I work for a theme bar/pub chain which is looking to expand into the UK.
We already have a number of similar bars in Europe & the US.
Obviously the product we use in other countries wont meet the needs of the Sheffield public so Im trying to find out what peoples opinions are and you have any ideas which will help us suit your needs.
The concept is a cheap pre-club bar aimed at students, no enterance fee, cheap drinks, etc.
We also provide a 'open mike' system allowing new & amature DJ's the opportunity to play their music in small sets.
This 'open mike' is out main feature has helped build up support for people who have gone on to be world-class DJs.

If you were looking for a niche market....a good gay bar would go down a storm....as you can see from this forum there isnt one in sheff!

Failing that cheap drinks will get the students in....but make sure there is some hand pulled bitter for some credibility and to widen your appeal.............

There's a reason no good gay bar exists, it's because Sheffield is lacking the market for it. There is no "gay village" in Sheffield so it's not a feasible option to be honest.

I think you'd have to be clear of your market - there's already plenty of chain bars directly aimed at students such as the Scream & Varsity brands. To be honest I cannot see people who go there being really bothered about who's DJing as long as theres good cheesy music to get ****** to.

The places where people might pay a bit more attention to the Djs tend to be either places with a specific night on like the Forum or Tapakuna or smaller student friendly pubs just outside of town like Dulo, the Vine and the Lescar that ofetn have DJs playing - and these would probably get very different crowds to the chain student bars.

have good rnb nights and sell jump que tickets for gatecrasher1 and i'll be there with loads of my mates :)

The only thing sheffileld lacks is a traditional pub with a small bar in the corridor and lots of seperate rooms with doors which shut. Spit and sawdust floor etc, cheapish cask ales, and a mucky room at the back with a couple of pool tables, and a gig room upstairs, there are not enough small live venues.

Whatever you are thinking of, forget single large square room with loud music on all the time.There are already hundreds of those and we are sick of them.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
The only thing sheffileld lacks is a traditional pub with a small bar in the corridor and lots of seperate rooms with doors which shut. Spit and sawdust floor etc, cheapish cask ales, and a mucky room at the back with a couple of pool tables, and a gig room upstairs, there are not enough small live venues.

Whatever you are thinking of, forget single large square room with loud music on all the time.There are already hundreds of those and we are sick of them.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

For sure. I'd love somewhere like this in Sheffield, traditional pub grub too! Freshly cooked, shephards pie, lasagne, burgers, with big fatty fried chips and plenty of salad. Big portions, and cheap too.

If anybody ever comes up North Yorkshire way, be sure to check out The Falcon in Hilton, or The Shorthorne Inn at Appleton Whiske, both fantastic little pubs!

I don't believe any company would seriously waste their time researching what sort of pub to open if it's geared towards students. Students are renowned for drinking anywhere and don't give a hoot to decor or music, the ale price may slow them down a bit but usually not by much.
I'd like to see a few more pubs without deafening sound systems and more than one room so hopefully you can get to the bar.

Originally posted by WallBuilder
I don't believe any company would seriously waste their time researching what sort of pub to open if it's geared towards students. Students are renowned for drinking anywhere and don't give a hoot to decor or music, the ale price may slow them down a bit but usually not by much.
I'd like to see a few more pubs without deafening sound systems and more than one room so hopefully you can get to the bar.

Somewhere you could just chill for a quiet drink would be awesome! There's not really anywhere you can just sit and chat with your mates!

what this city needs is a nice large relaxed chilled out bar.

Originally posted by robbie
what this city needs is a nice large relaxed chilled out bar.

Crystal? :cool:

Originally posted by cheapNnasty
I work for a theme bar/pub chain which is looking to expand into the UK.
We already have a number of similar bars in Europe & the US.
Obviously the product we use in other countries wont meet the needs of the Sheffield public so Im trying to find out what peoples opinions are and you have any ideas which will help us suit your needs.
The concept is a cheap pre-club bar aimed at students, no enterance fee, cheap drinks, etc.
We also provide a 'open mike' system allowing new & amature DJ's the opportunity to play their music in small sets.
This 'open mike' is out main feature has helped build up support for people who have gone on to be world-class DJs.

I would say your target marget is already extremely saturated if your key demographic are students. Sheffield, and in particular, West St and the Devonshire Green area has an abundance of drinking establishments. As you have quite rightly pointed out, you do have a selling point - whether it's unique or not I'm not entirely sure.
Does your chain have a lot of capital to invest in your Sheffield venture?

Originally posted by Hook
Crystal? :cool:

But he said nice as well :D

Hi cheapNnasty

If you are looking for ideas for a new Pre Club venue,

How about hiring SHEFFIELD'S PREMIER TRANSSEXUAL DJ/KJ Martine Le'Clare to host Friday and Saturday nights for you. She has her very own brand of comedy and style that atracts punters from all over, even if only for the Outrageous dresses.

She was recently working in Cha Cha's Indian Bar/Restaurant and can be seen in the Black Bull, Ecclesfield most weekends.
Should you wish to book her, please post a reply on here and her manager will contact you.


Good luck with the new venue,

Eric The Man

Originally posted by robbie
what this city needs is a nice large relaxed chilled out bar.

Menzels on eccy road.

hhmm-well if you are wanting to open a studenty type bar you will need-

Lots of large comfy sofa's
Big screen TV's everywhere
1x large projector screen
cheap lager
2-4-1 price meals during the week
2 x pool tables
2 x gambleing machines

That should just about do it.

Howsabout a pub where customers are forced to play Twister after a skinfull? Think of the people you'd meet. Beats chuffing Zenger or whatever it's called, knocking over huge piles of wood.

Yeh, let's have a pub with traditional games like Twister, or a real-life Operation where we can sit at a table with our ciders and with a pair of tweezers yank bodily organs out of mice or rats.

Or maybe we could play Buccaroo, jumping on strangers' backs and calling them names till they throw you off. We could dress up like Bungle out of Rainbow and shout 'Oooooh, Geoffrey, can I play?'

Originally posted by eric_the_man
Hi cheapNnasty

If you are looking for ideas for a new Pre Club venue,

How about hiring SHEFFIELD'S PREMIER TRANSSEXUAL DJ/KJ Martine Le'Clare to host Friday and Saturday nights for you. She has her very own brand of comedy and style that atracts punters from all over, even if only for the Outrageous dresses.

She was recently working in Cha Cha's Indian Bar/Restaurant and can be seen in the Black Bull, Ecclesfield most weekends.
Should you wish to book her, please post a reply on here and her manager will contact you.


Good luck with the new venue,

Eric The Man

Eric, a lot of your posts seem to be about Martine.....is there something we should know :heyhey:

And as for "recently working" is she not there now ?

Is ir just me that find it funny that a guy with a username 'cheapNnasty' is looking to open a club...:D It makes you wonder what the decor will be like ;)

Originally posted by DaBouncer
There's a reason no good gay bar exists, it's because Sheffield is lacking the market for it. There is no "gay village" in Sheffield so it's not a feasible option to be honest.

Sorry but that is bulls*it!

Do a search on Gaydar for profiles registered in Sheffield and it brings up the first 500 users only, god knows how many are registered after this?

Plus I would say about 60+ % of the gay community in Sheffield aren't even registered on Gaydar, so there is easily a few thousands gay and lesbian people living in Sheffield which could easily support a decent city centre bar.

Dont' forget gay people have lots of straight friends who would also use such a bar/pub.

How did I know YOUR response was a retort to mine.
Well it's not bull**** ... it's fact mate.

A gay night was setup (as you well know) at Takapuna just one day a week, each and every week for the gay population of Sheffield.

It hardly received any trade from the Sheffield Gay community and the bar is a damn site better than the only city centre gay bar Dempsey's.
So much so that the night just ended up becoming a straight night with one or two gay clientel.

People didn't want it even though some people screamed for it... who's fault is that?
If you can't get enough trade to fill one night (just one measily night) a week then whoever opened up a gay bar in the centre of sheffield (like west street or division street) would see their overheads wuickly outweighing there income from trade... FACT!

I wouldn't put my money into such a venture!
Look at the facts... if Dempseys was that busy and making enough money, they'd have moved premesis a long time ago and made it more upmarket.
The Cossack (Sheffield previous main gay bar) closed down!

AVIT Bar... erm.... 4 nights a week it's empty ALL night! They only survive because they're in an industrial area surrounded by factories and thus have very cheap overheads.

Do some market research and you'd quickly learn this I'm afraid!

Hey CheapNnasty - don't be put off by DaBouncer's negative attitude towards a gay venue - we desperately need one! and none of these pay-as-you-go dressed-to-the-nines places; just your average bar, nicely decorated with background music, nice furnishings and (preferably) good looking staff!!
it is true that there have been several failed attempts, but the lack of venue doesn't mean that we'll settle for any old tat!
i worked in a city centre bar that had an 'unofficial' gay night - and it was always quite busy. there were no dress codes, door charges or deafening music, just an an above average number of request for pina coladas!

Originally posted by Hook
Crystal? :cool:

did I say cattlemarket? ;)

Originally posted by richynomates
Hey CheapNnasty - don't be put off by DaBouncer's negative attitude towards a gay venue - we desperately need one! and none of these pay-as-you-go dressed-to-the-nines places; just your average bar, nicely decorated with background music, nice furnishings and (preferably) good looking staff!!
it is true that there have been several failed attempts, but the lack of venue doesn't mean that we'll settle for any old tat!
i worked in a city centre bar that had an 'unofficial' gay night - and it was always quite busy. there were no dress codes, door charges or deafening music, just an an above average number of request for pina coladas!

the point os that they DONT make money.

I'm sure a new bar opening would strive to do that.

In order to make a gay bar profitable you have to make it such a good bar that it attracts a lot of straight people as well

Originally posted by DaBouncer
How did I know YOUR response was a retort to mine.
Well it's not bull**** ... it's fact mate.

A gay night was setup (as you well know) at Takapuna just one day a week, each and every week for the gay population of Sheffield.

It hardly received any trade from the Sheffield Gay community and the bar is a damn site better than the only city centre gay bar Dempsey's.
So much so that the night just ended up becoming a straight night with one or two gay clientel.

People didn't want it even though some people screamed for it... who's fault is that?
If you can't get enough trade to fill one night (just one measily night) a week then whoever opened up a gay bar in the centre of sheffield (like west street or division street) would see their overheads wuickly outweighing there income from trade... FACT!

I wouldn't put my money into such a venture!
Look at the facts... if Dempseys was that busy and making enough money, they'd have moved premesis a long time ago and made it more upmarket.
The Cossack (Sheffield previous main gay bar) closed down!

AVIT Bar... erm.... 4 nights a week it's empty ALL night! They only survive because they're in an industrial area surrounded by factories and thus have very cheap overheads.

Do some market research and you'd quickly learn this I'm afraid!

The formula with VIP at Takapuna just wasn’t right, this has been debated in another thread.

The Cossack was a thriving success until it was taken over by the management from Planet, it was they who run it, into the ground this is a well-known fact.

AVIT Bar suffers from it's licence and location, who the hell wants to socialise and drink in an industrial rundown part of the city like Attercliffe!

Dempsey’s is making a very health turnover believe it or not and Climax is the University of Sheffield’s most popular student night at the Foundry.

Your theory about the lack of market in Sheffield for a new gay bar is absolute rubbish in my opinion. :loopy:

If a pub is poorly managed and its not giving its customers what they want, where they want it will never be a success, it as simply as that.

How many straight pubs, clubs, nights got bust in Sheffield, would you apply the same lack of market theory to these failures?

how about just having somewhere with a nice beer garden, a chill out place where you don't have to shout to have a conversation and make it over 21's and not somewhere people go to get hammered but just to sit and socialise.

oh dear. am showing my age.

DaBouncers point about gay bars from a business perspective seems to make sense. By labeling the establishment a 'gay bar' they will inevitably drive some heterosexual customers away. A business model based predominantly on a particular demographic is proven to often fail. Perhaps this provides the basis for other gay-oriented ventures in Sheffield having failed. It would make sense.

Nobody denies that there isn't a market - it's just not a market large enough to sustain a business and enable it to thrive.

Furthermore, with a shift in attitude towards homosexuality (ie. it is becoming more socially acceptable) taking place why do people still feel the need for 'gay bars'? Surely if we are trying to build an inclusive society where everybody feels safe and valued regardless of their gender, sexuality or ethnicity there is no need for these establishments? Furthermore, doesn't their continued existence only serve to encourage non-integration more?

Originally posted by JonJParr
DaBouncers point about gay bars from a business perspective seems to make sense. By labeling the establishment a 'gay bar' they will inevitably drive some heterosexual customers away. A business model based predominantly on a particular demographic is proven to often fail. Perhaps this provides the basis for other gay-oriented ventures in Sheffield having failed. It would make sense.

Nobody denies that there isn't a market - it's just not a market large enough to sustain a business and enable it to thrive.

Furthermore, with a shift in attitude towards homosexuality (ie. it is becoming more socially acceptable) taking place why do people still feel the need for 'gay bars'? Surely if we are trying to build an inclusive society where everybody feels safe and valued regardless of their gender, sexuality or ethnicity there is no need for these establishments? Furthermore, doesn't their continued existence only serve to encourage non-integration more?

Please see this thread (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43037), many have the points you have made have been answered already.

Originally posted by skyfitsboy
The formula with VIP at Takapuna just wasn’t right, this has been debated in another thread.

The Cossack was a thriving success until it was taken over by the management from Planet, it was they who run it, into the ground this is a well-known fact.

AVIT Bar suffers from it's licence and location, who the hell wants to socialise and drink in an industrial rundown part of the city like Attercliffe!

Dempsey’s is making a very health turnover believe it or not and Climax is the University of Sheffield’s most popular student night at the Foundry.

Your theory about the lack of market in Sheffield for a new gay bar is absolute rubbish in my opinion. :loopy:

If a pub is poorly managed and its not giving its customers what they want, where they want it will never be a success, it as simply as that.

How many straight pubs, clubs, nights got bust in Sheffield, would you apply the same lack of market theory to these failures?
If you're soooooo confident then put your money where your mouth is and start your own!
Get a business plan together and open the bar. :loopy:

Where would you put it? There is no "gay village" in Sheffield which is exactly my point. The market isn't there because sheffield doesn't have a viable location to cause a thriving market.

I'm not saying there isn't enough gay people in sheffield, but they're not going to go out night after night to the same place now are they... there is after all only so much you can take.

When VIP launched as a gay night the model was an excellent one based on the wants and requirements of the gay public in sheffield... they just failed to pull themselves away from Leeds and Dempseys.
As a promotor I can guarantee hands down (and I would put money on it) that if you opened a gay bar in the centre of Sheffield... you would either see it's demise completely... or change to a "gay friendly" establishment within 12 months.

Like I say... put your money where your mouth is and stop shouting and start doing.... good luck convincing a bank manager to lend you the cash with a business model that would very quickly start to crack!

Originally posted by JonJParr
DaBouncers point about gay bars from a business perspective seems to make sense. By labeling the establishment a 'gay bar' they will inevitably drive some heterosexual customers away. A business model based predominantly on a particular demographic is proven to often fail. Perhaps this provides the basis for other gay-oriented ventures in Sheffield having failed. It would make sense.

But using the above post that aiming at a particular segment will result in failure, that would also mean that 'student' bars, 'irish' bars, '80s bars' etc etc etc would fail, as they are themed towards one particular segment.
the fact is, you don't have to be a student to go to a student bar or gay to go to a gay bar. they are there primarily for their chosen group, but anyone can (and does) go.
and i think driving away of some hetrosexual males will be more than compensated by the attracting of yound groups of females, who tend to frequent gay bars in ever increasing numbers.
there is no case for saying that a bar aimed towards gay people is more likely to fail because of this one single issue. i've lived in a town with a 13,725 population (2001 census) and it manages to support a full time central gay bar with no obvious financial concerns.
i think a gay bar is as viable as any other segment orientated operation.

Originally posted by skyfitsboy
Please see this thread (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43037), many have the points you have made have been answered already.

I've had a quick scim through the thread but as yet, I'm still unconvinced that the market is large enough to sustain a new venture. Furthermore, the thread doesn't seem to answer my point about continued segregatory practice; instead you speak of "exclusivity" and a policy of zero tolerance on "homophobic attitudes". To me segregation and exclusivity promote the same ideal - separatism. It's a vicious circle really, promote exclusivity and segregation and you only further ensconce homophobia. Just a thought.

I've got no problems with a gay couple sitting at the next table to me in a bar. I might object if they were groping each other, "swapping spit" (stealing your phrase Nick2!) or performing other leud acts. But then, I'd object if a heterosexual couple were doing that also. If a 'gay bar' endorses this sort of behaviour as acceptable then it only further perpetrates the stereotypical view of a 'gay ghetto'.

It's nothing to do with all the areas mentioned nor can it be compared with a town housing a full time gay bar (please note that you only mentuioned a gay bar... not many) with less than 20000 population.

Sheffield is a weird place for night life, given it's size you would have thought the night life would have been better but it's not and the factors are 2 fold.

1) Market - believe it or not the market fluctuated greatly due to the success of close towns such as Leeds and Manchester. People find it just as easy to club in these places as in Sheffield so that's what a vast amount do.
2) Sheffield City Council overheads and licencing. Given the fact only few bars have opening past 1am (currently only Takapuna has a 2.30am licence) it does no possitive work to Sheffield city night life.

Skyfitboy you stated in the thread you mentioned that VIP @ Takapuna wasn't ideal because of the night it was on and people have to get up for work. Tell me then, how is a full time gay bar in the centre supposed to survive on just weekend occupancy? With Sheffield overheads for town centre locations it wouldn't.

You have some involvement with Central Fire Station Bar dont you Richy? Why not get together with Skyfitsboy and start a revolution and open this fully self sustaining gay bar in Sheffield city centre (i.e. division street/ devonshire street / west street). you have bar knowledge and skyfitsboy is obviously clued up with the gay community to know that it would be a success that your venture should work :lol:

Skyfitboy... you know that thread you linked to which is titled: Someone with loadsa money PLEASE open a gay bar in Sheffield!!, that' exactly what you'd need to make it work and sustain your overheads during the mid-weekly losses untuil the weekend.

Sorry... but it's the truth... like it or lump it!

Originally posted by DaBouncer
If you're soooooo confident then put your money where your mouth is and start your own!
Get a business plan together and open the bar. :loopy:

Where would you put it? There is no "gay village" in Sheffield which is exactly my point. The market isn't there because sheffield doesn't have a viable location to cause a thriving market.

I'm not saying there isn't enough gay people in sheffield, but they're not going to go out night after night to the same place now are they... there is after all only so much you can take.

When VIP launched as a gay night the model was an excellent one based on the wants and requirements of the gay public in sheffield... they just failed to pull themselves away from Leeds and Dempseys.
As a promotor I can guarantee hands down (and I would put money on it) that if you opened a gay bar in the centre of Sheffield... you would either see it's demise completely... or change to a "gay friendly" establishment within 12 months.

Like I say... put your money where your mouth is and stop shouting and start doing.... good luck convincing a bank manager to lend you the cash with a business model that would very quickly start to crack!

Dabouncer, I really have no ambition to open a gay or straight bar in Sheffield or anywhere else for that matter, so your shouting at the wrong person.

I don't need to go out and put my money where my mouth is, thank you very much:rant:

Some of your comments really make me laugh though. :D

How would a city estabilish a gay village if no business took the initial step of opening the first bar in the city and why does there have to be a village in the first place for a new place to be a success?

Your comment questioning whether or not a gay bar in town would be able to pull in customers night after night, well straight bars and Dempseys manage to do it don't they?!

The model for VIP was promising but face it they choose the wrong venue and screwed it up, even the name VIP sounds tacky and uninviting.

Your name rings a bell wasn't you involved with the launch of VIP, is that why you are so bitter about the gay scene in Sheffield?

Well we're sorry you don't like the name, maybe I should have gone for something along the lines of Moist and Climax then... I know Juices or Lube :roll: this is ibviouasly what was missing.
And yes I am involved with VIP (as well as Damo who's a Sheffield Forumer and Sparklesista).
We created VIP initially at the request of people crying out for gay bars and gay nights in Sheffield.

We built but they didn't come... why? Well that's the million dollar question. The venue... by your own admission Takapuna is an excellent venue (you have said this many times before so why NOW in THIS thread is it suddenly not).
The problem you have stated is that it's on a week night. Well we are still here and still going strong but the night caters for a predominently straight crowd these days because that's who enjoy the night.

I have no mallice towards the gay community in Sheffield... I enjoyed it when they were coming down and you seem to be misunderstanding me. Gay nights are great (I've happilybeen to climax) there's no trouble and a good atmosphere.
However the market (no matter which way you slice it) isn't there not to sustain a full time gay bar.

Don't open a gay club then... but please stop asking others to waste their hard earned (borrowed even ;) ) money doing so when all that will happen is that it'll go straight down the swanny.

Like I say I have no mallice and would welcome and love to see a selection of full/part time gay bars/nights emerge in Sheffield, but the FACT is... they wouldn't flourish. Prove me wrong!

i have no involement in any bar in sheffield, and neither do i want to have. i don't understand how your only arguement is to tell people who don't want to, to open a bar!! I don't have any intention of opening a bar, and i think skyfitsboy has said the same.
cheapNnasty is asking the question and is the one who wants to open a bar. why not put your bad experiences to good use and inform cheapNnasty of any advice you can give him so as not to make the same mistakes that you did.
i seem to remember a previous posting made by DaBouncer (on a different thread) saying that they carried out market research, etc, etc, and lauched the ill-fated VIP night. Obviously, the market must be there for him to have done it in the first place, and i think he may be a good source of help. Maybe the same mistakes won't happen twice then.
If you decide against a gaybar cheap, tell us what the winning "type" will be....

You seem to be taking things too personal and the wrong way.
How is VIP ill fated when it's still going strong?
It just isn't catering to a total gay clientel anymore... it's now a more maintstream (for want of a better word) night.

My apologies if for assuming you have anything to do with a bar... I assumed (I will remember not to do that again) you had something to do with The Central Fire Station.

I only suggested you ghuys opening a bar of your own because you guys seem to shout the loudest about how much call for a full time central gay bar there is in Sheffield. Well I can promise you there is not... not from my experience anyway!

Yes we did market research and it seemed to say to us that a night would be great. People shouting from the rooftops at who much they wanted one. However when it cam down to it, they didn't want it as bad as they thought.

They asked for a nice bar... we gave them a nice bar, they asked for good music which wasn't stereo typical gay cheesy music (not my words) so we did that, they asked for central location, we gave that and it still didn't work as a gay night.
Why? Door charge? Well we asked if people would still come for a small door charge to cover costs of these requirements and it was a yes, but still no.

All I can say is from personal experience that there is no market in Sheffield for a full time gay bar in the city centre. There may be enough people to fill it, but with overheads, doorcharges, and the fact it's not on a gay street like canal street (which seems to work in most other cities) then the likelyhood is that the night/bar would fail as a gay bar.

My opinion (and others) take it or leave it... do what you will!

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Well we're sorry you don't like the name, maybe I should have gone for something along the lines of Moist and Climax then... I know Juices or Lube :roll: this is ibviouasly what was missing.


I'm quite found of edible names like Fudge, Bourbon, Cream and fluid names like Tequila, but not overtly sexual cheesy names like Moist or Lube lol!:D

Takapuna has a great interior, but just lacks something atmosphere and energy, I can't explain it, been several times over the past few years and always felt like i can;t wait to move on to somewhere abit more lively.

The bar staff are great though in Takapuna.

i think an open-mike venue sounds good. however itd be good if it was aimed at students AND ex-students.

i think it needs more nice bars in town that doesnt attract yocals, eg crystal and now revolution are nice but full of townies.

theres a market for a funky type bar to attract the students AND esp the ex-students. im in drinking limbo as i dont wanna be going out with townies but im too old for itsascreams and varsitys.

somewhere like browns in leeds or notty (i think they are building one in the former education building so they must feel there is a market there). this also is a market with a bit of cash, we want the student lifestyle but most earn decent graduate money to have it...

i dont know if this helps tho, as everyone in this thread wants different types of pubs/bars!

p.s. no need for gay bar - as people have pointed out theres not much of a 'community' here

but the open mic has potential to be good, as long as its done right

if only we lived in amsterdam

How about a 90's themed bar? There are no end of 80's bars popping up but you never really get anywhere that plays claasic 90's tracks. I'm sure there would be a good market for it.

I agree. Somewhere that plays a wide range of indie/alterative stuff would be good too. You usually have to go to a club for that sort of stuff.

I kno wthat Reflex have a 90's bar, but please, its pretty cack!

Originally posted by empea
itheres a market for a funky type bar to attract the students AND esp the ex-students. im in drinking limbo as i dont wanna be going out with townies but im too old for itsascreams and varsitys.
DULO is the funkiest bar you could ever wish for, and it serves superb guinness. No townies, try it tonight.

Originally posted by THCAyle
if only we lived in amsterdam
Well speaking as a regular visitor to that particular City, I would rather have the prices of sheffield, where I can get a Pint for half Amsterdam prices. And Our climate, it can get absolutely freezing over there in the winter. Although I love Dutch people, they are so friendly and chatty.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
Although I love Dutch people, they are so friendly and chatty.

generally, that's because they can sniff out sterling pounds from a distance :)

I think the problem witht he Sheffield gay scene is that people are so used to going to Leeds, Manchester or even London that they would actually rather do that than go out in Sheffield. I very rarely go out on the gay scene but for me part of a night out on the scene is the fact that it's in a different city.

The only reason the Cossack kept going was that it wasn't just a gay pub, everyone of every persuasion drank there, it went down the proverbial when it was turned into a "proper" gay bar, with no pool table, naff music, neon lights and dire decoration, it was so over the top camp that most gay people stopped going there.

People, I've read this thread from top to bottom and I think I may have the answer. All we need in Sheffield is a branch of Baa Bar. Cheap shooters (£1) and cocktails (approx £3), bottled beer and lager (£1-£2.50 a bottle), plus it caters for everyone, gay, straight and bi. Funky, trendy but doesn't exclude older folks, with the added bonus of a small dance floor. I truely believe Baa Bar would go down well in Sheffield, especially if Sheffield City Council would start giving out later licences for bars, so it could open til two. And before you ask, no I dont work for the chain, it's just my favourite bar in my adoptive city of Manchester. There they have two, one in Deansgate Locks, and the other just off Canal St.

Originally posted by DaBouncer
You seem to be taking things too personal and the wrong way.
How is VIP ill fated when it's still going strong?
It just isn't catering to a total gay clientel anymore... it's now a more maintstream (for want of a better word) night.

Is VIP not gay then? when did that happen?:suspect:

thanks muddy, i always forget about that place.

i shall go

e x

I have to agree with da bouncer on a lot of his comments,i too would like to see more gay friendly bars.Im straight myself,but have gay friends whom i enjoy a night out with.
On our nights out there has never been any trouble whatsoever in the 'gay' pubs but nights out 'up town' in the bars and clubs always usually end up with trouble,not involving us specifically but just trouble in general it dosent matter if im with 'gay' or 'straight' mates there always seems to be loads of trouble in town.I always seem to have a better night out in the gay pubs/clubs than i do on a regular trip to town.
After a week at work i like to relax and wind down on my nights out and enjoy a hassle free 'boogie' without being hassled by idiots who either want to fight you or take you home!All in all i would welcome a new'gay'Bar in Sheffield,which could be enjoyed by gay/straight alike.

what does she sweep out the cellar when she hasn't got a gig? :hihi:

Originally posted by eric_the_man
Hi cheapNnasty

If you are looking for ideas for a new Pre Club venue,

How about hiring SHEFFIELD'S PREMIER TRANSSEXUAL DJ/KJ Martine Le'Clare to host Friday and Saturday nights for you. She has her very own brand of comedy and style that atracts punters from all over, even if only for the Outrageous dresses.

She was recently working in Cha Cha's Indian Bar/Restaurant and can be seen in the Black Bull, Ecclesfield most weekends.
Should you wish to book her, please post a reply on here and her manager will contact you.


Good luck with the new venue,

Eric The Man

You need to do something that every other bar is not. Despite what many have said the music is very important to a night. Maybe a UK garage night or something else unique to bring the students and young uns in. Have separate nights with different music ie thursday funky house friday UKG. This way it will not be boring and you will attract variety of customers. Forget about all thse gay tranny etc nights as you will be neglecting a massive section of the community.

Originally posted by dwhembro
Forget about all thse gay tranny etc nights as you will be neglecting a massive section of the community.

Unlike a UKG night would? :confused:

if uve ever seen the UKG scene down london and around its massive. Just cos you dont like it dont mean it wont attract. When Dj EZ came up to Republic 3 months ago or so ive hardly ever seen it that packed and live in there

Originally posted by Lucky_13
if uve ever seen the UKG scene down london and around its massive. Just cos you dont like it dont mean it wont attract. When Dj EZ came up to Republic 3 months ago or so ive hardly ever seen it that packed and live in there

And if you've ever seen the gay scene down London you'd also know it's massive. I was just pointing out that a UK garage night would only attract a specific clientele, much as a gay night would, and I never said I don't like UK Garage. Saw EZ play in Gas Club (when it was open) for my birthday.

Good lad UKG fan after my own heart. It was implyed that UKG may be one night of many not all the time. Just out of interest, how does a gay bar actually become a gay bar and get a reputation as such?? always wondered about that one.

Originally posted by Hook
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

For sure. I'd love somewhere like this in Sheffield, traditional pub grub too! Freshly cooked, shephards pie, lasagne, burgers, with big fatty fried chips and plenty of salad. Big portions, and cheap too.


Anywhere with food cooked in an oven, NOT A MICROWAVE!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Originally posted by lee_at_69
Anywhere with food cooked in an oven, NOT A MICROWAVE!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I'm all for a big of real cooking, and some well trained chef's rather than 'microwave technicians'

Originally posted by BertieBasset
what does she sweep out the cellar when she hasn't got a gig? :hihi:

You abviously dont know her, being Sheffield's Premier Transsexual DJ / KJ she is in comstant demand for gigs.

she is working at the moment at the following bars:

White Bear & Black Bull in Ecclesfield
Queens in High Green
Parson Cross Hotel in Parson Cross
as well as other private functions

she has her own brand of comedy and cam make most idiot men cry if they dare to heckle her. if you dont believe me then try it out.

Gary,

Bruno and Martine have ceased working at Cha Cha's for the moment and from what i am led to believe there is no entertainment there at prescent other that a pay to hear Internet Jukebox.............. is this really going to work in a city centre bar ?

Hope the new venue for you is working out ok and i hope to see you there soon mate.
dont tell anyone but i'm thinking of asking Martine out on a date, wot do you think Gary? do i stand any chance?

Eric The Man