Strangers' Bar

{{short description|Bar in the Palace of Westminster}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{coord |51|29|59|N|0|7|27|W|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|display=title}}

File:Charity collecting box in the Strangers' Bar, House of Commons (27779359930).jpg

The Strangers' Bar is one of several bars in the Palace of Westminster, the home of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, situated near the House of Commons. It is open to Members of Parliament and officers of Parliament, their guests, and members of parliamentary staff.{{Citation|url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-catering/transparency/catering-services-opening-times-and-access---jul-2021.pdf|date=July 2021|title=Guide to Catering Services|publisher=House of Commons}} The bar often sells ales and other beverages from small breweries across the UK.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-16 |title=Long Melford Nethergate Brewery served at Strangers' Bar in Houses of Parliament |url=https://www.jamescartlidge.com/news/long-melford-nethergate-brewery-served-strangers-bar-houses-parliament |access-date=2024-12-13 |publisher=Suffolk Free Press|via=James Cartlidge MP |language=en}} The bar was historically nicknamed the Kremlin due to its popularity with Labour MPs while conservatives preferred The Smoking Room.{{cite news |last=Wright |first=Ben |date=9 March 2012 |title=Parliamentary sessions curtailed by change in drinking culture |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17148799 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=14 February 2025 }}

Smoking was banned in the bar from 4 April 2005.{{cite news |last1=Russell |first1=Ben|last2= Woolf |first2=Marie |date=2 February 2005 |title=Order! Smoking in Parliament is banned |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/order-smoking-in-parliament-is-banned-5385034.html |work=The Independent |access-date=14 February 2025}} In 2013 the bar underwent at £13,000 refit.{{cite news |last=Booth |first=Robert |date=13 February 2017 |title=Davis-Abbott row latest in a long line of Strangers' Bar tiffs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/13/davis-abbott-row-latest-in-a-long-line-of-strangers-bar-tiffs |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News & Media Limited |access-date=14 February 2025}}

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 MP Stuart Andrew, hit Conservative councillors Luke Mackenzie and Ben Maney, and assaulted fellow Labour MP Phil Wilson. Conservative MPs Jackie Doyle-Price, 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17343851|title=MP Eric Joyce apologises to MPs over bar brawl|website=BBC News|date=12 March 2012|accessdate=10 September 2019}}

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/29/ex-tory-mp-aaron-bell-reprimanded-for-brazen-sexual-misconduct |title=Ex-Tory MP reprimanded for 'brazen' sexual misconduct |last=Courea |first=Eleni |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 October 2024 |access-date=29 October 2024}} 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.{{cite news |last=Adu |first=Aletha |date=17 May 2024 |title=Peer faces year's ban from Lords bars for bullying two people while drunk |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/17/peer-kulveer-ranger-faces-years-ban-from-lords-bars-for-bullying-two-people-while-drunk |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News & Media Limited |access-date=16 February 2025}}

In January 2025 the bar was closed for a review of security and safety procedures after a report of drink spiking.{{cite news |last=Asaf |first= Seher |date=17 January 2025 |title=Parliament bar closed after alleged spiking incident |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgj22d3n9l6o| publisher=BBC News|access-date=19 January 2025}} By 11 February 2025 plans were in place to reopen it with CCTV, more security guards and additional staff training.{{cite news |last=Nevett |first=Joshua |date=11 February 2025 |title=MPs' bar to reopen with CCTV after alleged spiking |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3d57x8r01lo |work=BBC News |location= |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 February 2025}} The reopening took place on 24 February 2025