Want another gay bar in Sheffield?

[adysheff 10]

I agree with richhen on a lot of his points. I just want somewhere to go and be myself - a traditional boozer but for gays and I'm sorry if that smacks of discrimination but if I were to - by some miracle - actually find a bloke and want to canoodle in a straight bar I don't think I would be in there for long. Even in the Lions I've felt threatened by groups of straight people who just want to view the animals in the zoo - or so it feels. Some of the London bars run a very strict door policy and that seems to work. There are innumberable establishments for straights - can't they leave our couple of places alone? I'd like a sort of gay Wetherspoons I suppose - no loud music, comfortable, good food, friendly staff and not overpriced drinks....

[richjob 10]

People keep talking about gay bars not letting straight people in (on other threads) would the one you are thinking of opening be the same ?

 

If so, this smacks of discrimination

 

And yes, I am straight, and a member of a gay bar !

 

To ban someone just for being straight would be discrimination, but under licencing law a landlord can choose who he/she wants to let in their premises and dosn't have to give a reason for not letting them in. No offence mate but you have hundreds of straight bars in Sheffield that you can go in and feel safe as a straight man, where as I as a GAY man have 2 bars where I can go and feel safe as a GAY man (hold hands with another man, kiss another man, dance with another man). Sensible, educated and supportive men like you are ALWAYS welcome in GAY bars but the knobheads are not.

[richjob 10]

I agree with richhen on a lot of his points. I just want somewhere to go and be myself - a traditional boozer but for gays and I'm sorry if that smacks of discrimination but if I were to - by some miracle - actually find a bloke and want to canoodle in a straight bar I don't think I would be in there for long. Even in the Lions I've felt threatened by groups of straight people who just want to view the animals in the zoo - or so it feels. Some of the London bars run a very strict door policy and that seems to work. There are innumberable establishments for straights - can't they leave our couple of places alone? I'd like a sort of gay Wetherspoons I suppose - no loud music, comfortable, good food, friendly staff and not overpriced drinks....

 

Here, Here.

[nick2 10]

Somewhere with a bit of class, not some glitterball-neon-disco-puffs-parlour would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Tony45 10]

Sheffield will never have a decent “Gay” Scene because the gay venues are too widely spread; whilst other towns and cities have been able to change from the dingy venues during the 90’s into today’s modern gay bars, Sheffield moved from seedy and downtrodden Attercliffe into any available venue in the City Centre.

 

A night out on Sheffield’s Gay Scene either requires a good set of lungs or an account with the local taxi firm. This leaves the venues that do exist fighting with one arm behind their back in trying to make a success of their business.

 

Posts above mention monthly one off nights such as Climax and Poptastic. Whilst a thriving Gay Scene would welcome such events and the extra footfall that they bring into the City, to have your customers taken away once a month on one of the few nights you turn a profit really doesn’t help. If these events concentrated on promotion, the venue shouldn’t matter. Could the spirit of Climax exist in Fuel, would Poptastic work in Dempsey’s?

 

If anyone has the money and desire to invest in Sheffield’s Gay Scene it would be far better spent in working with existing venues and the Council to create a gay village in the City Centre. With the redevelopment happening in the next few years in the City Centre we perhaps have a unique opportunity to drag the Scene into the 21st Century… will it happen? Don’t hold your breath.

[SAB15 10]

I think we've got too many 'GAY' bars in sheffield already.Why is there a need for GAY bars anyway, Other bars in sheffield aren't just for Hetrosexals you know

[SpiderPete 10]

I think we've got too many 'GAY' bars in sheffield already.Why is there a need for GAY bars anyway, Other bars in sheffield aren't just for Hetrosexals you know

 

Sheffield only has 2 gay bars, the rest are clubs.

 

Can you see the reation now when 2 gay men kiss in a non-gay bar, the hetro`s would throw a wobbly, hence why gay bars are needed.

[adysheff 10]

I think we've got too many 'GAY' bars in sheffield already.Why is there a need for GAY bars anyway, Other bars in sheffield aren't just for Hetrosexals you know

 

I can't believe someone can actually say that! Too many! My sides are splitting. Well I think there are too many hetro bars and some should close down immediately. Lol

 

As Spiderpete says (hiya petie!) and I said earlier how long would it be before two blokes kissing in a straight bar were either asked to leave or the subject of verbal or physical abuse. Yes the world has changed in the last 20 years but not that much.....

[nick2 10]

Yes the world has changed in the last 20 years but not that much.....

 

and it won't as long as people hide in the gay ghetto

[Trouncer 10]

I agree with a lot that's been said here. Me personally, would like something different to the stereotypical drag acts and cheesy pop nights that, although drag (no pun intended) the punters in, doesn't cater for anyone else whose not into those two themes. I'm sure there MUST be a significant number of gays who dont want that sort of night out.

 

BTW, I went into Lions Lair and felt I needed a gas mask from the smoke. As for Fuel, just same old, same old. Lots of pseudo trendies with prima donna attitude mincing like it's 1999. Dempsey's is just as bad but with more shell suits and baseball caps. Before you punters who frequent these places start to slag me off, it's just my own personal opinion. If people enjoy it, and have a good time, who am I to stand in there way. Nothing wrong with it at all. It's just that some of us want something else.

 

The nearest in Sheffield got to a good club was Poptastic at the Centre of Popular Music (The Hub ?). I used to enjoy leaping around to indie, then hopping to the 2nd room to leap around to chart stuff with student price drinks (I think ?).

 

I agree, a place run by professionals catering for clientelle wanting good food, with good music for the more discerning, that may run specialist nights like speed dating, indie, mature, Bi, TV/CD, DJ guest nights etc. would be great. It is a shame a city the size of Sheff can't open a/more places like this but I suppose it's a financial gamble ? Maybe if one of the more decent places in Leeds or Manchester would like to consider opening sister clubs in Sheff ?

 

.....or maybe if the guys who used to owned the main gay club(s) in Sheffield in the mid 90's hadn't destroyed 'the scene' back then due to greed, then maybe Sheffield wouldn't be in the sate it's in at the moment ?

[lilemma22 10]

I agree with a lot that's been said here. Me personally, would like something different to the stereotypical drag acts and cheesy pop nights that, although drag (no pun intended) the punters in, doesn't cater for anyone else whose not into those two themes. I'm sure there MUST be a significant number of gays who dont want that sort of night out.

 

BTW, I went into Lions Lair and felt I needed a gas mask from the smoke. As for Fuel, just same old, same old. Lots of pseudo trendies with prima donna attitude mincing like it's 1999. Dempsey's is just as bad but with more shell suits and baseball caps. Before you punters who frequent these places start to slag me off, it's just my own personal opinion. If people enjoy it, and have a good time, who am I to stand in there way. Nothing wrong with it at all. It's just that some of us want something else.

 

The nearest in Sheffield got to a good club was Poptastic at the Centre of Popular Music (The Hub ?). I used to enjoy leaping around to indie, then hopping to the 2nd room to leap around to chart stuff with student price drinks (I think ?).

 

I agree, a place run by professionals catering for clientelle wanting good food, with good music for the more discerning, that may run specialist nights like speed dating, indie, mature, Bi, TV/CD, DJ guest nights etc. would be great. It is a shame a city the size of Sheff can't open a/more places like this but I suppose it's a financial gamble ? Maybe if one of the more decent places in Leeds or Manchester would like to consider opening sister clubs in Sheff ?

 

.....or maybe if the guys who used to owned the main gay club(s) in Sheffield in the mid 90's hadn't destroyed 'the scene' back then due to greed, then maybe Sheffield wouldn't be in the sate it's in at the moment ?

 

 

I understand its hard to find something to suit everyone in Sheffield as the Gay scene is that small. Fuel do now run an Indie room every Friday in the trash palace with pop and chart in the main room. Its myself that DJs the indie room and do try and cater for everyone n will play all the old classics such as Undertones, smiths and the Jam along with the newer stuff arctic monkeys, Killers, the gossip etc. The night has been doing really well give it a try. Come say hello if ya come in and i'll try and stick ya a tune or two on

 

DJ Emma xx

[ccellis 10]

I think that there are already bars in Sheffield where the gay community can feel welcome that aren't "gay bars." I used to manage the Lions Lair when Fuel took over and alot of the customers never stopped moaning about one thing or another. As soon as i fixed one thing, another wasn't good enough. 2 bars is not enough for a growing community but why limit yourself to just 2 bars? The only places you need to stay out of are the chav bars (unless that's your thing) that contain the narrow-minded shellsuit-clad idiots that aren't willing to accept someone else's sexual preferences. There are loads of bars in Sheffield that actually care about customer service and the right product range - you just need to get out there and find them.

 

Check this out for starters.

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=205925