Hamilton's new glbti nightclub, Bralais, is preparing for its New Year's Eve grand opening by opening for a limited number of patrons this Saturday night. Brother and sister co-owners Jess Dawson and Lawrence Needham Co-owner Lawrence Needham says the staff and management need to do a 'staged opening before the actual opening' in order to test systems and develop routines to cope with the greater number of patrons expected on New year's Eve and in the months ahead. “We're doing a pre-launch Christmas party this Saturday night,” he says, with just 100 people being admitted. Then we'll be quietly open the following weekend of the 23rd and 24th with no special events, just drinks and music and good company.” New Year's Eve, however, will be a full-on grand opening Masquerade Party night “open from 9pm with a $5 door charge, MC Miss Galaxy, live DJs from 11, drag performances from 11.30, drinks specials and a big give-away for which people need to pre-register on our facebook page.” Needham says preparing the venue, upstairs from where the old Shine glbti nightclub used to be, has been a big job, both in terms of the build-in and the licensing and other paperwork. “But everything has come together and we're ready and can't wait to get under way.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 14th December 2016 - 6:31am