The Clarence Launches This Week

Feature, By Christian Taylor, 26th August, 2008

Back in 2001, when Stuart Fraser and Andrew Clarke started their Manacle day parties in the basement of the Taylor Square Hotel, people said “they’ll never take off”. The detractors were wrong of course, as the weekend queues that often snaked around the block in rain, hail or shine were testament to.

Now they’ve taken another bold step, closing up shop and moving away from the so-called gay heartland to buy a hotel in the inner west, which houses not just one but two new gay owned and operated venues – Outbar and Manacle, which combine to make what is set to become Sydney’s new gay hub, The Clarence Hotel.

The doors to The Clarence swung open in May this year, almost a year since those at Taylor Square had closed. Andrew and Stuart hadn’t really advertised the opening, the ink on the contracts was barely dry, both spaces were still works in progress, and it had been a long time between drinks – but on that first night the place was absolutely heaving. Since then the team at The Clarence have been busily working to get the venue ready for this week’s official launch, which has meant endless hours of rigging and re-arranging, pruning and planning, construction and de-construction.

Now, both spaces are ready to go off with a bang. And there really is something for everybody.

Cabaret drag favourite Sandy Bottom will be hosting a couple of regular events in Outbar. There’s the monthly wine tasting night called Plonk, which is on tonight, and the fourth Tuesday of every month from 7pm. She’ll also be hosting the Outbar Gaymes every Thursday night from 8pm, where she’ll be bringing you a different indoor game to play every week. It’s sure to be a hoot – a drag queen, a new venue, indoor ball sports, alcohol – you do the math.

On Wednesday night things hot up in the Manacle space with the first night of Slick – the weekly jelly-wrestling competition from 8pm. Are you a force to be wreckoned with? Don’t mind getting a little sticky? Then make sure you register to compete when you arrive and show everyone what you’re made of. Anyone can step into the ring and there are plenty of prizes to win too – although in my opinion, being ogled by every man in the room is prize enough.

Meanwhile, for those who like their jelly on a plate and their balls firmly on the table, the weekly Pool Competition is on at the same time in Outbar, with cash, bar tabs and bottle shop vouchers up for grabs.

Thursday nights at Manacle will see top Sydney DJs Ben Drayton and Seymour Butz alternate each week, with Ben going first for launch week. Hot.

The Official Opening Night Party is on Friday from 9pm, and features J Bear, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and DJ Mark Alsop. The fun continues on Saturday night from 9pm with DJ Ryan Murphy. And because it’s the launch week, there’s no cover charge for these two parties this week.

And if you’ve been missing Manacle day club, the wait is over. Bent returns to Sundays, chain spider web and all, from 2pm and goes through until 10pm. Cover charge is only $10 and DJs will be Chip and Mark Alsop. And yes, Sydney’s favourite door bitch Vivian will be there to greet you all with a smile.

As always, dress to impress! Cloak check is now available Friday night through to Sunday night, so make sure you wear your hottest fetish gear.

We think The Clarence going to be the start of something big. We’ll see you there.

Check out photos from The Clarence here and here.

For more information, check out The Clarence’s website.

All About

---

All About

• Digg This
• Del.icio.us