DT’s to remain a gay venue

DT’s Hotel will remain an LGBTI venue and retain all its staff.

DT’s Hotel bar manager Kimberley Brooks told the Star Observer the popular Richmond drinking hole will “remain exactly the same.”

“DT’s will remain exactly the same, with all current staff and formats retained,” Brooks said today.

“We will remain a GLBTIQ pub with social justice and lack of attitude a focus.

“The new owners love DT’s just the way it is, there is no conjecture as to any changes except maybe a cheeky facelift here and there.”

This week the Star Observer reported the expected handover of the pub to Peel Hotel owner Tom McFeely would not go ahead.

McFeely revealed this week that the pub’s current owner had decided not to go ahead with the sale of the business at the eleventh hour.

McFeely said he was disappointed to hear the news.

“My motivation for entering into the deal in the first place was to try and guarantee the long-term future of DT’s as I was concerned that it would cease to be a GLBITQ community venue,” he said.

“Although its day-to-day operation was not at all attractive from a financial perspective, I was confident, given my ownership of The Peel, that I could bring with me a degree of expertise and stability.

“I have always believed that there is an inherent community responsibility when one owns and operates a gay venue, as there is more to it than simply trying to generate profits in the same manner as mainstream straight venues do.”

DT’s has been a gay venue for 16 years and is well known for its drag and community fundraising events.