The Bishop and Belcher

The Bishop and Belcher is a classy, old-school British-style pub at the corner of Church and Hayden, a Toronto institution since 1995 that spent years as a Queen West staple before settling into its current permanent home uptown. One reviewer sums it up well: it's "apparently a gay bar," but not the flashy kind — more upscale than the Village's usual spots while keeping an easygoing, welcoming vibe appreciated by LGBTQ+ patrons and straight regulars alike. The menu runs deep on hearty pub classics, fish and chips, bangers and mash, a long list of burgers, and the shareable "Big Belch" platter, backed by an extensive drink list of beers, whiskies, and cocktails, plus a popular weekend brunch. A spacious patio and friendly, attentive service round out a genuinely quintessential pub experience, recommended whether or not you drink or identify as LGBTQ+.