Chambers being turned into a gay bar

Flipper

I'm a regular in Chambers (formally Pi and Mercury) and on Saturday, I found out that the management have decided that from next Saturday, the bar is to become a gay bar. This is a ludricious decision IMO. I understand that as that gay bar across the bridge by the FAS office has closed and they are trying to capitalise on this but Chambers was fast becoming the most trendy bar in Cork and they've now screwed it up.

I assume the other gay bar closed due to lack of business so I don't know how they expect drum up even more business to fill what is a very big bar.

run_Forrest_run

Flipper wrote: »

... but Chambers was fast becoming the most trendy bar in Cork and they've now screwed it up.

maybe that's why they are turning it into a gay bar???

Seriously though, how can a place just decide some day to 'turn a bar gay'? Seems a little dumb/odd.

Ludo

Is there a sign up or something? Are there checks on the door?

qwertyphobia

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

Seriously though, how can a place just decide some day to 'turn a bar gay'? Seems a little dumb/odd.

It's not that hard to imagine is it? It happens in much the same way a bar would change and become a sports bar. Bars change markets all the time.

run_Forrest_run

qwertyphobia wrote: »

It's not that hard to imagine is it? It happens in much the same way a bar would change and become a sports bar. Bars change markets all the time.

and how many have become 'sports' bars of late? Were they a success? What the hell is a sports bar anyway??!! What, they show sports on the TVs in the place? How many of the patrons of such sports bars actually play sports on a regular basis??

DamienH

Eh a sports bar does indeed show sports on TVs. They tend to show sports which wouldn't be on in other bars e.g. The Ashes cricket there a while back. Why would anyone who goes to watch sport in a pub have to play sport on a regular basis? Bar usually aren't the realm of athletes, unless you're a darts ace There's the Capwell Sports Bar on Douglas St. ,not too far from loafers, and that place is always doing a fairly good trade. Chambers must have seen that there isn't a big gay bar in Cork anymore so they're trying to capitalise, maybe they think they can do a better job than those that have come before. It's one bar in a city that has loads, I'm sure you'll find an even more trendy spot.

Vinta81

I don't think Instinct is closed is it?

Fysh

...

I don't see what the problem is? I can't imagine they'll check you on the door to make sure you're 100% Flamingly Homosexual. The main change you might see is *gasp* fellas shifting fellas and ladies shifting ladies. Unless they're changing the look and atmosphere of the place, I don't see where the problem is.

Are you going to pop along once the transition is complete? Also, how did you find out, out of curiosity?

Edited to add:

Just had a quick look at ChambersBar.ie and the only thing I saw was mention of a gay night on Wednesdays called Sinners.

Illkillya

Ludo wrote: »

Is there a sign up or something? Are there checks on the door?

You must be able to name three songs by Daniel Beddingfield in order to get in the door.

Fysh

Illkillya wrote: »

You must be able to name three songs by Daniel Beddingfield in order to get in the door.

I reckon it'd be more like this episode of American Dad!:

SECURITY GUARD: Clang, clang, clang.
VISITOR: With the trolley!
*VISITOR is forcibly removed by additional security guards*
VISITOR: No! I just really like musicals!

Flipper

I found out by reading the sign that's on the door on the way in. It's basically an "invitation" to come to the launch of "Cork's newest gay-bar, Chambers" on August 1st (this Saturday) for finger food etc. I asked the bouncer on my way out and he just laughed saying he's not happy about it either but it's a decision the management made.

AFAIK, it's always been a gay night on Wednesdays in there.

Bill-e

WTF? Chambers was one of my favourite pubs in town. That is a very odd decision to take.
Maybe, it's only ghay half the week or something?
I've been to that gay bar on mcCurtains street once(don't ask.). It wasn't very busy at all and that place is an 8th of the size of Chambers.

They say 1 in 10 people are ghay. That can't be a good business decision!:eek:

Blitzkrieger

Fysh wrote: »

I don't see what the problem is?

Nor me. The only Saturday I was in there, there was a bunch of gays dancing in the corner anyway. Or they could have been european - it's always hard to tell.......

I don't see what difference it'll make. For every homosexual in there you'll have 5 fag-hags trying to go dancing somewhere they won't get bothered by men, and 10 straight guys pretending to be gay trying to shag them. You'll also still have all the culchies who won't go to Reardens because they don't want to look like culchies, but haven't heard it's a gay bar because they're culchies.

Right - I think that's offended everybody.....

Fysh

Bill-e wrote: »

WTF? Chambers was one of my favourite pubs in town. That is a very odd decision to take.
Maybe, it's only ghay half the week or something?
I've been to that gay bar on mcCurtains street once(don't ask.). It wasn't very busy at all and that place is an 8th of the size of Chambers.

They say 1 in 10 people are ghay. That can't be a good business decision!:eek:

Ah yes, and we've all forgotten to mention that rule where straight men and women can't go to a gay bar because you'll get pounced on and raped by a horde of rampaging gayists. WTF like? Gay-friendly doesn't mean anti-straight, for crying out loud.

1 in 10 may be gay, but judging by this thread a good 4 out of the remaining 9 may well be total spanners...

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

http://www.gaycork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9390

true apparently, big woop

Bill-e

Fysh wrote: »

Ah yes, and we've all forgotten to mention that rule where straight men and women can't go to a gay bar because you'll get pounced on and raped by a horde of rampaging gayists. WTF like? Gay-friendly doesn't mean anti-straight, for crying out loud.

1 in 10 may be gay, but judging by this thread a good 4 out of the remaining 9 may well be total spanners...

So would it be ok for a bar to announce that from now on they were Straight-Friendly. I think a bar should be a bar.
None of this straight/gay crap!

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Apparently there's much less of a division between gay and straight bars in Cork when compared to Dublin. As in a lot of places-the Brog, The Pavillion, The Quad etc would be considered "gay-friendly". Girl I know is living down here for the summer and she remarked on it a lot, you'd be out in a late bar and there's people there who are obviously gay couples even though it's not a specific gay bar.

Fysh

Bill-e wrote: »

So would it be ok for a bar to announce that from now on they were Straight-Friendly. I think a bar should be a bar.
None of this straight/gay crap!

Ah yes, because Cork being that bastion of equality there's nary a notion of places existing that might be, shall we say, 'hostile' towards gay folk.

Be serious for a minute, would you? The day we have proper equality we can start talking about having bars as "just bars". In the meantime, those bars that actively try to cater to the gay community will say so. There's no reason to assume up front that efforts to cater to the gay community will also alienate the straight community unless you have a problem with socialising amongst gay people, or think that gay people should be made to socialise in separate spaces to straight people. Which isn't really the bar's issue, is it?

FunkyMissMonkey

I think that when a place gets "branded" as a gay bar, it just means that security is perhaps a little more alert at the people going in, and what's going on inside (since sadly, even in this day and age there are still haters), and the music is likely to err more on the side of cheesy pop tunes.

There's nothing to stop straight people drinking in a gay bar, just like there's nothing to stop gay folk drinking in a non-gay bar. Everyone is free to drink where they choose after all!

As I understand it, Chambers isn't going to change that drastically, some of the events they're well known for will still be happening - the stitch and switch, salsa night to name a few, but the clientele will shift slightly. That said, a lot of gay people frequented Chambers regularly anyway, especially on the Wednesday Sinners night.

If you loved Chambers before, I don't see why you'd have to stop drinking there after Saturday, unless cheesy pop music offends you of course.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

FunkyMissMonkey wrote: »

I think that when a place gets "branded" as a gay bar, it just means that security is perhaps a little more alert at the people going in, and what's going on inside (since sadly, even in this day and age there are still haters), and the music is likely to err more on the side of cheesy pop tunes.

There's nothing to stop straight people drinking in a gay bar, just like there's nothing to stop gay folk drinking in a non-gay bar. Everyone is free to drink where they choose after all!

As I understand it, Chambers isn't going to change that drastically, some of the events they're well known for will still be happening - the stitch and switch, salsa night to name a few, but the clientele will shift slightly. That said, a lot of gay people frequented Chambers regularly anyway, especially on the Wednesday Sinners night.

If you loved Chambers before, I don't see why you'd have to stop drinking there after Saturday, unless cheesy pop music offends you of course.

Or the occasional boy in the ladies loos, I know a few people who still can't get their head around that lol.

But yeah seriously, it's not like Chambers is going to turn into a big shiny pink disco ball where you can catch gay. Same bar, same place, same drinks, slightly worse music and some same-sex shifting. I've seen more than one straight couple in sinners getting jiggy with it btw, you're not going to get asked for the password going in or anything

FunkyMissMonkey

Caiden Nice Footlocker wrote: »

Or the occasional boy in the ladies loos, I know a few people who still can't get their head around that lol

Very true, most gay venues seem to have unisex toilets to get round this issue!

Bill-e

Fysh wrote: »

Ah yes, because Cork being that bastion of equality there's nary a notion of places existing that might be, shall we say, 'hostile' towards gay folk.

Be serious for a minute, would you? The day we have proper equality we can start talking about having bars as "just bars". In the meantime, those bars that actively try to cater to the gay community will say so. There's no reason to assume up front that efforts to cater to the gay community will also alienate the straight community unless you have a problem with socialising amongst gay people, or think that gay people should be made to socialise in separate spaces to straight people. Which isn't really the bar's issue, is it?

HaHa, calm down calm down. I'm only trying to get a rise outof ya! lol
I've loads of gay friends, infact I'll be at a lesbian wedding this weekend!
Anyway, I'm just peeved that one of my favourite bars in town is now not really for me anymore. Ya sure I can still go in there, but it'll be all camp and when I go in or out of the place people will think that I'm gay. Which I suppose if I was a truely enlightened person then that wouldn't matter, but for me I'd feel uncomfortable with it.
What do you think?

Fysh

Bill-e wrote: »

I've loads of gay friends, infact I'll be at a lesbian wedding this weekend!
Anyway, I'm just peeved that one of my favourite bars in town is now not really for me anymore. Ya sure I can still go in there, but it'll be all camp and when I go in or out of the place people will think that I'm gay. Which I suppose if I was a truely enlightened person then that wouldn't matter, but for me I'd feel uncomfortable with it.
What do you think?

I think that anyone who assumes you're gay because you go to a gay-friendly bar is a spanner for one thing. And I think that you can spend hours going on about all your gay friends, but your assumption that any gay-friendly bar will automatically be camp suggests that you're not as open-minded as you'd like to claim.

The place hasn't even switched over yet and you're already trying to hold a wake for it and hark back to the good ol' days...

Random aside about the financial side of things- if they're making a change like this I would assume they've looked at their current finances, worked up some projections, and have concluded that it'll be good for them overall. Comparatively few businesses make it a point to try and lose money or alienate customers rather than attract them....

FunkyMissMonkey

Bill-e wrote: »

I've loads of gay friends, infact I'll be at a lesbian wedding this weekend!

Hmm, if it's in Ireland, you're not allowed to call it a wedding, since marriage isn't for gay folk apparently I wish your friends a lifetime of love and happiness in their union however.

Moving swiftly on ...

Bill-e wrote: »

Anyway, I'm just peeved that one of my favourite bars in town is now not really for me anymore. Ya sure I can still go in there, but it'll be all camp and when I go in or out of the place people will think that I'm gay. Which I suppose if I was a truely enlightened person then that wouldn't matter, but for me I'd feel uncomfortable with it.
What do you think?

It would be great if you were enlightened enough for it not to matter, or even better, that people in general wouldn't assume your sexuality based on the venues you decide to frequent. Hen night parties can often be found in gay-friendly venues, because they tend not to get hassled by men. I often find the atmosphere in specifically gay-friendly venues warmer and more tolerant then in regular bars, but I'm in no way saying that's true in every case of course.

This is an interesting discussion though, on the one-hand, the gay community in Cork are obviously pleased that they have access to a new bar where they can drink and meet friends in a safe environment, without fear or hate or attack from less open-minded individuals. Then on the other hand, the wider Cork community are mourning the "loss" of a bar to the gays. As to how camp it'll be, I challenge you to come and try it before you knock it I guess.

Daisy D

I think Chambers "turning" gay will be a great move. The layout as it stands is very gay, i.e. busts with cloth and fabrics up walls. The toilets in gay bars are not always unisex but sometimes. This is mainly because the ratio of men to women is greater therefore ladies toilets has more cubicles to cater for the bigger number of men. As for Instinct (I don't know if this was mentioned as I just scanned through most of the posts), Instinct anyway is still around, they closed few months ago for a couple weeks because the Rebel Bar Group went into voluntary administration over finances. But it is still there...dull and boring as ever. As for the gap in the market, there was always a gap there, Flux Bar is small, nice and a more hook up joint. Loafers, always small and will always have a big reputation as a lesbian bar. Instinct, the largest gay bar we have, very dark because of the lighting and paint, and not very great in so far as Chambers goes. Chambers is lighter, nice layout and has a fine big dancefloor and is going to be the only gay bar in the ACTUAL city centre.

Other than the above though, they are making changes to the layout etc...but all for the good, straight people should keep going to Chambers, it's the only way people can break down barriers between gay and straight and hey, if someone comes onto you, look at it this way...you're hot!

Judes

It's not the end of the world as we know it - it's just that a higher percentage of the gay community will be at said venue, it doesn't mean straights are barred - it just means that a few more same sex couples might be seen doing something like holding hands or a snog or two in an environment where they feel a bit more protected. No problem there! There will be loads of guys and girls dancing away to high energy music and having fun. I mean there are "thousands" of Irish Bars around the world - it doesn't mean that only Irish people can drink there, it just means you're guaranteed a good pint of guinness and a bit of a laugh.

gimmick

This thread merely shows the small mindedness of the closet homosexuals who fear their own sexulaity.

Which reminds me of a funny story - we were in some country town a few years ago, and we were meeting some friends. One of our crowd was told where we were meeting was a gay bar. On entering, he made sure at all times his back was close to a wall and would not speak loud enough, before whispering tio me "we better get out of here, I heard this is a *gay* bar". I just laughed at him and asked him even if it was, what did he think was going to happen. I might at it was about 4.30pm as well

castie

Keep on topic, dont flame and certainly do not insult other members here.
Seems everytime a sensitive topic comes up on this forum I need to leave this message.

miss_shadow

I think IMO a gay bar is a gay bar because gay people would find it easier to mingle and know that someone they chat up may be gay/lesbian too. I'd say they find it hard to do this in a non gay bar. Also there is about one million pubs in cork so turning ONE into a gay bar isn't going to hurt surely?!

Femelade

We'll i'm glad.
Never liked the place, hated going there, but my boyfriend and his friends did, so i always ended going there with them..
They wont go near the place now once i tell them..

Kazbah

Daisy D wrote: »

but all for the good, straight people should keep going to Chambers, it's the only way people can break down barriers between gay and straight

I go out a lot with gay/bi friends - ruby's/loafers/flux/instinct. I'm straight. On more than one occasion it's been said out straight or insinuated to me that gay women in particular don't like straight women in gay bars/clubs. One lady even told me that people like me are the reason she can't score because she's so pretty (her words not mine) that people assume she's straight. :rolleyes: Prejudice works in every direction. I've often been asked if I am gay on these nights, yet I don't think it would be acceptable if I went up to a stranger in The Classic and asked them if they were gay.

minidazzler

Meh, never been to chambers, as it just isn't my scene, but Gay bars are in general grand anyway, and in Cork Gay seems to be very tame compared to Dublin.

I've been to the George, (i'm straight, long story behind why I went there), in there you would know it is a gay bar. Especially if you are like myself a relatively handsome 20 year old. I had 3 guys try to buy me drinks. I didn't accept, but it was the first time a dude did that.

So, basically what I am saying is there are very few if any true Gay bars in Cork. Not everywhere is Gay friendly, but there is also no gay bar that a straight guy could go into and stand out like a sore thumb.

miss_shadow

Kazbah wrote: »

I go out a lot with gay/bi friends - ruby's/loafers/flux/instinct. I'm straight. On more than one occasion it's been said out straight or insinuated to me that gay women in particular don't like straight women in gay bars/clubs. One lady even told me that people like me are the reason she can't score because she's so pretty (her words not mine) that people assume she's straight. :rolleyes: Prejudice works in every direction. I've often been asked if I am gay on these nights, yet I don't think it would be acceptable if I went up to a stranger in The Classic and asked them if they were gay.

Oh that explains why i got those disgusted looks!

Shellie13

FunkyMissMonkey wrote: »

Everyone is free to drink where they choose after all!

except in Soho too young apparently AGISM!! lol

mik_da_man

In fairness Chambers is a decent bar.
what I'd love to know is if they are moving to a purely GAY bar or a gay freindly bar....

Gay friendly - im fine with that cause everyone can go in and know what to expect.
but a purely GAY bar will be intimatidating to the straight folk, and we may be refused (as happens in some dub pubs) regularlly.

If the second option happens the bar will loose business IMO...
It's quite a busy bar at the moment.

JupiterKid

Many of the views expressed on this thread shows how long a country like Ireland has to go before it can call itself truly modern and progressive.

Homophobia is alive and well...:(

Illkillya

JupiterKid wrote: »

Many of the views expressed on this thread shows how long a country like Ireland has to go before it can call itself truly modern and progressive.

Homophobia is alive and well...

Ridiculous. Point to one instance of homophobia in this thread? A few guys who are regulars of Chambers are annoyed that it is changing direction and will most likely no longer suit them. We'd have the same reaction from some people if The Bróg was becoming to a relaxing wine bar, or if the Crane Lane became a sports bar. Nobody is objecting to a gay bar opening up, it is the case as it relates to Chambers that is the focus.

Ludo

JupiterKid wrote: »

Many of the views expressed on this thread shows how long a country like Ireland has to go before it can call itself truly modern and progressive.

Homophobia is alive and well...:(

Lol...most if not all of the comments are firmly tongue in cheek (well I know mine was anyway). Very few people will care except those who drink there regularly and like it as it is now.

Bill-e

Do they still have Poker on Wednesday nights?

Kazbah

TBH I think Chambers as it stands is a bit chavvie so maybe it will take a step up in the classiness stakes

Fysh

Bill-e wrote: »

Do they still have Poker on Wednesday nights?

All depends on what you have in mind when you say "poker":

Fysh wrote: »

Just had a quick look at ChambersBar.ie and the only thing I saw was mention of a gay night on Wednesdays called Sinners.

gccorcaigh

Illkillya wrote: »

You must be able to name three songs by Daniel Beddingfield in order to get in the door.

Hahaha!! Thats priceless!