Which is weird when you compare it to other cities like leeds, manchester and newcastle. Whats so different about sheffields gay community that they can't seem to support the scene?
Those other cities have decent (or at least half decent) gay venues, thats why people go to them, the ones in Sheffield have always been cheap, half-hearted attempts to simply make money from the punters, you can't expect people to go somewhere just beacuse it's gay, they actually have to want to go there (unless you are SpiderPete who has some kind of mission to "support" anywhere gay regardless of how bad it is as long as he can get wasted on cheap lager). The club/pub actually has to be worth the effort of getting there, and nowhere in Sheffield is.
Those other cities have decent (or at least half decent) gay venues, thats why people go to them, the ones in Sheffield have always been cheap, half-hearted attempts to simply make money from the punters, you can't expect people to go somewhere just beacuse it's gay, they actually have to want to go there (unless you are SpiderPete who has some kind of mission to "support" anywhere gay regardless of how bad it is as long as he can get wasted on cheap lager). The club/pub actually has to be worth the effort of getting there, and nowhere in Sheffield is.
Both FAB and Fuel proved this.
WELL SAID !!!
Sponsored Links - Register and/or Login to hide this ad.
__________________
Have a look at Sheffield Metro Area on the Skyscraper City forum where you will find all the latest development news and goings on in Sheffield.
Those other cities have decent (or at least half decent) gay venues, thats why people go to them, the ones in Sheffield have always been cheap, half-hearted attempts to simply make money from the punters, you can't expect people to go somewhere just beacuse it's gay, they actually have to want to go there (unless you are SpiderPete who has some kind of mission to "support" anywhere gay regardless of how bad it is as long as he can get wasted on cheap lager). The club/pub actually has to be worth the effort of getting there, and nowhere in Sheffield is.
Both FAB and Fuel proved this.
well said thats why we have gone back in the stright trade a lot more money to be earned without all the bitchiness thanks adam xx
Those other cities have decent (or at least half decent) gay venues, thats why people go to them, the ones in Sheffield have always been cheap, half-hearted attempts to simply make money from the punters, you can't expect people to go somewhere just beacuse it's gay, they actually have to want to go there (unless you are SpiderPete who has some kind of mission to "support" anywhere gay regardless of how bad it is as long as he can get wasted on cheap lager). The club/pub actually has to be worth the effort of getting there, and nowhere in Sheffield is.
Both FAB and Fuel proved this.
You're right of course but there is also the problem that even before venues are open in sheffield people have already slagged them to the ground and refuse to go. Based on this forum (and I realise that this doesn't encompass the whole gay scene in sheff) it seems that theres so much bitchyness, animosity and fragmentation of the scene that it'll never get together and support new venues
__________________
“It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others, and to forget his own, ... You can't clear your own fields while you're counting the rocks on your neighbor's farm.” Cicero
I suspect that the "bitchiness" you've perceived is the occasional noise of gay people who don't feel obliged to support a venue which wants to bill itself as "gay" but actually isn't. It's just a matter of self respect
It's more to do with different expectations and standards, anyone who doesn't think a "pie & pea" supper in Dempseys with amateur drag "cabaret" sounds a fabulous night out isn't a "bitch" or being "anti-gay" or "not supporting the scene" they just have higher standards and would perhaps prefer a cocktail night in Takapuna, a gallery opening, a night in a posh restaurant etc. instead.
If you are into gallery opening dear and oging upmarket please come along and support Tyrannas Gay Art exhibition opening at Access space this coming friday evening 7.30pm.
And by the way the Penny Change drag show at Dempseys was a fabulously great night out - shame it wasnt well supported by more gay Sheffield people !
I suspect that the "bitchiness" you've perceived is the occasional noise of gay people who don't feel obliged to support a venue which wants to bill itself as "gay" but actually isn't. It's just a matter of self respect
Partly and partly to do wih established gay venues as well. I just think it will be tremendously difficult for any new gay venue to open and establish itself in the city which is a real shame
__________________
“It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others, and to forget his own, ... You can't clear your own fields while you're counting the rocks on your neighbor's farm.” Cicero
Partly and partly to do wih established gay venues as well. I just think it will be tremendously difficult for any new gay venue to open and establish itself in the city which is a real shame
You may be right but again, other cities seem to manage it.
We've been down this road on this forum before! I have no doubt that new gay places will come along, but I don't think anything great is ever gonna come to Sheffield. History reveals a long, long line of gay pubs and clubs in Sheffield and they've all been and gone. Doubtless Dempseys and XS will go in the same way sooner or later.
It's just sad that even if the odd place springs up, they've never as good as somewhere you'd find in comparable cities. They're always either half full, or they're full of straight people it seems. I don't think anyone has ever worked-out why Sheffield's always fared so badly, but I guess it has a lot to do with the student community (which has gradually attracted younger gay lads away to straight pubs and clubs) and the appaling rivalry between gay businesses in Sheffield, whenever they do come along.
In this latter respect, even though I'm no huge supporter of Dempseys, I think they've done pretty well to avoid most of the old inter-venue rivalry stuff.
WEe poped into affinity today for the first daytime visit, we stayed for several hours and had a great time, the guys on the bar were great, really friendly and stuff and could even make decent capuccino, so hats off to em.
WEe poped into affinity today for the first daytime visit, we stayed for several hours and had a great time, the guys on the bar were great, really friendly and stuff and could even make decent capuccino, so hats off to em.
I guess hats off to Affinity for deciding to open actuallu in the day time and do things like food and coffeee - see it isnt all that scary to make more money to support the venue !!
Sadly, Chox, they cant put a scanner on the door to detect if a non-gay person walks through so they will just have to put up with taking some non-gay money iI guess !!!
Location: I'm not from New York City, I'm from Rovrum
Total Posts: 140
I think the main reason that gay venues in the city struggle is because Sheffield is generally a fairly friendly place.
I come from Liverpool originally which has a fantatsic gay scene. The reason Liverpool has such a good scene is because there is so much intolerance. If you go out in many city centre venues and are visibly gay, ie you are very camp/butch looking or you are with your partner, there is a good chance you will be beaten up or at very least get a fair amount of hassle. Therefore lots of people go to gay venues for reasons of safety and there are a variety of busy bars and clubs.
In Sheffield I can go almost anywhere in the centre with very few exceptions and generally feel welcomed and have a good night - therefore the gay scene suffers as there is much more competition. The nights which have success are those with good enough venues/djs/events to compete with the rest of the city centre venues. There are nights which manage this such as Speed Queen and Climax but it is more difficult.
Heather, that is probably quite true, and a very clever observation; I myself have always wondered why Sheffield's Gay Scene is somewhat looser and less coordinated than that, say in Leeds, which is no larger in population (so I have been told). However, in Sheffield, you have lots of independent establishments and managers, as well as one-nighters, while in Leeds, and Hull, for example, you have most of the gay venues owned by powerful players which certainly deliver the goods, but they can leave less room for independent or entrepreneurial efforts.
However, as there are currently NO Gay venues/nights at all in Rotherham, does that suggest that Rotherham, too is as 'Gay Friendly' as Sheffield, or Chesterfield for that matter? I was once refused service at a chain pub in rotherham town centre because I was clearly 'dressed gay' and had eyeshadow and a wig on.
From my experience, Rotherham has real difficulty in maintaining any Gay venues/nights, because Sheffield is so much larger town centre, and is only 4-5 miles away; many people from Rotherham are able to afford to share a taxi back from Sheffield (or to stay at Club Xes until 6 on a Saturday/Sunday morning when buses start running again lol!)
__________________
Famous, NON-SMOKER, and living JUST 5 MINUTES away from anywhere in the City Centre!!! See My NEW WEBSITE, at: http://www.tia-anna.com
I actually think we are at the dawning of a new golden age for the scene, with a proper Pride, 2 gay clubs (dempseys and xes), 2 bars/ pubs (lions lair and affinity)- of which there are 3 places open day and night where you can also get decent food!, plus the 'Monthlies'- Rarara, Climax, Speed Queen and then there's the red room every weekend, plus any others i always forget some when i reel of these lists...
What we need now is:
A 'gay alternative' night for the non scene gays and indie/ arty types
a 'gay trad' venue- a FAB type place which is more exclusively gay to please those who want it, chox for instance.
I also think we should lobby for a gay zone on campo lane and queen street, so perfect it's crying out for it!!
I actually think we are at the dawning of a new golden age for the scene, with a proper Pride, 2 gay clubs (dempseys and xes), 2 bars/ pubs (lions lair and affinity)- of which there are 3 places open day and night where you can also get decent food!, plus the 'Monthlies'- Rarara, Climax, Speed Queen and then there's the red room every weekend, plus any others i always forget some when i reel of these lists...
What we need now is:
A 'gay alternative' night for the non scene gays and indie/ arty types
a 'gay trad' venue- a FAB type place which is more exclusively gay to please those who want it, chox for instance.
I also think we should lobby for a gay zone on campo lane and queen street, so perfect it's crying out for it!!
Maybe you ought to try to make The Quarter a gay bar
__________________
“It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others, and to forget his own, ... You can't clear your own fields while you're counting the rocks on your neighbor's farm.” Cicero
