To be honest I was a bit cream-crackered and just wanted to crawl into bed but I soldiered on and promptly turned up at 11pm to discuss some ideas. Sure enough when I arrived they were nowhere to be seen and a few enquiries with the barstaff revealed that they’d buggered off for a drink somewhere else. Thankfully one of the barmen took pity and managed to get hold of them on their mobile. No, they hadn’t forgotten, and sent a message asking me to hang around for an hour or two because they’d be back later. Talk about a kick in the b*ll*cks when you least wanted it!

I was torn between sitting at an empty bar waiting for them to return or just flag a taxi outside and give it up as a bad job! Being a trusting soul I gave them the benefit of doubt and ordered another pint of crap lager. I flicked through the Pink Paper about eight times and downed a third pint before deciding to take up my bar rage with the boss. He was none too pleased being woken at midnight but, in true ‘friends and family’ tradition, he told me to call it a day. The next morning I got up at six to catch the train to Manchester feeling like some lethargic chav!

At this point the go-getter pointed out that they were entitled to a night off which caused a bit of a laugh in the office. Sadly we know they work a minimum of hours and, quite frankly, everyone thinks they’re lazy bastards! Anyway, the conversation moved on and he was asked what the venue was doing different that was worth publicising. After all we include everything there is to know on the venues page. There was silence at the end of the phone before he came back to tell us they were doing what they normally do… which is basically the same as they have done for ages!

The point of this tale is that some folks want everything for nothing! The Sheffield gay scene has never had so many venues and owners will have to fight to gain a share of the pink pound. I’m sure our anonymous venue managers are very good businessmen as they’ve previously shown, but now they can’t be bothered to get off their arses and move forward. The majority of people out at weekends are young and quite like change. Sadly, I fear that this ‘unnamed’ venue will continue to go downhill based on emails received to this website. The feeling is that they are happy to take our money off us but don’t offer anything different than they did this time last year.

I’ve had my rant and I’m sure much of what I’ve written will be edited so as not to offend the guilty parties (because they will know who they are). Patrick tells me to chill out more but some people make me so mad! Smell the coffee guys because you’re going down the toilet!

Luc

This month I can report that Sheffield has such a place. The only problem is that the club is situated where the gay scene first grew up.

Identity, on Attercliffe Road, opened last weekend with little fuss and modesty that puts many club owners to shame. Those of you who have visited will know exactly what I’m talking about. The fear I have for these brave entrepreneurs is that they will have hell of a job convincing the gay community to step outside their comfort zone and venture down there.

I truly hope that the public will support Identity because it deserves every bit of success. I’ve mentioned before that people have posted comments on forums bemoaning the fact that the Sheffield gay scene is trapped in a ‘same-old’ mentality. Now that something different has come along then I pray that these same people will put their money where their mouth is and support the cause.

In some respects it does have a lot going for it. Club Xes is just around the corner and people can make a night out of visiting both places. After all both clubs are open until 6am which is long after most other venues have put the shutters up.  

If there is one thing you do in August then it is to pay a visit to Identity and give these guys their just rewards. Full details about Identity and other gay venues can be found on our venues guide.  

Ben