The Strangers' Bar is one of several
bars in the
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative ch ...
, the home of the
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and may also legislate for the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace ...
, situated near the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
. It is open to
Members of Parliament and officers of Parliament, their guests, and members of parliamentary staff. The bar often sells ales and other beverages from small breweries across the UK.
The bar was historically nicknamed the Kremlin due to its popularity with Labour MPs while conservatives preferred
The Smoking Room.
Smoking was banned in the bar from 4 April 2005.
In 2013 the bar underwent at £13,000 refit.
On 22 February 2012, the bar was the scene of an incident involving
Labour MP
Eric Joyce, who hit several MPs and councillors during an altercation.
He headbutted
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
MP
Stuart Andrew, hit Conservative councillors Luke Mackenzie and Ben Maney, and assaulted fellow Labour MP
Phil Wilson.
Conservative MPs
Jackie Doyle-Price
Dame Jacqueline Doyle-Price (born 5 August 1969) is a British former Conservative Party politician and former civil servant who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Thurrock from 2010 to 2024. She was first elected as MP in the 2010 general el ...
,
Alec Shelbrooke and
Andrew Percy were also involved. Police were called to attend, and Joyce pleaded guilty to four charges, including one of assault by beating.
He was given a fine, a 12-month community order and was ordered to pay £1,400 in compensation to his victims.
In a Commons statement, Joyce apologised for his behaviour. Following his suspension from Labour, Joyce announced he was standing down as an MP.
In 2024 the
Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme found that the conservative MP
Aaron Bell had touched a woman on her left thigh, waist and bottom inappropriately and without her consent while in strangers bar in December 2023.
Also in 2024 the
House of Lords Conduct Committee found that
Lord Ranger of Northwood had harassed a group of people in Strangers’ Bar in January of that year.
In January 2025 the bar was closed for a review of security and safety procedures after a report of
drink spiking.
By 11 February 2025 plans were in place to reopen it with CCTV, more security guards and additional staff training.
The reopening took place on 24 February 2025
Access
In 2017 the bar was open to MPs, House of Commons staff grade B or above, senior civil service members of
Office of Parliamentary Counsel and former MPs who were either peers or had sat in parliament for at least 10 years.
[ It was also open to retired House of Commons staff if they were previously band A3 and above and had worked there for 30 or more years.][ The Trade Union Side Administrator and Staff News Editor could be served if they were there on official duties.][
In February 2025 the bar was limited to no more than 50 people at a time.]
See also
* Strangers' Gallery
References
{{Parliamentary Estate
Drinking establishments in London
Palace of Westminster