The team behind Haggerston gay pub The Glory is pulling off a gala spectacular to begin the council’s year-long pride celebration.

Hackney Gazette: Jonny Woo as Liza Minnelli. Picture: The GloryJonny Woo as Liza Minnelli. Picture: The Glory (Image: the glory)

John Sizzle, who co-owns the pub in Kingsland Road, will host the launch evening for the Hackney Pride 365 Festival on Friday next week in Stoke Newington Town Hall’s art deco ballroom.

And Jonny Woo will deliver a punked-up version of Liza Minnelli’s iconic Tony Award-winning hit 1970s show Liza with a Z – with the help of a 25-strong cast of drag Lizas.

The festival aims to “celebrate tolerance and diversity every single day of the year”, and events from gardening clubs to clubnights will be running for 12 months, themed on the borough’s historic, diverse and boundary-breaking LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex) community.

Hackney Gazette: John Sizzle as Liza Minnelli. Picture: The GloryJohn Sizzle as Liza Minnelli. Picture: The Glory (Image: the glory)

Advance tickets are £15 on Eventbrite.