The Sheffield gay scene part 2

[Roger123W 10]

To say something positive for a change, it was a brilliant charity night at Icons last night for MacMillan cancer. The show organised upstairs was very entertaining with 4 or 5 drag queens, live singing, raffle, laid on buffet food and the place was packed !

 

Only for I had to get my last bus home I would have stayed longer. It just goes to show that when it puts its mind to it, the Sheffield scene is quite capable of organising great nights !!

[Clown Shoes 10]

I think alot has to be said about the sheffield LGBT scene when alot of people on here have said that they were busy, couldnt be bothered, went to to Manchester etc

 

If the community cant get behind a pride in their own city then why should anyone else bother.

 

I thought it was a time that all the venues would unite but just seems to be too much bitchyness and commercial self interest.

 

And alot Meow!

 

Shame really.

[sharrowblade 10]

I think alot has to be said about the sheffield LGBT scene when alot of people on here have said that they were busy, couldnt be bothered, went to to Manchester etc

 

If the community cant get behind a pride in their own city then why should anyone else bother.

 

I thought it was a time that all the venues would unite but just seems to be too much bitchyness and commercial self interest.

 

And alot Meow!

 

Shame really.

 

what community ????? we don't have a gay community in Sheffield, not in the true sense of a community, no gay scene as such (as in open e very night) not variety, older people made to feel unwelcome, too bitchy, gay pubs cant even be bothered to funraise or support Pride, no gay cafes/coffee shops, no gay social groups (unless your at Uni) no gay stores, no gay village. We don't have a community in Sheffield FACT. I am too old to be ripped off, I can go to Leeds or Birmingham Pride have a great day and night, come and go as I like, choose where I want to eat and drink, see good quality caberet and music artists, I can pay £18 for 2 days of Pride in Manchester with so much variety to choose from and see groups such as All Saints. I DO NOT want to pay money to see no one anyone has heard of, be caged in and hidden away and as I mature man I want to be able to choose where I buy my drink and food from NOT because I am caged into an area. I was in Manchester this weekend and it was GREAT, even with the rain it was busy, I went to a club and everyone got on and was so friendly, cheap to get in cheap drinks, great music and lads of 19 were happy chatting to men in their 40's and 50's and it was great to see EVERY aspect of gay life on display (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Fat, Thin and every race) I never saw one single bitching or nasty incident anywhere. Just booked a hotel to go back in 2 weeks time. Give me something GOOD to go to in Sheffield and I will.

Edited July 6, 2014 by sharrowblade

[jamesogt 11]

I am too old to be ripped off, I can go to Leeds or Birmingham Pride have a great day and night, come and go as I like, choose where I want to eat and drink, see good quality caberet and music artists, I can pay £18 for 2 days of Pride in Manchester with so much variety to choose from and see groups such as All Saints. I DO NOT want to pay money to see no one anyone has heard of, be caged in and hidden away and as I mature man I want to be able to choose where I buy my drink and food from NOT because I am caged into an area.

 

Birmingham and Manchester both charge, both dont allow drink or food to be taken and both are fully fenced off from general access. You are still forced to eat or drink from whatever is offered within those boundaries.

 

Both Icons and Dempseys are open every night.

 

Manchester has been running snce 1990, giving it 24 years to build, Sheffield has been going for 4.

 

The upshot is that people here will always moan and complain. Flick through this and many other threads about Sheffield in general and you will see that. The fact is you and others may not have gone, but thousands did go if you take the day and night together, and they had a great time. It is a selfless task for those that take on the running of it, and maybe with a bit more effort and some less whining, people offering their time and support could help it to grow.

[EarthBoy 10]

we don't have a gay community in Sheffield, not in the true sense of a community, no gay scene as such (as in open e very night)

 

Both Dempseys and Icons are open every night.

 

not variety, older people made to feel unwelcome, too bitchy,

 

Where do older people feel unwelcome? There are quite a few "older" customers in Dempseys and Icons and in my experience everyone is friendly and nobody is made to feel unwelcome. Also, you will find bitchy people on the scene everywhere. Sheffield is no worse than anywhere else for this.

 

gay pubs cant even be bothered to funraise or support Pride,

 

Dempseys has had a collecting tin for Pride on the bar for as long as I can remember. Icons had a courtyard launch party the week before Pride and an after party on the night. Twist and Fuel also had an after party.

 

no gay cafes/coffee shops,

 

Few places have. I don't know of any in Leeds or Manchester, either.

 

no gay social groups (unless your at Uni)

 

We do have gay social groups. See a list here:

 

http://www.gaysheffield.co.uk/social/

 

Why not try joining one or two of the groups instead of whingeing? Or even start your own group if these aren't to your liking.

 

no gay stores,

 

What's a gay store? Don't gay men and women buy the same stuff as everybody else? Are there special gay products that only gay people buy? If you mean Clone Zone, they closed most of their branches some years ago because they weren't making money. I believe they now only have branches in four cities: London, Birmingham, Manchester and Brighton.

 

no gay village.

 

Do we need a gay village? Discuss.

 

We don't have a community in Sheffield FACT.

 

Writing FACT in capitals like that doesn't prove your point; it simply means that you are shouting. That's no substitute for reasoned discussion. What constitutes a gay community anyway? People make their own community based round their friends, places they go to, and people they meet whilst out socialising. We do have a gay community but it sounds like you don't want to be part of it.

 

I am too old to be ripped off,

 

Younger people don't like being ripped off either, and I don't see any ripping off taking place in Sheffield. Our drinks are certainly cheaper than in most of the bars on Canal Street.

 

I can go to Leeds or Birmingham Pride have a great day and night, come and go as I like, choose where I want to eat and drink, see good quality caberet and music artists, I can pay £18 for 2 days of Pride in Manchester with so much variety to choose from and see groups such as All Saints.

 

You can choose where you want to eat and drink anywhere; you aren't obliged to stay inside the Pride area all the time. Sheffield has plenty of nice bars and places to eat. "Good quality" cabaret and music is simply down to taste. I wouldn't put All Saints in that category, but each to his own.

 

I DO NOT want to pay money to see no one anyone has heard of,

 

Even at the big Prides, like Manchester, most people won't have heard of half the acts they have on stage. They just have a few big name headliners to draw the crowds.

 

be caged in and hidden away and as I mature man I want to be able to choose where I buy my drink and food from NOT because I am caged into an area.

 

You are caged in at Manchester Pride; it's just a bigger "cage" than the one at Sheffield. If you stay inside the cordoned off Pride area you can only buy food and drink from inside, so Sheffield is no different to Manchester in that respect. But you're not a prisoner, you can always eat elsewhere and return to the Pride area later.

 

I was in Manchester this weekend and it was GREAT, even with the rain it was busy, I went to a club and everyone got on and was so friendly, cheap to get in cheap drinks, great music and lads of 19 were happy chatting to men in their 40's and 50's and it was great to see EVERY aspect of gay life on display (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Fat, Thin and every race) I never saw one single bitching or nasty incident anywhere.

 

This sounds much like the weekend I had in Sheffield; yours was just on a larger scale. I'm surprised you had cheap drinks though; I always find Manchester's drink prices are a lot more expensive than in Sheffield.

 

Just booked a hotel to go back in 2 weeks time. Give me something GOOD to go to in Sheffield and I will.

 

You should try Sheffield with an open mind, instead of a closed one. If you go out having already made your mind up that it's rubbish then you're not likely to enjoy yourself.

[jamesogt 11]

 

You should try Sheffield with an open mind, instead of a closed one. If you go out having already made your mind up that it's rubbish then you're not likely to enjoy yourself.

 

Fully agree Earthboy, you must have been very patient to insert all the quotes. It seems to me Sharrowblade has a small chip on their shoulder regarding age...

[sharrowblade 10]

Both Dempseys and Icons are open every night.

 

 

 

Where do older people feel unwelcome? There are quite a few "older" customers in Dempseys and Icons and in my experience everyone is friendly and nobody is made to feel unwelcome. Also, you will find bitchy people on the scene everywhere. Sheffield is no worse than anywhere else for this.

 

 

 

Dempseys has had a collecting tin for Pride on the bar for as long as I can remember. Icons had a courtyard launch party the week before Pride and an after party on the night. Twist and Fuel also had an after party.

 

 

 

Few places have. I don't know of any in Leeds or Manchester, either.

 

 

 

We do have gay social groups. See a list here:

 

http://www.gaysheffield.co.uk/social/

 

Why not try joining one or two of the groups instead of whingeing? Or even start your own group if these aren't to your liking.

 

 

 

What's a gay store? Don't gay men and women buy the same stuff as everybody else? Are there special gay products that only gay people buy? If you mean Clone Zone, they closed most of their branches some years ago because they weren't making money. I believe they now only have branches in four cities: London, Birmingham, Manchester and Brighton.

 

 

 

Do we need a gay village? Discuss.

 

 

 

Writing FACT in capitals like that doesn't prove your point; it simply means that you are shouting. That's no substitute for reasoned discussion. What constitutes a gay community anyway? People make their own community based round their friends, places they go to, and people they meet whilst out socialising. We do have a gay community but it sounds like you don't want to be part of it.

 

 

 

Younger people don't like being ripped off either, and I don't see any ripping off taking place in Sheffield. Our drinks are certainly cheaper than in most of the bars on Canal Street.

 

 

 

You can choose where you want to eat and drink anywhere; you aren't obliged to stay inside the Pride area all the time. Sheffield has plenty of nice bars and places to eat. "Good quality" cabaret and music is simply down to taste. I wouldn't put All Saints in that category, but each to his own.

 

 

 

Even at the big Prides, like Manchester, most people won't have heard of half the acts they have on stage. They just have a few big name headliners to draw the crowds.

 

 

 

You are caged in at Manchester Pride; it's just a bigger "cage" than the one at Sheffield. If you stay inside the cordoned off Pride area you can only buy food and drink from inside, so Sheffield is no different to Manchester in that respect. But you're not a prisoner, you can always eat elsewhere and return to the Pride area later.

 

 

 

This sounds much like the weekend I had in Sheffield; yours was just on a larger scale. I'm surprised you had cheap drinks though; I always find Manchester's drink prices are a lot more expensive than in Sheffield.

 

 

 

You should try Sheffield with an open mind, instead of a closed one. If you go out having already made your mind up that it's rubbish then you're not likely to enjoy yourself.

 

FIRST THING FIRST, IF I WANT TO SHOUT I WILL

 

Not sure how old you are but I have been doing gay prides for 30 years, and I first went into a gay pub in Sheffield in 1986 and seen all the bars/clubs come and go thank you. I also use to Volunteer for the LGB Youth Group and was involved in setting up the LGB Youth clinic and the Fruit Bowl in Sheffield so I have got involved, I have also done volunteering to fund pride.

 

As for feeling welcome, I was assaulted in Dempseys which resulted in me being put in hospital, no help from Dempseys staff as the person who assaulted me was a "straight regular" police got involved so dempseys rewarded me with a ban. My friend was assaulted in Affinity, he is 63 and was put in hospital, he tried to defend himself when a young lad tried to take a picture of him saying " my Mum will never believe someone so old and ugly is in a gay bar". Myself and a friend in Fuel (old Fuel) been told by a group of young lads "it is disgusting you old people are in here, you should be dead your so old" . Never been out in Sheffield since. NEVER had any of that in any other city gay scene. Now you answer that.

 

---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 14:24 ----------

 

FIRST THING FIRST, IF I WANT TO SHOUT I WILL

 

Not sure how old you are but I have been doing gay prides for 30 years, and I first went into a gay pub in Sheffield in 1986 and seen all the bars/clubs come and go thank you. I also use to Volunteer for the LGB Youth Group and was involved in setting up the LGB Youth clinic and the Fruit Bowl in Sheffield so I have got involved, I have also done volunteering to fund pride.

 

As for feeling welcome, I was assaulted in Dempseys which resulted in me being put in hospital, no help from Dempseys staff as the person who assaulted me was a "straight regular" police got involved so dempseys rewarded me with a ban. My friend was assaulted in Affinity, he is 63 and was put in hospital, he tried to defend himself when a young lad tried to take a picture of him saying " my Mum will never believe someone so old and ugly is in a gay bar". Myself and a friend in Fuel (old Fuel) been told by a group of young lads "it is disgusting you old people are in here, you should be dead your so old" . Never been out in Sheffield since. NEVER had any of that in any other city gay scene. Now you answer that.

 

I know of one other older man who was recently assaulted in Dempseys and put in hospital, his crime not being young and pretty.

 

---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 14:27 ----------

 

I have been to Birmingham Pride and don't remember being caged in or paying !!! Must be my old brain playing tricks. I know you pay in Manchester, I have been many many times, my point is I don't mind paying IF I get some quality.

 

---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 14:27 ----------

 

I have been to Birmingham Pride and don't remember being caged in or paying !!! Must be my old brain playing tricks. I know you pay in Manchester, I have been many many times, my point is I don't mind paying IF I get some quality.

 

---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 14:30 ----------

 

Fully agree Earthboy, you must have been very patient to insert all the quotes. It seems to me Sharrowblade has a small chip on their shoulder regarding age...

 

 

No chip on my shoulder, just based on MY real life experiences of Sheffield scene and those of others my age and older I know. Also I was brought up in an age where I respected my elders

[jamesogt 11]

 

[/color]I have been to Birmingham Pride and don't remember being caged in or paying !!! Must be my old brain playing tricks. I know you pay in Manchester, I have been many many times, my point is I don't mind paying IF I get some quality.

 

---------- Post added 06-07-2014 at 14:30 ----------

 

 

No chip on my shoulder, just based on MY real life experiences of Sheffield scene and those of others my age and older I know. Also I was brought up in an age where I respected my elders

 

Birmingham has charged for the last 2/3 years, so maybe you went beforehand.

 

As you say you have been going to gay bars/prides for 30+ years, the incidents you have quoted in Sheffield then appear to be fairly isolated. There is also no accounting for the customers, rude people are rude no matter where they are. I had some stupid woman pushing and shoving in West St Live on NYE, not the bars fault, there are just some idiots around.

 

There are several 'older' in gay years (50+) posters here, I wont name them But as far as I am aware they still drink and go out to most of the places mentioned without trouble.

 

The reason Sheffield Pride is blacked out is due to the council and crowd control / Health and Safety, it has nothing to do with being sectioned from society. In theory you can't see any of Manchester or Birminghams main stage areas from the outside.

 

Manchester's gay village is not as safe as it may appear.....

https://www.google.com/search?q=canal+st+assault#q=canal+st+assault+manchester

[EarthBoy 10]

FIRST THING FIRST, IF I WANT TO SHOUT I WILL

 

Then don't expect to be taken seriously.

 

Not sure how old you are but I have been doing gay prides for 30 years, and I first went into a gay pub in Sheffield in 1986 and seen all the bars/clubs come and go thank you.

 

Snap. Our experience must be very similar. I used to do London Pride every year in those days and have done Manchester Pride most years since the mid 90s, plus several Prides in Newcastle, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Bradford and Barnsley, so I know a lot about Prides, big and small. I also used to go on the marches against Clause 28 in the 80s, so I know how the gay community can stick together when need be.

 

I also use to Volunteer for the LGB Youth Group and was involved in setting up the LGB Youth clinic and the Fruit Bowl in Sheffield so I have got involved,

 

So why did you say that there weren't any social groups in Sheffield if you know there are some?

 

As for feeling welcome, I was assaulted in Dempseys which resulted in me being put in hospital, no help from Dempseys staff

 

I'm sorry about your experience. I have heard other reports about Dempsey's door staff not being very helpful when help is needed, but I can only say that I've never witnessed any such events myself.

 

My friend was assaulted in Affinity, he is 63 and was put in hospital, he tried to defend himself when a young lad tried to take a picture of him saying " my Mum will never believe someone so old and ugly is in a gay bar".

 

This is very sad, but that young lad clearly hasn't much experience of gay bars. There were usually several "older" customers whenever I went into Affinity. Twist and Fuel publish lots of photos on their Facebook page and they aren't all of spring chickens.

 

Myself and a friend in Fuel (old Fuel) been told by a group of young lads "it is disgusting you old people are in here, you should be dead your so old" . NEVER had any of that in any other city gay scene. Now you answer that. Never been out in Sheffield since.

 

Old Fuel has been closed for several years, so if you've never been out in Sheffield since then you can't possibly know what it's like now. Why not come down to Icons or Twist and find out?

 

I know of one other older man who was recently assaulted in Dempseys and put in hospital, his crime not being young and pretty.

 

Clearly I don't know the circumstances of what happened but your friend's not being young and pretty can't have been the cause of it. Otherwise, the same could have happened to dozens of people.

 

I have been to Birmingham Pride and don't remember being caged in or paying !!! Must be my old brain playing tricks.

 

It used to be a free event but now it's cordoned off and ticketed, just like Manchester. Brighton and Liverpool Prides have gone the same way.

 

I know you pay in Manchester, I have been many many times, my point is I don't mind paying IF I get some quality.

 

Everybody's views will differ as to what they consider "quality"

 

No chip on my shoulder, just based on MY real life experiences of Sheffield scene and those of others my age and older I know. Also I was brought up in an age where I respected my elders

 

Everybody deserves respect, not just our elders.

[sharrowblade 10]

Then don't expect to be taken seriously.

 

 

 

Snap. Our experience must be very similar. I used to do London Pride every year in those days and have done Manchester Pride most years since the mid 90s, plus several Prides in Newcastle, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Bradford and Barnsley, so I know a lot about Prides, big and small. I also used to go on the marches against Clause 28 in the 80s, so I know how the gay community can stick together when need be.

 

 

 

So why did you say that there weren't any social groups in Sheffield if you know there are some?

 

 

 

I'm sorry about your experience. I have heard other reports about Dempsey's door staff not being very helpful when help is needed, but I can only say that I've never witnessed any such events myself.

 

 

 

This is very sad, but that young lad clearly hasn't much experience of gay bars. There were usually several "older" customers whenever I went into Affinity. Twist and Fuel publish lots of photos on their Facebook page and they aren't all of spring chickens.

 

 

 

Old Fuel has been closed for several years, so if you've never been out in Sheffield since then you can't possibly know what it's like now. Why not come down to Icons or Twist and find out?

 

 

 

Clearly I don't know the circumstances of what happened but your friend's not being young and pretty can't have been the cause of it. Otherwise, the same could have happened to dozens of people.

 

 

 

It used to be a free event but now it's cordoned off and ticketed, just like Manchester. Brighton and Liverpool Prides have gone the same way.

 

 

 

Everybody's views will differ as to what they consider "quality"

 

 

 

Everybody deserves respect, not just our elders.

 

We can only judge things by our own experiences and taste and Sheffield just doesn't do it for me, I want to go out without fear of assault (that attack real shook me up), I want to feel comfortable and I just don't in Sheffield, I don't have the confidence to try Icons or Twist on my own (my friends of a similar age refuse to go out in Sheffield) they are in Doncaster, Rotherham and Chesterfield. I loved Pride when it was free and held at the Cemetry Park, felt much more a community event. Dempseys just isn't my sort of place, I don't want to spend Saturday night in a "market café", I HATE plastic table covers LOL. Good luck to those who do and enjoy but at the moment Sheffield just dosnt do it for me, I really wish it did.

[Tyranna 10]

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[aaron1867 10]

I suspect you can argue and debate location and quality all day long, but you'll never see many people agreeing.

 

However, I do think the comment made by James & EarthBoy regarding Manchester and Sheffield prices are far away from the mark. The price difference between drinks of the two cities isn't very much at all. If Manchester is so expensive I wouldn't go myself so often! Pints & bottles in the right place are £3-£3.50 & house doubles can be found on Cansl St for £2.50-£3.30. I find the nearer you are to the car park the cheaper it is. Plus, if you want to go a lot further on a budget you can always find that offer in most bars in the village! Cruz offer alcopops from £1.50 & a small selection of lager for £2. G-A-Y 5 nights a week offer £2 drinks on ANYTHING* too. I could go on, I suppose, but there isn't that much between them, but as always there are always places that are shockingly priced, I paid £11 in velvet for a double.

 

Manchester pride coming up soon though, pretty interesting. The names aren't that big, price to get in has rose too.