TWO York business owners have responded to homophobic abuse by closing down their shop… and opening a gay bar in its place.

Tuesday, 1 April 2025 12:43

By Alice Kavanagh

Siblings Claire and Xander, who own two LGBTQ+ shops in York city centre, made the decision to close their Low Petergate shop – Sherlock Holmes:

York Imaginarium - after their second shop was targeted in a homophobic attack.

As reported by The Press last week, North Yorkshire Police issued an appeal after This Shop is So Gay in Parliament Street was targeted by vandals last month.

The shop, which opened last month, has been well received and sells a variety of LGBTQ+ goods, with many wondering if the two shops would run alongside each other.

After the attack, Claire said: “We were stunned to see the Pride Flag had been ripped down. It’s not just an attack on the shop, it’s an attack on all people who are different.

“But, as with every homophobic attack we have experienced over the last nine months since opening the Gay Shop, the more we are attacked for being gay the bigger and gayer we become…

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