Flinders to close weeknights

Flinders to close weeknights

The Flinders Hotel will shut its doors to weekday trade in a pre-emptive strike against the economic shit storm anticipated by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. From this week the Flinders will only open its doors for trade between Friday and Sunday nights.

The venue’s general manager, Chris Milne, said the move was necessary to protect against further economic downturn.

We’re concentrating all of our energy into the weekend because our Fridays and Saturdays are fantastic, but it’s quiet during the week anyway, and then you have the economic downturn and we’re going into winter, he said.

This is a pre-emptive move. We’re doing it so we can stay afloat in the future, but it’s not like we are in financial difficulty right now.

Milne said plans to renovate the venue would probably be delayed until better times.

The Flinders is not a walk-by pub. We have to make it a destination venue, he said. Heaps of people don’t come out during the week and that’s where people are cutting costs … so we’re just concentrating our efforts into making the weekends bigger and better.

Other venues are still reporting decent numbers, although many are finding it difficult to differentiate between the impact of the slowing economy and the impact of the 2am lockout.

What’s affecting us most is the 2am lockout, but in these economic hard times it is difficult for us to understand why the Rees Government would be inflicting that on us as well, Arq owner Shadd Danesi said.

Stonewall owner Craig Bell similarly reported good figures, but was wary of any sudden change.

We haven’t yet seen any major drop in numbers, but it’s something we are concerned about, he told Sydney Star Observer.

It’s something that’s on everyone’s mind. But at the moment it’s a bit difficult to tell because we’ve had the 2am lockout nonsense which has impacted and we’ve just come through Mardi Gras as well, so maybe through the next six weeks we’ll be able to get a better idea of how things are travelling.

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37 responses to “Flinders to close weeknights”

  1. Gary you say the words “Twinky Boys” and “Poof” So what was your purpose of your John Laws Crusade. Isnt that a tad Hypocritical? Dont you think people will be offended by your name calling?

  2. Robert,
    I love a frosty stuck up supercilious commentator like yourself.
    My activism is not about sitting around in a dirty night club being ripped off by ruthless owners.
    My activism involves wearing a suit to a court of law and fighting for legislative change.
    I guess that is where we differ.
    As you travel down life’s track you will be confronted with many challenges.
    Robert I know you lack the courage to do what I do.
    What I do is also very hard work and it takes guts.
    But thanks kid for the “back hander”.

  3. Yet more indication of fast-receding gay life in toned-down Sydney – not a patch on the halcyon days of 25-35 years ago!

  4. Oxford Street is just one of the worst places to go in Sydney. Look after our own??? Don’t make me laugh. There are so many bitter twisted people on the scence that manners and politeness disappeared a long time ago. I prefer straight pubs too. At least you have a chance of findning decent conversation. Seriously it needs a huge wake-up call. Bring on the Imperial. Inner West beats the city hands down and we are all starved of a decent Gay venue.

  5. Oh, and SSO, can I suggest you and that other publication that pretends to be a paper stop giving this man a place to voice his bitter vitriol and perhaps we can all get on with life.

  6. Gary Burns
    It is time you stopped living in the past
    Sure, things were different when you were younger, but that doesn’t mean they were better.
    It is all relative.
    I can see nothing ‘better’ about living in a time when in this country you could be jailed for sleeping with someone of that same sex.
    Tell me, is that better than today?
    Or what about the fact that in ‘your day’ we were persecuted by the police?
    Was that better then?
    You may not appreciate nor like the state of today’s scene, but there are plenty that do.
    You call youself a gay activist, yet any activist worth their salt would realise that to remain relevant you need to move with the times.
    Your inability to do this makes you, as far as I and many others of my generation are concerned, irrelevant.
    I suggest you stop putting crap on ‘twinkie’ boys and start showing the same respect for the younger generation that you demand we show you.
    Perhaps when you and others start doing this, instead of running off on ridiculous sentimental tangents on this and other forums and in letters pages, our community may once again join togerther and move forward for the common cause.

  7. Mark,
    I want to see how pretty you look when you are 50.
    I bet your beer gut is a give away that your not so pretty anymore.
    Twinky boys should ever put crap on us older poofs because without us you would have no venue in which to wear your barbie doll party dresses.
    please consider !

  8. There was a time not too long ago (Not 1973 Gary) that you could come into a Bar, have a cigarette and a drink, had a little music playing in the background, a nice sofa to sit on and you can “look around” cruise. No pressure. It was a home away from home. Now on Oxford St you feel like your monitored by your every move. No respect by fellow Gays, Bar staff and Security, Drugged up zombies asking you for money, tasteless music thumping so so loudly its most deafening, not feeling safe at all, Annoying Drag shows, need I say more. Can you honestly enjoy a night out on Oxford St anymore? Would a young Gay person want to visit there alone? probably not!!

  9. The “Real” Flinders died in the Arse when ARQ opened its doors.
    It was a real Flindergarten that was packed to the rafters that went off every friday but mostly saturday nights,It was the place to go.That david guy that ran the place always had the cutiest bartenders and if you ever got bored you could join your friends who packed the laneway in the back for some fresh air.
    People even danced on the bar and no-one was over 28,only the sugar daddys who leaned against the walls,drooling.
    You never went home until dawn because it was that good of a place.The place might have a restaurant now upstairs but the club downstairs changed from its ear-marked patrons with 30″ waist and smooth bodys & cute faces to heavy weight bears that have migrated from some other clubs
    Noop those day’s of getting ready to go to “The Flinders” are loong gone,thanks

  10. If gay pubs want me dollars here are some tips. There are thousands of gay men in inner Sydney (with cash) over 40 who are ignored by gay venues. Target the twinks and go broke! Bar staff – try smiling and some friendly words. The barmen in San Fransisco & Amsterdam are ALL charming – it works! Forget the tip tray (jesus mary, you only got me one thing from a fridge). Venue – black with torn tacky posters and $2 shop rainbow bunting, classy. Some chairs & tables to sit around. I don’t want to stand up all night. All the straight venues I enjoy manage to provide them. Start some fun entertainment at 9pm then 11pm then 1am. (Lock out 2am) If its a week night then 7-8pm. We farts struggled to make straight venues gay friendly and to be honest I’m really enjoying them – join me!

  11. There are some problems with the idea of supporting particular gay venues – many gay people don’t work or live near the said venue. Moreover, those of us in the burbs (a lot of us, in fact) go to local pubs and feel quite comfortable and happy doing so (and some of us don’t drink at all but that’s a different story). Sydney in 2009 is radically different to 1979 and while Oxford St might be okay occasionally, many gay men socialise locally.

    So, while the Flinders may be okay as far as pubs go, there is too much competition and demographic changes are not very favourable.

  12. The Imperial at Erskineville? I walk past that place everyday and it’s all boarded up, with absolutely no sign of any work being done on the place. There were a few builders in there 6 months or so ago, but since then there’s not even a tradesman’s van parked in the street.

    Still even if it did re-open, is one pub in Erskineville a threat to Oxford Street?

  13. Sadly I think the modifying of closing hours for homosexuality venues is because of the tough economic times.
    We shouldn’t have a blame & claim philosophy of saying it’s the community’s fault.
    My spin on all of this is the early lock out times may have changed the way the homosexuality community entertains and spends it’s hard earned.
    I still reminisce about a gay community that had FLO’S PALACE.
    Now that was a venue that would hold up in these tough economic times.
    As a older homosexual I don’t venture out much anymore because I find the music too loud.
    The drag shows a bore and an interruption to my night.
    Remember in my day we had Cappricios and Chez Ivy’s.
    These shows were not boring young men dressed in frocks badly miming a camp old tune.
    I can still see Rose Jackson & Karen Chant doing a camp duo on the stage of Cappricios night club.
    These days the drinks are too dear.
    All of this could be because I have lived in the gay community at it’s best and can’t be bothered with a venue that fails to offer entertainment or maybe it is because I am just too bloody old to put up with the second best.

  14. I think it’s appalling that people could say this of the Flinders.

    I have been running my events there for Gay4Play every month in the restaurant not to mention others downstairs and the food was excellent and great value.

    It’s just a shame that this “community” you all speak of is gone (because I am sure you are all renovating your homes) couldn’t get behind one of the last few gay owned and run pubs in town for a $10 meal once a week. If you had this may have never happened. How many of you dine at the more up market places?

    Then to say the Imperial is going to shut down Oxford St. Perhaps it will give it a good go but it’s going to be straight owned just like the others and shows that our community members are the fickle ones not the true bars that want to try and rebuild what we all once had.

    Sorry guys but to see a great pub be slagged off. I know the effort all the guys at the Flinders have put in to get this thing going. I know why Oxford has died and it’s the patrons not the business owners.

    Ok thats my rant over. Sorry. I would like to join Jon in saying a big thankyou to Chris, Katie and the guys for looking after us over the last 3 years and we will be continuing to bring our events to the Flinders as they are more than happy to open their doors if someone has a great idea for the community.

    Perhaps in there lies a challenge for you all. Stop complaining and do something to save this great pub. Bring an idea (and a crowd) to Chris and lets all get back to having a laugh

  15. There will always be a need for gay clubs and bars. I recently visited New York and San Francisco where gay nightlife is alive and well. The problem with Sydney is we have allowed Oxford Street to deteriorate to the point where it is a virtual no-go zone for most except the most die-hard gays. It is just not a nice place to visit. The planning laws over the last few years have failed us and we have allowed massive venues, poorly run straight clubs and way too many fast food outlets to take over. It’s time to stop talking and actually fix this problem

  16. Attended Flinders during MG with three other friends. Very impressed with the service, bar people were friendly with a good attitude and the security at the door, especially the lovely woman, did a very good job of handling the crowds on Friday and Saturday.

    Can understand how they need to close down during the week as we’re in a recession. Makes total sense to close to save expenses and stay open over weekends. Many people are also reining in spending.

    My friends and I will definitely support the Flinders from now on. Keep up the great work.

    Also my friends and I thought the Flinders out of all the gay pubs on Oxford Street had the best attitude as well as being the friendliest.

  17. Glad that they are not closing all together. I seriously thought the Flinders closed or had not re-opened until 2 months ago when I saw that it was being valued by the owner and published in the paper. I clearly need to get out from under my rock. They don’t seem very visible in the Gay press either!

  18. Well do you want a Flinders Hotel or not? All over the world, businesses are initiating austerity measures to survive. Employees are accepting 4-day working weeks to save their jobs. Things will get a lot worse before they get better. This pub is only doing what it needs to do to survive and all the usual suspects can do is cry, “Shame, shame, shame.” Grow up.

  19. I’d like to congratulate Chris, Katie & the gang at the Flinders for running one of the most community oriented pubs around.

    Ever since Harbour City Bears were given a big welcome at the pub a couple of years ago the Flinders have fully backed our club.

    The Flinders offers HCB members special member discounts, has supplied us with many raffle prizes for fundraising, regularly donates to our nominated charities …along with other support in ways far too numerous to mention.

    It’s a shame the Flinders won’t be open Tues to Thursday, but that’s their business decision.

    It’s great that the Flinders together with Harbour City Bears is launching a new Sunday social called “Bears on Sunday” from 4pm on Sunday March 29th. The pub was previously closed on Sundays.

    Once again the Flinders has been very generous – donating a cash prize which allows HCB to offer a members draw for the frist time at “Bears on Sunday”.

  20. The Flinders is a very community minded hotel. We have the Harbour City Bears Den Night on a Friday night which is a non-for-profit community based organisation. We have contributed prizes to them when required as well as various other methods of support. They in return have been a fantastic loyal & fun part of the gay community to work with. We are actually extending a Sunday afternoon to them starting a week this Sunday – the 29th March – called ‘BEARS ON SUNDAY’ for the older, original Harbour City Bears and are contributing weekly cash toward a members badge draw. The Flinders is also one of the few Hotels that stated doing things regularly for the gay girls as well as the guys with ‘Les De-Luxe’, ‘Tribe’ with Mandy Rollins & Feisty, ‘Rockout!’, ‘Luscious’, ‘Bada Bing’ & ‘Red Light Disco’ to name but a few. 3 of which are still running & very sucessfully. We’ve had the JJJ parties here as well which in the end got too big for the venue. I 100% agree about supporting local gay venues as well as we all spend a lot of time & effort in putting specific fun events on for all the gay community. Remember it costs to have DJ’s playing as well as having background party music, in fact those costs have incresed alarmingly – all of which need to be incorporated in to drink prices. We at The Flinders are shutting mid week as from next Tuesday due to the economic downturn which will get worse before it gets better & the fact that Winter is ever fast approaching which are also the quieter months of the year. We will be open for business Fri through to Sunday with dates, & floors available for a variety of functions. Rememeber we also have a 24 license & we LOVE what we do here. That is why we are taking precautionary measures in advance!!!!…….

  21. “Whatever happened to -˜community’ and that overwhelming desire to take care of each other?”

    Ah, there’s just so many places I could go with that. But maybe the bottom line is simply that our construct of ‘gay’ has changed. Oh, and should I point out that -˜community’ might be a little larger than the bars and clubs scene?

  22. A lack of vision for the strip, poor policing, a ridiculous lockout and venue greed are all to blame here.
    But the biggest problem is community apathy. I mean, come on, we stopped supporting our own years ago and it seems we are now reaping the consequences.
    Whatever happened to ‘community’ and that overwhelming desire to take care of each other?
    Shame … shame … shame…. it seems lost for good?
    Disagree? Prove me wrong …

  23. Oxford St is, like, so over. And the final nail in the coffin will be the re-opening of the Imperial in Erskineville later this year (whenever that will be)

  24. One has to wonder how much of this economic crisis on Oxford St has to do with the fact the strip just isn’t the Golden Mile it once was?
    While Emporesses Moore and Adney continue to fiddle, Rome burns. Wake up and smell the lack of future ladies, and start doing something about it before it is too late.

  25. Shame gay Sydney, shame.
    Think about where you are putting you money in future and start supporting your own.

  26. Perhaps if the Flinders showed a bit more community spirit it wouldn’t be in this predicamnet.
    Mind you, it is no different to any of the other gay venues in and around Oxford St – take take take and give nothing back at all.
    Greed is not good guys – and it will bit you in the arse eventually!

  27. Now’s the time for us to really get out there and support our own.
    If you are going for an after work drink, go to a gay bar.
    Likewise, the venues would do well to stop ripping us off at every turn and charging like a wounded bull for a drink. If we work together we can keep everyone happy in these uncertain times.