A venue I’ve always wanted to visit. I made plans, cleared the night, and tonight was the night. Here we go!
Dance podium area
Saturdays @ “The Club” Nightclub, Kings Cross, Sydney
Assessment Time: 12:30AM – 2:00AM
Opening Hours: 21:00PM – 05:00AM
Lockout: Unknown
Address: 33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point, Sydney.
Venue Website: http://theclubsydney.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theclubsydney
Event / Promoter Website: Self promoted
Occurrence: Every weekend.
Outside Line: There’s two lines, one for re-entry and one for ‘first time’ entries. Our ‘first time’ line took about 5 minutes, while re-entry was only a few seconds. Security were pretty lenient on scanning.
Dress Code / Door Policy: Being situated below Hugo’s, one would believe the dress code would be strict, but it suprisingly isn’t. T-shirts and hats were allowed for guys and so were singlets allowed for the ladies. There is a simple explanation for this later on.
Entry Fee / Cover Charge: Tonight was $25.
Guestlist: you may enquire within at info@theclubsydney.com but we are not sure if you are guaranteed a response.
Inside: Walk past the counter to enter the common pre-club hangout area where you can either move onto the main room, a side room, the bathroom or the outdoor smoking courtyard area. The side room is quite small and has a small DJ set on a table, with lounges and a small bar staffed by 1 person. Bathroom to the left and main room on the right. The first set of steps takes you to the main bar area, which is basically: big long bar on the left, with lounges around the whole floor. There is even a darker corner of lounges on the far left. Continue walking and approach the second flight of stairs, which leads you to the main dancefloor. The area can hold about 200-300 people easily and if you watched the video, our first reaction was “wow”, just seeing this big space snugly hidden underground from the outside view. Big giant disco ball overhangs while there is a large podium/stage area with not 1, not 2, but three dancing poles. That is pretty impressive. It is no surprise to learn that this place was a former strip club.
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Prologue
A friend wouldnt mind going to Bondi Beach. I heard of a Hotel that goes off down there, so let’s go down! Well, we did find a Hotel, but there was no dancefloor. It was just a classy pub with lots of people drinking. (12/01/2011: This was the wrong Hotel – we were meant to go to Beach Road Hotel, which is the place to be before it’s early closing time)
But look across the road, for a mysterious place called “Thru the grapevine” is found. A local has told us this is where White Revolver is. I read an article that it was extremely difficult to get in! I have M, and 2 chicks with me. They are pretty good looking, but would it be enough? We are immediately let in past security without question Ok, here we go!
A small wall in the chillout room. That's a spare door on the left for dramatic effect
Fridays @ White Revolver Nightclub, Bondi Beach, Sydney
Assessment Time:12:30AM-01:15AM
Opening Hours: Unknown
Lockout: Unknown
Address: Entrance is in the side road through the “Thru the Grapevine”. There is no signage indicating that there was a club named White Revolver inside. From the outside, it just looks like a very small chillout bar, with a blue light highlighting the open room. Kind of like looking into a small house party.
Venue Website: http://www.whiterevolver.com
Promoter Website: Self Promoted
Occurrence: Every weekend.
Outside Line: No line outside as we approached.
Dress Code / Door Policy: When we were told this place was White Revolver, Instantly my memory recalls reading an article of a reporter getting into White Revolver’s underground club only by having two hot chicks by his side (Inside sydney’s secret nightclubs: Link). My fears of a classy snotty crowd run through my mind.Casual is allowed. We were all wearing pretty casual clothing. I had a collared shirt. M had a t-shirt on with big bright white basketball-like sneakers. (It appears that White Revolver has undergone some transformations/renovations since the aforementioned article, allowing more casual patrons inside the unique venue)
Entry Fee / Cover Charge: $10 flat entry fee all night
Guestlist: no
Inside: Walk inside the door through to the blue-light lit drinking / smoking area for 15 or so people. Turn left through the door frame into the bar area – about triple the size of the blue-lit area. It’s a dark bar with lounges/seating at the back. Turn left again through another door frame into the dancefloor to hold roughly 50 or so patrons. It’s in a kind of wide wedge shape, with the DJ in the pointy corner bit of it. See walkthrough video below for an idea on what’s up. The whole place looks like it’s from a time bygone, with various furnishings and furniture items from an old period. The website says it has a 1920’s feel to it.
Cloak Room: none
Bar Prices / Line: I didn’t drink tonight, but it was quite easy to get a drink. Either no line or one person in front of you ordering something.
DJs: Unknown
Music Style: Classic retro remixed in a house fashion, then later after 1AM they played much more RnB. It may have been a DJ changeover, I do not know. Listen to the short music sample I took below.
Music Sample Compilation Video: (My first time doing this – its to give you a better indication of what music to expect)
Crowd & Ratio: Mostly older, local Australian crowd. Aged from late 20’s and above. The ratio was pretty even here.
Entertainment: No extra entertainment.
Atmosphere: In the dancefloor area, the place was pretty dark, and first impressions were that it was pretty warm, physically. Then it was pretty dark. Like this is the kind of dark that is just enough light to see the other person you are making out with. . We ended up hanging out near the 2 reverse cycle air-conditioners that were installed at one wall. There was also a fan here blowing warm air. On the other side of the club, there was no such devices to help cool you down. Guys are making out with girls here non stop inside thanks to the dark nature of the club. Yup, its this kind of relaxed club. People are allowed to dance with drinks in their hand.
Walkthrough Video: With captions!
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Main dancefloor area - Glasshouse, Wollongong NSW
In Wollongong (an hour from Sydney) tonight to check out the clubs. We have just left The Ivory, I am fuming and swearing to god about their bullshit no camera policy. Across the road is The Glasshouse, the next place on our list of clubs to visit, so here we go!
Saturdays @ The Glasshouse Tavern
Assessment Time: 12:30PM – 01:30AM
Opening Hours: Unknown – 03:00AM
Lockout: None
Website: No website available at time of writing
Address: 90 Crown St, Wollongong
Dress Code / Door Policy: Casual ok. No hats allowed inside. It was 50/50 casual, collared shirts for guys. Most girls had dresses. Dress up costumes were ok in here as well, as there was a group of people dressed up as the members of KISS.
Entry Fee / Cover Charge: $10. We bargained the door girl to $5 for the four of us each.
Guestlist: None
Inside: As you walk inside the premise there is an outdoor courtyard, albeit very small. Walking inside the Glasshouse itself is large bar area to mill around with stools and tables. This is to the right. To the very left is a two stepped podium to hold about 15 – 20 people. In front of you is the main dancefloor, elevated from the rest of the bar (the entire Glasshouse venue is on a slope) to hold about 150-200 people. The entire place is wooden floor board.
Cloak Room: None
Bar: Did not drink here
Music: RnB, House, Pop, Top 40
Crowd: Mostly local Aussies / Caucasians. Young.
Entertainment: No MC. Just podiums.
Atmosphere: In the dancefloor it was constantly packed, and people were dancing about, but not much signing along. The vibe didn’t seem to be there – I think the venue itself just was a bit too airy for intimacy. Outside the dancefloor in the bar areas, it was not that busy. You could easily get a stool if you waited around for a minute or two.
Video: Walkthrough
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In front of a brave Karaokeist @ The Harp of Erin, Wollongong
We have decided to spend a day in Wollongong to see the wildlife at night. We have been recommended by the locals to check out The Harp for pre-drinks, so here we go!
Saturdays @ The Harp of Erin Hotel, Wollongong NSW
Assessment Time: 22:15PM -23:30PM
Opening Hours: Unknown, but it is a bar, so typical bar hours, which would be 10am – 3am.
Website: http://www.harpoferin.com.au
Address: 124 Corrimal St, Wollongong NSW
Dress Code / Door Policy: anything goes. it is a bar, so most casual clothes can get away with it. Hats are not allowed in here.
Entry Fee / Cover Charge: Free entry for both the bar karaoke area as well as the dancefloor area.
Inside: Walking into the main entrance you are presented with the main room where there is a karaoke thing going on. Get up and sing! they say. The standing area holds 150 or so people, and there is a stage on the right, where you stand up to sing, or where a band can play. Bar is to the left. A wall divides this area from the second area – The second area has a central bar, surrounded by tables and stools. On one side is an enclosed area which is the dancefloor, and it is sligly elevated from the rest of the room. It holds about 60 or so people .
Cloak Room: None
Bar: Standard beer prices
Music: House music in the dance room. Typical bar karaoke music in the karaoke room. The types of music you will be subjected to range from rock to retro.
Crowd: Mostly locals, some sydneysiders – with most being caucasian.
Entertainment: Karaoke of course! But only in the karaoke room.
Atmosphere: Karaoke room – busy the whole time we were there. In the clubbing room, the general atmosphere in the bar was busy, but not packed. A good balance to allow us a bit of room to dance.
Video:360 view of the Karaoke Bar Side
Video: Walkthrough on the younger side, with dancefloor entry:
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Sunday night – our last night in the Gold Coast. Sin City is apparently the place to be. It also happens to be the ‘sister’ nightclub of “The Bedroom” Nightclub, which we visited the night before, and enjoyed.
A guestlist was submitted, and again as previous night, we had a truckload of drinks before we left, so here we go!
Sin City Nightclub
Assessment Time: 11:30pm – 1:45am
Website: http://www.sincitynightclub.com.au
Address: 22 Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD
Dress Code: Casual OK.
Cover Charge / Entry Fee: I’m not sure. $10 I believe. Free on guestlist. Free entry before 11pm if you obtained a voucher. Vouchers are obtained from a stand outside the club., making the whole process irrelevant.
Guestlist: A friend submitted the guestlist through the website. Guestlist also includes 3 free drink vouchers.
Inside: Walk in and you are faced with a seated area. To the right is the dancefloor that could hold about 100 people or less. Two podiums on either end. Elevated standing areas along one walls, and a DJ booth along the other wall. At the back is the bar, with lounges on either side. 2 or 3 VIP areas are in the very back corner.
Music: Commercial House
Bar: $50 Fishbowl Long Island Teas. Awesome. Waitresses in skimpy outfits. Double awesome. Photos below.
Crowd: Locals and tourists. Mixed nationalities tonight of Aussies, Euros, Asians and Indians. For some reason there were quite a few guys in here, I would say a 70/30 ratio of guys to girls in here.
Atmosphere: For a Sunday night, it was quite good. By midnight the bar and dancefloor were pretty packed. You could easily confuse it for a Saturday night out. People were pretty friendly too.
Walkthrough Video of Sin City Nightclub (Sunday):
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Ly and I are visitng the Gold Coast. We just left The Bedroom nightclub, and we are following girls, being the single men that we are. Somehow, we ended up outside Melbas.. so here we go!
Melbas Nightclub
Assessment Time: 02:40am-04:30am
Website: http://www.melbas.com.au
Address: 46 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise QLD
Door Policy / Dress Code: Casual OK
Cover Charge / Entry Fee: $10. Free if a guestlist was organised
Guestlist: Email info@melbas.com.au
Inside: Two levels. Ground has lengthy bar in the middle. Stools / tables everywhere. an outdoor seating area. Out the back is a dancefloor. Upstairs is more cosy. VIP area at back for private functions (?), 3 large podiums at the front dance area. 2 Poles to dance with. I can’t think of any place in Sydney that has poles! (The retro might have some but I can’t recall). Long bar on the side wall
Bar: Short to no lines, thanks to the huge bar. Pricing unknown as we scored free drinks all night.
Music: Downstairs is Retro / Classic music, while upstairs is primarily house but the occasional rnb/pop mashup as well.
Crowd: Dominantly White Aussie. I think me and Ly were the only asians here. No problem, as everyone was friendly here. People of all ages were about. It does remind me of The Retro Bristol Arms back in Sydney, but it seemed cooler here.
Melbas Nightclub - Upper Level
Video Tour:
Right after we got inside. Ground level and moving upstairs:
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Review
Assessment Time: Sunday – Got in 11pm, left 1.30am
Entry Fee / Cover Charge: Free Entry (everything else around the cross was free entry as well).
Attire: Casual allowed.
Door policy: Asians definitely allowed in on Sundays – the crowd was dominantly caucasian.
Music was House. Commercial tunes and other electro-like stuff.
Atmosphere was very loud, and high energy – It was probably 40-50% capacity but didn’t feel too empty, it was busier than any other places we checked out tonight. Fairly busy, but the side room was closed, as it was a sunday. Was with some guys and we parked at a spot at the back at one of the lounges. Ratio of women to men was good, until around 1am where it just became a sausage fest.
Timeline
I haven’t been dancing friday/saturday and I had real itchy feet. Danced with a guy – and he loved it, he was dancing out back so we went to the front and danced with.. more guys, who were also loving my dancing. Girls weren’t very willing to dance with me for some reason.. hmm
I found an empty spot on the floor and did some dancing. A bunch of women nearby were impressed. But instead of dancing with me, they cheered me on. I wanted some grinding damnit! This was the case most of the night, and we just got tired and left 1.30am.
This is a good place for pure dancing on a Sunday night – since everything else is closed. Possibly Moulin rRuge would be the alternative for dancing but I have yet to check it out on a Sunday.