Just a day after iMerst bar in Wellington announced it would be appealing to the LGBT market, in the wake of the closures of both Pound nightclub and Monkey Bar, the owners say they will offer weekly nights for gays and lesbians – not monthly, as originally planned. Owners Matthew Simpson and Stuart Kingston, have been in close contact with the local gay scene, and ex-owners of Pound, Malcolm and Scott Kennedy-Vaughan, have been helping the two ‘straight lads' organise drag shows for their first ‘gay night', to be held on Friday August 25. “iMerst is one of Wellington's only mid-sized venues catering for up to 850 patrons,” says Simpson. As the venue was previously a theatre, it is ideally suited to host shows, with “exceptional event production facilities” and “an unobstructed view of the stage.” iMerst also has a viewing platform of the main room, from the lounge bar. Simpson says the design is similar to the old Staircase in Auckland's Karangahape Road. Ref: GayNZ.com (d)