Rita Ora. Pic: Neon Tommy Flickr

Brit award-nominated Rita Ora was announced as a headliner of As One In The Park this week. It will be the largest gay festival to take place in London in over a decade.

On the bank holiday on May 26, Victoria Park in Hackney will host the first As One In The Park festival, featuring Rita Ora, Katy B, X factor’s Union J and more.

As One has been held as an LBGT event at Vauxhall’s Fire club since 2010 and now promoter Orange Nation, the UK’s biggest gay clubbing promotions company, wants to turn As One into London’s largest gay festival in 10 years.

Craig Elder of Orange Nation said: “As the UK’s premier gay clubbing group, we felt it was time that London was no longer overlooked when it came to a major gay outdoor event. Over a year in the planning, we transform one of our most successful club brands into a massive outdoor event on one of London’s most loved festival sites.”

Acts on a further five stages and four indoor arenas as well as more live acts and DJs are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Showing that the gay scene is moving east, Soho bars making their way to Hackney for the event, including Madame JoJo’s, Code and Ku Bar.

Holly Johnson, the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, will also perform, marking his first London appearance in several years.

For more information and to buy tickets visit: www.asoneinthepark.co.uk

By Emma Rumney