Dalston Superstore

Really upsetting and frankly bizarre experience at the door tonight. My best friend and I are both bisexual women and both very femme-presenting. We arrived without tickets and were asked if we had tickets. When we said no, we were told they were “really busy” and directed to Divine down the road instead by a femme presenting person on the door. As we started walking away, we immediately heard the same door person ask two women behind us if they had tickets. They said no. Instead of being turned away, they were told it was £10 entry. At that point we were understandably confused, took a hot minute... then went back. I asked people in the queue whether they had tickets and every person I asked said no. When we asked why all of these people without tickets were being allowed in when we'd just been refused, the explanation changed. We were told that the door was “curated” and that our exclusion was also a “safety” issue. I'm 5'2", am Femme-presenting AFAB and had done absolutely nothing aggressive, threatening or inappropriate when we first approached the door... We actually accepted the reason and walked away. So being told that our presence somehow presented a “safety” issue was honestly absurd and BS. After questioning why we'd been treated differently and challenged the inconsistency with both her and the security person, I was then told that my reaction was essentially evidence of why I shouldn't be let in? That feels incredibly circular... I was perfectly civil when we first approached, and my frustration came only after watching the stated reason for refusing us immediately contradicted. If you operate a curated door, be transparent about that. Don't tell people you're sold out or ask about tickets then immediately admit other people without tickets, and then only when challenged introduce “curation” and “safety” as the explanation. What makes this particularly upsetting is that my friend and I are queer women. We're both bisexual, we're both femme-presenting, and we came specifically wanting to spend our night in a queer space. We can't know what assumption was made about us from looking at us, but we were clearly judged as not fitting whatever was being “curated” at the door. Queer women do not owe anyone a particular aesthetic to prove that we're queer enough to belong in queer spaces. Femme bisexual women already deal with having our sexuality assumed or erased because of how we look. I completely support queer venues protecting their customers and having genuine safety policies... We have read the reviews... But if you're going to exclude someone specifically on “safety” grounds, there should be something more meaningful behind that assessment than an unexplained judgement made within seconds of seeing them... Ngl was a joke to hear. This didn't feel like a safe or inclusive space for lesbian, gay and bisexual people who don't visibly conform to a queer aesthetic...

Security at the door grabbed my water bottle to empty it out without asking me. When I told him he shouldn't do that as I wanted to drink my water bottle before coming in, I could tell the blonde guy next to him (bouncer? Manager?) thought I was being rude. When I came back from drinking my water, blonde guy shoved his wrist at my face while telling me that I need to get a stamp on my wrist. That threw me off and was very antagonizing, and he then told me I'm not allowed in (seemingly on the basis that he didn't like my attitude?) even though my partner and friend already went inside. He also wouldn't let me go inside and tell them that I'm not allowed in and call them to leave. Never in my life did I experience such treatment at any establishment especially as a gay person in an lgbt space. Blonde dude seems to have major issues and it's a disgrace that he's the face of this establishment. I can see lots of reviews mentioning him and its a shame he's still being allowed to work there and he really needs to have some sort of training to learn how to behave with people. I know lots of people attending this place regularly but will tell everyone i know to stay away from this place, we definitely won't be coming back .

Went to drag brunch with two of my friends. We had a really good time here, feeling safe all around, enjoyed an amazing show and ate good food. I would recommend!

very cool bar but majoritarily white ppl in their 30's (and some random straight ppl) so it might not be what everyone looks for, but it might just be the specific party i went to (also saw swana and poc parties were thrown there regularly). staff very kind, everyone was very cool and friendly :))) drinks very good, affordable for London and 2 floors with different musics. also 18+ which is cool and most of parties are free before 10 or u choose how much u pay

I went here last night and then when it closed and I was on my way home, I was being harassed by a man. I needed help and knocked on the door, one of the people inside came up to the glass and said “show me your stamp”. I was desperate for help and held up my wrist, the man inside said “that’s not our stamp” and ran away. Then I was left scared and alone as a queer woman, while the rainbow coloured shutters were lowered in my face. Conclusion? This place hates women. A disgusting excuse for a “queer space”

Other than it having too few toilets (resulting in lengthy queues even if folk double up) this plays host to a pleasantly crowded and utterly random night...

I'm so sorry to do this to you guys but you just let me down. This place is a Jekyll and Hyde venue, posing as a cafe/restaurant by day and a gay bar by...

So I won't lie, I was slightly blurry when I went here on Friday but I don't think that's just because of the alcohol. The place itself is a blur of noise,...