Gay-friendly – and ‘we’re packing out’
THE boss of the sole remaining gay-friendly nightclub on the Gold Coast says the venue has been heaving after publicity from risque advertising and a rival’s closure.
Surfers Paradise haunt MP’s, which opened late last year, is now the sole club regarded as a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) hotspot in the city after Rise down Cavill Mall recently shut.
MP’s also hit the headlines earlier this month after being the subject of an Ad Standards complaint about its promotional posters in Surfers.
They depicted two women in lingerie and a man with no top on, chiselled abs and very tight underwear.
MP’s manager Claire Kingston said the blaze of publicity from the advertising complaint had been great for profile and resulted in an upturn in patronage.
“We have just been going from strength to strength, we just keep getting busier,” she said.
“Now we are the only LGBT friendly venue on the Gold Coast. It was only us and Rise.
“We are getting a lot of patrons who used to go out in Broadbeach too, that age group which is 25 plus.”
Ms Kingston said MP’s had been approached by many of the staff from Rise when it shut its doors recently but had steered clear of hiring many to “keep it nice and drama free”.
MP’s now had a top DJ line-up including well-regarded turntablists from Bedroom nightclub and Platinum, drag queen shows, and giveaways.
She preferred to refer to MP’s as a “non-labelled” nightclub, saying everyone was welcome – “patron wise it is a good mix of gay, straight and whatever”.
Every second Sunday MP’s gives away a $1200 TV.
A gay male fan of MP’s, which opened in January, said it was a more “exciting” place to go out and he was not surprised it was doing well.
“I just thought the lighting was a lot better, also the layout, the dance floor and the bar,” the patron said.
“The music at MP’s is better, they have bigger DJs and to be honest it just feels more exciting there. You’re encouraged to get up and dance.
“You just feel like there is more chance of meeting someone at MP’s and more chance of making friends.”
As for the Ad Standards complaint, Ms Kingston said MP’s was in the process of “covering” the billboards.
Ad Standards ordered the billboards be removed after a complaint.
“We have still never heard from anyone from Ad Standards at all. (But) it was great publicity to be honest,” Ms Kingston said.
Cavill Mall gay bar Escape was renamed Rise when new owners took over last year.
They were unable to be contacted yesterday with a mobile number disconnected.
The Paradise Centre confirmed the Rise club which is a tenant had shut recently.
WE HAVE JUST BEEN GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, WE JUST KEEP GETTING BUSIER AT MP’S NIGHTCLUB SPOKESWOMAN CLAIRE KINGSTON