The Wembley Store, an iconic site in Valletta’s Republic Street, was established in 1924 by Emanuel Gauci, but did you know that it has its place in local queer history?

A little over 60 years ago, during the 1960s and 70s, a group of young men would meet outside of the Wembley Store – hence the name ‘Wembley Store Boys’ – and make their way to a gay-friendly bar in Sappers Street, known as the Lantern Bar.  

The two establishments can be seen here, in this post shared by Malta Pride.

Valletta would completely change from day to night, with most visitors leaving the city by 9pm, at which time the final bus of the night would pass.

After these people would have left, the ‘Wembley Store Boys’ would travel to the safety of the Lantern Bar, with the near-empty city providing them (and others like them) anonymity from the general public.

According to J.C. Chetcuti, in his book Queer Mediterranean Memories, this group was most likely the first to “[defy] dominant heterosexual culture” in modern Malta. Chetcuti describes them as “a barometer of youth’s discomfort with gender stereotyping and disenchantment with the establishment”.

Did you know about this bit of history?

 Kappa Vision/Facebook, Malta Pride - Europride Valletta 2023/Facebook