Manacle latest venue to close

Manacle latest venue to close

The last Manacle will be held on October 10, as the Clarence Hotel’s owners decide there isn’t enough fetish interest.
“The leather/fetish community have spoken loud and clear and made it exceptionally clear that Manacle is not required,” Clarence owners Andrew Clarke and Stuart Fraser wrote in their members mailout.
“The regular monthly dress code nights, Men’s Only parties and the weekly Leather Rubber and Uniform themes have regrettably been so poorly attended that the need for such nights in Sydney became abundantly clear as not required.”
The pair assured leather and uniform fans they would always be welcome at the venue.
“The Clarence Hotel will continue to remain a safe haven for the leather/fetish communities and staff at The Clarence will never snigger at those in gear,” the mailout read.
“Staff will always be able to assist the fetish community in any way, including offering change rooms and leather and latex polish if required.”
The announcement follows last week’s news the Flinders Hotel had been sold and would close after the long weekend.
Inner west residents now anxiously await the outcome of the final Imperial Hotel Land and Environment Court hearing on October 8.

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15 responses to “Manacle latest venue to close”

  1. i agree with dave in there being just a simple bar. traditionally a leather bar is just that, a bar, where you can talk with others and meet people. dance bars seem to be losing in popularity, many people and papers seem to say so. for the most part manacle presented as a dance bar, not what many were seeking. in addition the $10 entry fee was a bit on the nose when all that was provided was a d.j, something everywhere else has without an entry fee

  2. i agree with dave’s comments regarding just a simple bar, for the most part manacle didn’t really offer anything for the $10

  3. oh dear .. whoever thort that gay Sydney would die such a painful death! Those of us who survived the halcyon days of twenty to thirty years ago will never see the likes again !Blame the twinky thintank that mistakenly believes equality is happening and want to be “straight-acting”!

  4. I travelled out to Manacle from the city a few times….$40 for the return cab, just to start , $20 to get into a pub bar ?? bring it back to city….id spend twice that in the bar if it was walking distance and im sure there is still some other kinky gay bois in the city would agree…

  5. It would be good if we got a new leather venue in 2010 again.

    The trick would be to keep it simple and make sure the place is in stumbling distance of venues on Oxford Street. Currently wasted venues like the Hopetoun, the Cricketers Arms or the Carrington Hotel could easily turn one of their rooms into a leather type bar.

  6. I am sad to hear of this news. Love going to Manacle as it is a safe place to go , even provides changing rooms for those patrons who need to de-robe a layer or 2. Music is great and the staff are friendly ( sometimes cheeky as well)
    It is not that far from Oxford St, have even caught the Red BBus that goes along Oxford St and stops virtually at the Front Door of the Clarence ( where Manacle is) , there is even night buses that come back into town. Love dressing up in my leather and having fun at Manacle. Don’t feel comfortable at the Midnight Shift. I feel sorry for Andrew and Stuart who set this bar up and supported a lot of leather/ fetish events. They have given a lot but received little support from the Gay Leather/Fettish Community. Think I might look at moving to Melbourne as they seem to have a better life style down there . Maybe Mardi Gras should move down there as well.

  7. I don’t think Craig’s comment could possibly relate to Manacle. It is the one venue which has and has had the elements of Events, Management, Variety, Vibe, Style & ‘etc’. Andrew and Stuart did an incredible job with the place and I am disappointed that it hasn’t been patronised.
    When it cames down to it, however, it was just too hard for people to go there.

  8. We may as well move to Melbourne or another country at the rate we are losing gay and lesbian venues, while all the straight rogue pubs are doing a roaring trade!! Not happy Jan!

  9. I believe that this bar is a good place but I wont go any where that there is a entrance fee I believe that is greed as every where I go I still end up with no money in my pocket by the end of the night, if the place was free to enter then I would go and my money would go towards drinks, and most of the time I ask friends to come to Manacle they say no as they mite as well go to oxford st as there is no entrance fee there, I guess when you drive from Blacktown, Penrith or Cambpeltown of west some where they just go right past as its not worth the entrance fee. So I guess its hard to get a crowd into Manacle when no one is prepared to pay, also to find not many people there.

  10. Thank you to so many that have emailed, posted comments throughout the media or called & we agree that closing MANACLE is sad.

    As always at The Clarence we welcome anyone’s suggestions for alternative events, variety, style & vibe. It’s patrons suggestions that made dress code, The MO, & underwear parties at MANACLE. The ideas & suggestions for the new theme have been great as well.

    I hardly think Craig that closing MANACLE to re-open that section of the Hotel a week later is dodging responsibility; it’s more paying attention to what patrons want. It’s responsibility to pay DJs, entertainers, staff and indeed the not insubstantial mortgage on a Hotel the size of The Clarence. The greater responsibility of course is to employ additional DJ’s entertainers & staff which would be fantastic.

    To maintain variety it’s great that Betty’s Girls, Dykes on Bikes, HCBs Chunky and Woof Club are still right behind us, thank you to you all. We’re also looking forward to hosting some MANACLE events in 2010

    The Clarence has been 2 GLBT venues in one Hotel since Andrew & I bought the Hotel in 2008 & while the MANACLE space is changing, the number of venues stays the same. Andrew & I Have been involved in leather/fetish groups & events for all of the nearly 20 years we’ve been together and of course the leather / fetish family will always be welcome at The Clarence in OUTbar, OUTback & Caesars

    Thanks to everyone again for the massive support behind the changes ahead

    Stuart Fraser

  11. Yet again a great bar has gone. Now where do we go – Arq, Stonewall, Palms. Congrats Sydney – we show yet again that we are no longer the Gay capital of the Southern Hemisphere.

    If Melbourne can manage to keep open a number of leather/fetish bars, then Sydney should be able too. Man this city has become so vanilla and boring.

    Well, even less reason for me to head out now.

  12. lol, venue closes and it’s all the patrons fault. It’s sad that sydney loses another venue but seriously, venues should pick up their act. Events, Management, Variety, Vibe,Style etc.

    There’s a definite need for venues of all types and in all areas. Blaming the patrons (or lack therof) is clear reflection on the venue and trying to dodge any sense of responsibility shows exactly why the venue is closing.

    ever heard of ROI?
    Nice try guys

  13. While Manacle at the Clarence was a good venue, the location was not ideal for those Sydney leather queens who find it impossible to travel more than 200m west of the dive that is Oxford St.