Cabaret bar replaces Carlisle's closed-down Yates’s
Last updated at 12:28, Wednesday, 18 November 2009
The former Yates’s Wine Lodge in Carlisle is to re-open as a gay-friendly cabaret bar called Outrageous.
City businessman Dan Russell and Glenn Anderson, who runs a gay sauna in Denton Holme, are behind the new venue in English Street.
Their plan is to feature live drag acts at weekends.
Mr Anderson, 37, stressed that Outrageous would not be a ‘gay bar’ as such.
The aim was to attract straight and gay customers.
He said: “It’s a gay-friendly venue. A space where everybody can feel comfortable.
“It will appeal to hen nights and straight couples who want to go out and have a laugh.
“It’s about having fun and doing something different.
“We will have live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, everything from burlesque dancers to drag queens, stand-up and singers.”
Outrageous should open on Thursday December 17, employing around 14 staff.
If the city council approves its licensing application, it will stay open until 4am on Friday and Saturday nights, 2am on Thursdays and 1am for the rest of the week.
Mr Anderson said: “Terminal 1 has run a gay night for more than a year and the Unit Bar for even longer.
“But there is nowhere for gays to go at weekends.
“Carlisle is the largest city in the UK that doesn’t have a permanent venue attractive to a gay clientele,” he added.
“We’ve seen so many major venues [in Carlisle] closing down one after another.
“This is an opportunity for the night-life scene in Carlisle to take a different view.”
Yates’s closed in early 2008 with the loss of 11 jobs.
The owner of the chain, Laurel Pub Company, blamed difficult trading conditions and the effect of the smoking ban.
First published at 11:37, Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
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People, can you stop using terms like 'straight' and 'gay' - use of these terms just drives division.
I hope this place turns out to be nothing more than a bar, with entertainment of a 'camp' nature. I'm sure me, my wife, my friends and a great number of decent hard working people in this town will be pleased to go out for a little light hearted entertainment, without the need to conform to any particular shape (straight, bent, twisted, square or round)I have no isue with people's sexuality, I take them for what they are, as I suspect do most others. I do have a problem with people being a little 'spirited' in their afections in public - leave it for the privacy of your own home, whether it's a girl, boy, donkey or stuffed bear, it has it's place. by showing restraint, you are showing respect for others - it cuts in every direction Not until you treat, and write about people as people, will you remove any stigma or division. It's just people going to a bar for entertainment.View all comments on this article
Have your say
Phil Carnage, if you are still a little scared of your sexuality, then maybe you should come for a night out with me love?
I can make you proud to be gay, it's not a disese, you shouldnt be made you "act" straight, dont worry, live life, be happy & most of all be GAY!!
Posted by Merv Little on 24 November 2009 at 17:20