Sydney’s GayBar closes suddenly
SYDNEY’S Gay Bar has become the latest LGBTI-friendly bar or club to have closed down and cease trading.
Bar owners Stephen Craddock and Nelson de Sousa made a joint announcement on Gay Bar’s Facebook page today:
“A year ago Gay Bar threw open its doors wider than Madonna does for a 20 year old Brazilian. We were the new kid on the block that had not seen a new LGBTQI bar open in 10 years. From that first night we were meet with queues of people that wanted to see the little bar we had christened Gay Bar. A year later and we witnessed people still coming back and new people still wanting to have a laugh, drink and a dance at Gay Bar.
So it is with great sadness that we announce that Gay Bar, as we have come to know it, will be shutting it’s doors. We’d love to say we’re going on holiday, but In the Dark Presents will be keeping us busy.聽
To all the Gay Bar staff and performers and DJs we would like to say a heartfelt thank you for all your hard work which helped make the memories and good times.
However, we want to be clear that this is not good-bye, we may take a leaf out of the Steps and Spice Girls book and come back when you least expect it.
Lots of love聽
Stephen and Nelson “
While the last line of the announcement indicates they will “come back”. the closure of Gay Bar comes on the back of the closure of other Sydney LGBTI-friendly night spots Nevermind and Taxi Club in recent years.
The Star Observer has contacted Craddock and De Sousa for further explanation as to why their bar had to be closed down.
What are your thoughts on this? Comment below.
I heard mixed reviews about this bar, but even those who loved it said it’s was very “WE ARE GAY STEREOTYPES! YEAH! Let’s get a fake tan and TWERK IT!!!”
I decided not to go when I saw they had a night which was playing “All your favourite pop songs, the radio edit version” – seriously? That’s considered good music? The radio edit version? How boring and safe can you get! Just stay at home and listen to Nova.
Maybe the community just doesn’t need such venues anymore?
That stated, the Oxford seems to be doing alright.
One last word of reply for Jason above, Sydney Council is engaged in an ongoing struggle to bring rough Oxford Street operations into line. But what look like shabby little operators, two bit operations, in fact have access to huge funds enough for Senior Council, And even Queens Council lawyers, and they just keep fighting like rabbid dogs in the Land and environmental court. They refuse to be subject to law. They have more money than council, more lawyers, and in court they win most times using the brute legal force big bags of money can buy. Please don’t blame council for that. It is State government that is on the take, not council. Maybe the SSO needs a court reporter as it seems the community issadly lacking the facts.
Well, it seems some things never change in a convict town. We all remember the Petrol Purse burning out genuine popular independent operators, leaving Sydney’s best a pile of smouldering ashes as the purse gobbled up everything in site into cartel business Well I would be willing to say,,, nothing has changed in 20 years except the criminal cartel hiding under cover of the gay community don’t leave grubby petrol soaked finger prints any more. They are far more organised now, but twice as criminal. Twice as vicious. If the cartel wants you to go broke, you will go broke. That’s the fact of it. They regard us and our community as their private property. A private club where mums the word. It has nothing to do with the fickle gay mind and people should stop using that juvenile line to ignore the true ugly facts. But as they say, the Truth will out. And it will with thecdirect community action now on its way. Maybe then real genuine operators with a passion and devotion for providing real hospitality will prosper in a free market, with competition driving higher service levels and creativity, and maybe then we will cease being an international laughing stock. An international disgrace. A mediocre SHAM. A convict town. Will the SSO be on board when the truth starts fliwing, or will they be locked in chains taking care of business… that’s what I wonder. Let’s see.
Hi Peter – I can’t help but think there’s an element of truth to what you’re saying. Some of the big gay venues in Sydney have ‘interesting’ ownership structures. Generally the people behind them are not gay, and have strong links to venues and identities in Kings Cross. I certainly don’t think it is all as it seems. There is no doubt that some of the current operators appear to have little regard for patron amenity, with the lack of refurbishments and filthy state of some of the facilities. It truly would be sad if an operator who genuinely cared about his customers had been pushed out.
I would also love to know the real reason why the bar closed – please do inform us if you find out Star Observer! Although, often business owners like to keep the real reasons to themselves. We may never know. It certainly started with a bang, but perhaps died out after a while?
Regardless, Stephen Craddock is certainly a positive force in the Sydney gay party scene and he helps to keep our reputation alive overseas. Had a great time at Shakedown at Marquee on the Sunday after MG. Best of luck with his continuing endeavours.
Ceasers,the HUGE Club over 2 Levels was the best club,it even had secure parking underneath,that was an excellent club,it was voted best club to be in such a small time, as shown in the SSO.
That huge plc was packed to the rafters,and with beautiful looking people dressed up to the nine’s…
Was a shame it had bad management…
Also I believe the Albury was a fantastic venue,I remember the Rocky Horror drag show there,was fun to watch,shame it closed it tore the heart out of Oxford street,then a boring little clothes shop,always empty,opened up in its place,what a shock that was…
My clubbing days are long gone,thankfully I enjoyed these places in my 20,s nowadays there’s no way I’d go to oxford street,it’s too Dangerous,very straight and a pain in the arse to find a parking spot.
Newtown is the plc to be these days,the Imperial says it all..
Thankyou
oxford street is a dive. im ashamed to be gay when it comes to the social nightlife sydney offers. the sydney council cant be bothered trying to help bring oxford street to life. i feel like im in a time warp. the 70s or something. oxford street looks so old and the clubs are so run down. yukkkk
The great closures of Sydneys gay bars can be attributed to the Sydneys fickle gay crowd nature. Always looking for the next best thing, bars often become very stale over a short period of time unless they find ways of re-inventing themselves. Stonewall, Arq and midnight shift (upstairs) all used to be packed to the rafters only a few years ago. Now the same old bars are tired and need a new lease of life.
Younger crowds expect more from Australia largest city. Young people travel around the world and have seen and been to the amazing clubs the world has to offer, and sadly Sydney, once known for some of the worlds best clubs (Arq) are sad and embarrassing to ourselves and out international travellers from abroad.
As other venues around Sydney become more hospitable to GLBTI communities there is less need for a centralised strip to offer the protection that was once so important to be able to go and enjoy a night out. And if these clubs are not going out of their way to attract patrons they will simply choose another venue.
Cost of entry, drinks and other substances in a down economy, where people are watching their money compounds those issue.
NSW strict liquor licensing and restrictions also means drink promotions, largely considered effective overseas at drawing the numbers into bars and clubs, are impossible to implement here without being in breach of some liquor law.
I’m glad I got to go there during Mardi Gras, before I had to head home. It was rather FABBY
Devastated. The only place I like to go gay these days. All the other places pale in comparison to the fun vibe great service drinks and music of Gay Bar.
Please come back soon!
really sad. there arent any real gay bars left. the “Gay Friendly” circus of bars and club are pretty abysmal and Oxford st hasnt been a cool place to go out in many years.
Shocking…
Gay Bar was great :(
This is really sad. It was one of the best places for me and my friends to go! I would really like to know why its a bit strange! is it due to the lockouts or other reasons? Disappointed Patron