Brooklyn Brewery is bringing the Stonewall Inn — a catalyst for the global Pride movement — to London this summer.
Brooklyn Brewery is Pride in London’s official beer partner, and this project honours the venue that accelerated the gay liberation movement and shaped Pride history.
“The Stonewall Inn isn’t just a bar, it marks the tipping point for the Pride movement,” said Stacy Lentz co-owner of the Stonewall Inn. “It represents the moment when a community pushed into the shadows decided to stand up, speak out and demand change. That energy is still what drives Pride today.”
Back in 1969, The Stonewall Inn was one of the few places in New York where LGBTQ+ people could gather freely and dance. Even then, it operated under constant threat. Police raids were frequent, with patrons and staff arrested, in part due to laws that prohibited LGBTQ+ people from being served alcohol in bars.
“In the early hours of 28th June, everything changed,” added Kurt Kelly, co-owner of The Stonewall Inn. “What was meant to be another routine raid became something else entirely. People resisted. They stayed. They fought back. And over the next several nights, that resistance grew into something far bigger than anyone could have ever imagined.”
The uprising spilled out onto the streets of Greenwich Village, drawing in allies and neighbours. In the days that followed, a new wave of energy unfolded, supercharging activism onto a global stage.
This Stonewall Inn energy is coming to Pride in London, with a converted bus that has been transformed into a tribute to the original Greenwich Village bar, bringing a piece of Pride history into the heart of the capital.
“For us, The Stonewall Inn is about using our history as a vehicle for change,” said Kelly. “It’s not just about what happened in 1969 — it’s about continuing the fight for full equality everywhere. So, working with Brooklyn Brewery to come to Pride in London on an actual ‘vehicle’ for change is perfect!”
The Stonewall Inn Pride in London float will showcase some of the heritage and entertainment of the NYC original, while offering Pride revellers a taste of what makes the Greenwich Village bar so special to the global LGBTQ+ community.
The float will serve as a mobile stage, featuring DJs, performers, and a visual nod to the 1969 Stonewall Inn uprising, offering the most photogenic moment of the parade.
The partnership with Brooklyn Brewery is very special to Lentz and Kelly. “What many people may not know, is that we approached Brooklyn Brewery, and not the other way around,” said Kelly. “In 2017, we asked them to create an official craft beer for the bar, and since then, Brooklyn Brewery’s The Stonewall Inn IPA has become a symbol of visibility and support, and now the official beer of Pride in London.”
For Pride 2026, Brooklyn Brewery has turned The Stonewall Inn IPA cans and packs in the UK into a canvas, launching a limited-edition design in collaboration with emerging artist Rob Likes to Draw from the Queer Youth Art Collective. Featuring hand-drawn illustrations with a brick-style motif, inspired by the original bar. The limited-edition packs are available at retailers across the UK until 31st August.
Brewed as an American-style IPA at 4.3% ABV, The Stonewall Inn IPA features bright citrus hop notes layered with hints of lemon peel and grapefruit zest. More than just a beer, it’s a visible show of ongoing support.
