October has arrived, and Gay London Life is here to make sure your spooky season is packed with thrills, chills, and a whole lot of queer joy. Our cover stars this month are none other than DEN Loungewear, who are serving serious looks as they launch their brand new Union Separates collection. Trust us, it is bold, it is sexy, and it is about to become your autumn essential.
Inside, our In The Know section is bursting with October highlights. We have the lowdown on Tulleys Farm Shocktober Fest, the scream-inducing annual haunt packed with rides, scares, and spooky surprises. We also look ahead to the first-ever Don’t Tell Mama, the queer hedonistic weekender set to take Bognor by storm, with a chat to Chris Brogan from the BEEFMINCE crew about the vibes they will be bringing seaside. And speaking of theatre, our culture king Thomas Magill has his top recommendations for the months ahead, including the triumphant return of MUSIK at Wilton’s Music Hall starring the sensational Frances Barber back as Billie Trix.
Fashion lovers, meet COPPWEAR, the bold new label inspired by the queer experience, dreamed up by Jonathan Copp after 35 years in the fashion industry. We are also shining a spotlight on Winter Pride, taking place from March 21 to 28, 2026, for those already dreaming of snowy mountains and après ski glamour. Plus, we catch up with actor and writer Nathaniel J Hall, who bares it all with his third show. Trust us, it is one not to miss.
Our Going Out section is stacked, so grab your ghoulfriends and get planning. From Eagle London and beyond, there is a party for every scream queen and gory gal. We also dip into the world of Masterworkers, bringing classical brilliance into unexpected queer spaces. This month, they serve up Elgar to Bluegrass at the Phoenix Arts Club on Sunday 19 October before unleashing a deliciously devilish Halloween special, To Hell and Bach, on Wednesday 29 October at Chats Palace. Expect Saint Saëns’ dancing skeletons, Bach’s duelling violas and plenty of hair-raising notes.
We have party pics galore too, from the Cock Tavern’s Open Mic Night to the fabulous Old Ship, capturing the faces and fun that keep London thriving. In our health pages, we tackle the important stuff too, with Evolution Men’s Health offering real answers and solutions to erectile dysfunction, proving self-care can be just as empowering as self-indulgence.
And finally, he is back. Our favourite heartthrob from I Kissed A Boy returns to dish out advice in our Agony Uncle pages, giving his take on your stickiest dilemmas with charm, wit, and just the right amount of sass.
It is fierce, it is fabulous, it is frightfully good. The October issue of Gay London Life is out now online (you can read it here) and in print at LGBTQ+ venues across the capital and Brighton Prowler.
