Clarence Hotel fails to sell

The Clarence Hotel failed to sell at auction yesterday.

The venue, which was taken over by former Manacle owners Andrew Clarke and Stuart Fraser after they opted out of the downstairs bar at T2, was passed in at $1.52 million.

Sydney Star Observer reported on May 5 that the bank had foreclosed on the venue, which had struggled to attract a consistent gay and lesbian clientele since its opening in May 2008.

Fraser and Clarke brought and end to Manacle nights at The Clarence last October, stating there wasn’t enough fetish interest in the venue.

“The leather/fetish community have spoken loud and clear and made it exceptionally clear that Manacle is not required,” Clarke and Fraser wrote in their members mailout at the time.

“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 venue attempted to resurrect the Caesars name at the venue, which also proved unsuccessful.

The Harbour City Bears’ Chunky parties held at the venue were always crowded, however following the foreclosure the event has been moved to level one at the Midnight Shift, which is also in the headlines over its ownership.