instances (level decided by target of abuse or representative if available) may be warned instead. Meetup also has ways to block/report users in messages or via profiles.
🟣 Final Notes & Conventions
80% of getting anything out of being a member is about showing up and taking part, so turn up to a few events (or offer to run one - anything social, the main organiser John/others may offer help). You're sure to have fun! No need to be nervous about anything sexual, as its a regular social group; report and block anyone who is behaving inappropriately.
* Commercial event to advertise? - talk to the organiser first. Spam not tolerated - we block & remove it a.s.a.p.
* Show/researcher/casting agent wanting people? We have a Discord channel for that, or discuss with the organiser / post to our FB page.
* Member stars! Some members have 1-2 star(s) '★' under their name (in their title), they celebrate our best contributing and reliable members (who've run great events/are an activist here or externally); or a black mark '∎' hints of a failure to respect the group - e.g. not turning up for a limited-space ticketed event without letting us know or apologies, and shouldn't be relied on as much. Black marked members will not have guaranteed space at any limited-ticket event until they redeem themselves (getting the mark removed) by showing up enough, and would not be trusted to run events.
Upcoming events
73
Merton Pride (a fair, march, show)
Morden Park, Lower Morden Lane, SM4 5QX,, Morden, GBMerton's Pride is back for a second year, with a Community Fair followed by a Parade through the borough and beautiful river walk alongside the Wandle, to Abbey Mills at 2pm; and entertainment through to the evening at the Mills. We are marching and Biscuit has a stall there (can you help them run it?).
🟣 Schedule:
Upon arrival at Morden Hall Park, if marching (wearing your bi/pan/.. pride flag colours if you can?, or with a flag - we'll have a few or see the Biscuit stall); visit the MertonPlus stall in the fair to register (even if you registered for the event online) for wristband.
10am: Community Fair (White Bridge Lawn, Morden Hall Park - behind the Stableyard cafe. Address: The Stable Yard Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Rd, London, SM4 5JD
Pride merch available at various stalls (including a Bi one by Biscuit), and local community groups to discover (see below).1:30pm: Meet at assembly point for the march - opposite side of the bridge to the Stableyard cafe, look for bi umbrella/flags and multiple bi themed outfits together. Also see map photo(s) here. They encourage music and performance during the parade! Organiser John bringing his megaphone, got a bi playlist/chants in mind?
2pm Parade (~ 45 minutes) - segmented into groups, ours leaves around 2:10pm. see route on map photos here. If there to watch, recommend from the Pride Pilates lawn area for the start of it; Deen City Farm carpark or along the river on the banks (wear suitable footwear, beware the water).~3pm Merton Abbey Mills. The march arrives by crossing the Waterwheel Bridge by the William Morris Pub, with a pause for a Bandstand shout-out!
Followed by entertainment on stage - live music, comedy, drag, dance, musical theatre, and more - featuring local talent, diverse performances, even a full orchestra at the bandstand!We are parading as a group so look for us at the fair, especially after 1pm as we arrive for the parade to be ready around 1:30. If stuck, try asking at the Biscuit stall before it moves to the Mills. Look for bi flags/umbrellas/banners in the parade, show your support there if you can (and to everyone)!
NOTE: Photos and videos taken during the march may be used in Merton Pride and Merton Plus social media, marketing, and future communications.
🟣 More Info:
Merton Pride page at Merton Plus - LGBTQ Community (all parade/fair/show/afterparty details).6 attendeesBi Coffee [other group]
Caffè Nero, 1a Central Saint Giles Piazza, Saint Giles High Street, London, GBHot Bi Beverages! The Bi Coffee group (a separate group) meets at 3–6.30pm on the first Saturday of every month. The old Leon venue is permanently closed, so the group now meets in a Caffè Nero near Tottenham Court Road/Shaftesbury Avenue.
The venue: Caffè Nero, the Central Saint Giles one; at the bottom (south end) of Earnshaw Street, at the corner with Shaftesbury Avenue (a big junction); round the corner from Tottenham Court Road Station.
Address: 1a St. Giles High St, London WC2H 8AGVicki is running Bi Coffee each month, come and go as you please. Find us by looking for our little purple unicorn and sign.
Respect each other. Newcomers and quiet people are most welcome. There are regulars from outside our group (but in the general London bi community) so even if there's no-one else listed from here you'll be in a friendly and safe group.But do please note this is a separate group from our meetup group and for most reliable updates check out the facebook page. Its run enthusiastically by upstanding bi community member(s) and heartily recommended if more relaxed and quiet hanging out in a café is more your thing.
🟣 Accessibility:
The cafe is ground floor and claims disabled toilet and access, baby changing facilities, wifi, and air conditioning (only one toilet though, which can occasionally mean a longer queue for that than for service).The cafe is opposite Tottenham Court Road bus stop S (busses 14, 176). It is on the junction so taxis will need to stop outside it.
From Tottenham Court Road station head south on Charing Cross Road, take the left on Denmark Street, and then keep straight. It's under the large bright yellow Lego building.
🟣 More Info:
Facebook group: facebook.com/bicoffeelondon/
Old Bi Coffee website (ignore the outdated location,map): bi.tocotox.org/bicoffeelondon/
Venue: website / tel:02072407412.8 attendees
Past events
1413
Group links
Members
8,459
