Students have described the planned closure of a bar in Norwich as a “huge loss” to LGBT+ communities.

First Draft announced that it would close on 22 February 2026 due to low sales, less than a year after it opened in May 2025.

Rachel Macneill, the Social Secretary for UEA Burlesque Society, said that the closure of the bar was sad for both performers and customers.

“I’m really disappointed in the closure of First Draft, both as a performer and member of the LGBT+ community,” she said.

“I’ve performed at burlesque gigs there and was planning on starting my own performance group upon graduation.

“Their venue was the most accessible, both physically and financially, and I feel frustrated at their loss.”

In an official statement on their Instagram page, First Draft announced: “We took a risk, and dropped our prices. It hasn’t paid off.

“We’re so sorry to those we’ll be letting down by closing. But we don’t have a choice. Hospitality is insanely difficult at the moment.”

Another student at the University of East Anglia described the closure of the venue as “disappointing” and said it was another loss faced by LGBT+ students in Norwich.

“The big advantage of First Draft was that they had something going on every week,” they added.

“I was able to meet new people. Right now, there’s still no stable space for queer students.”

Image Credit: First Draft Bar