Adelaide’s Mars Bar to shut down
ADELAIDE’s iconic Mars Bar has announced it will close its doors this month.
After 40 years of operation, the city’s only gay club announced on Facebook that next Saturday May 13 will be its last night.
“Thanks everyone for your support over the years,” wrote owner Andrew “Madge” Hobbs.
“Without you, the awesome customers, we wouldn’t have been able to give you this club.
“Thanks to all the staff, DJs and amazing drag shows.”
Hobbs is moving on after 29 years of running the club. He says that after the Mars Bar shuts its doors, it will soon be reopening in a new style under new management.
“It will be reopening with new owners after a few weeks closed for some stunning renovations—new name, new direction, bigger and better than ever before,” he announced.
“I hope you support the new owners as I’m sure they will endeavour to give you an amazing safe venue.”
And then there were none. Older people were shunned by The Mars and after the Edinburgh Castle Hotel turned it’s back on the GLTBIQ community there was nowhere to go. Now the Mars is going so there will be nowhere for any of us – Younger or Older to go and there is no Guarantee that the venue which replaces The Mars will be any more welcoming than the Ed became.
Many GLBTIQ members have already long-since left SA and taken their brains and talent with them to Melbourne and Sydney. Now many more will follow suit. can Adelaide expect homophobes like Fred Nile, Tony Abbott, et al. to move here to be closer to their BFF Cory Bernardi?