Brisbane Gay and Lesbian Night Spots
Well, by the sound of it, Brisbane is in Queens' land!
Although, in the past, the state had a reputation for repressive attitudes towards homosexuals, today Brisbane's gay and lesbian community is revelling in a loud and energetic scene which gets better every year. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the open and friendly attitude of the locals.
The gay scene is largely clustered around the suburbs of West End, Wooloongabba, Spring Hill, Fortitude Valley, New Farm and Paddington.
In June, don't miss the Pride festival, a diverse event that features a parade, fair, art exhibitions, dance, party and much more.
For the latest and the upcoming, you can pick up a copy of BrotherSister or Queensland Pride from gay nightclubs, street distributors, and some coffee shops. You can also listen to the queer radio station, 4ZZZ 102.1 FM , every Wednesday from 9 to 11pm.
For bars and nightclubs, head to Spring Hill and The Valley. Gay and lesbian friendly venues and events include Fluffy at Family on Sunday nights, the Empire Hotel, The Zoo (great live music), Sunday nights at GPO, The Fringe Bar, The Bowery, and Ric's Bar.
Here are just a few examples of Brisbane's gay and lesbian clubs:
With three completely different levels, 320 on Leichhardt (formerly the Alliance Tavern) offers something for everyone. The historic cellar features a small wine bar and several pool tables for those wanting a quiet night out. On street level, the recently renovated public bar is more modern and offers a good range of local and imported beers, cocktails and nibbles.
The refurbished second level now houses a fine restaurant, which serves modern Australian cuisine.
320 on Leichhardt is open 7 days and regularly holds karaoke and trivia nights, live music and other events.
| Where: | 320 Boundary Street, Spring Hill |
| Phone: | +61 (0)7 3230 5678 |
| Website: | 320 on Leichhardt |
The Beat Megaclub is the oldest of Brisbane's gay venues. With six bars and five dance floors split across two levels, The Beat offers a range of music mixed by some of Brisbane's best DJs, regular drag performances, and nightly entertainment from an in-house dance troupe.
The Beat also offers free entry before 10.30pm and a host of no-cost events during its weekly 'Sunday Funday' celebrations. Open from 8pm 365 days a year, The Beat Megaclub has long been a constant fixture on the city's GLBT scene.
| Where: | 677 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley |
| Phone: | +61 (0)7 3852 2661 |
| Website: | The Beat |
The gay meeting place! The Sportsman Hotel offers drag shows, serious pool comps and, on alternate Saturday nights, the downstairs Mineshaft Bar hosts either the BrisBears or the Boot Co leather men.
| Where: | 130 Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill |
| Phone: | +61 (0)7 3831 2892 |
| Website: | Sportsman Hotel |
With its classic 'Queenslander' architecture, outdoor areas, live shows, gaming room, dance bar, and special events, the Wickham Hotel is one of the leading gay and lesbian venues in Queensland. Here you can enjoy drag shows, huge crowds or quiet drinks, and happy hours.
| Where: | 308 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley |
| Phone: | +61 (0)7 3852 1301 |
| Website: | The Wickham |
