John Ribson, owner of The Well Hamilton Inc., hails from Hamilton, Ontario, with roots tied to the community’s essence. The inception of The Well began with a serendipitous encounter—a drive past his childhood haunts led to the purchase of Wellington St North, formerly the Wellington House. With a vision of fostering inclusivity, John transformed this space into a haven for the LGBTQ+.
The Well has been Hamilton’s go-to queer bar since opening in , offering a welcoming space for the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Located at Wellington St, it’s a standalone destination, making it a dedicated queer hub. Attendants tend to be between their mids to 40s, with a mix of regulars and newcomers drawn to events like drag shows, paint & karaoke, and bingo nights. It’s best.
13 talking about this · 4, were here. Welcome to the New Well Hamilton opening! A new Queer open space for Hamilton. It’s been too long since we.
John Ribson, owner of Hamilton LGBTQ bar The Well, which sponsored the May/June Pride issue of HCM, talks about the founding of the brand and its ambitious expansion plans, the history of gay bars in Hamilton, and his $1-million donation inspired by his own cancer battle. John Ribson was born and raised in Hamilton. After.