With Edinburgh Pride on the horizon, there’s a lot to be thankful for when it comes to the progression of LGBT+ rights.
As queer people across the city prepare to flock to the streets and nightclubs to be their authentic selves, it’s hard not to think of the many people who have come before them who didn’t have the same freedoms. Back in 1930s Edinburgh, there was once a dancehall that had a ‘reputation’ for serving as a meeting place for those who couldn't simply take to the streets.
Maximes Dancehall, which stood where the now abandoned Atik Nightclub is on West Tollcross, was one of the many spots in the city at the time where men looking to meet up with other men would head to. It was owned by businessman Peter Ogg, who was thought to be involved in the organisation of "homosexual life in the city".
