Fundraiser for east London gay bar hits £100,000 target after surge in donations

Friends of the Joiners Arms intend to create the UK's first community-run LGBTQ+ venue to replace pub on Hackney Road

A fundraiser to replace a famed east London gay bar that was shut down by developers has hit its target of 100,000 and secured its future with more than 24 hours to go before its deadline.

The Friends of the Joiners Arms (Fotja) campaign group confirmed that it had pulled off the feat - raising more than 30,000 since the weekend for what would be the UK's first community-run LGBTQ+ venue.