The old ‘Pound' nightclub has been completely renovated and has now reopened as a mixed club, with Fridays as ‘gay night'. Renamed ‘Spicehammer', it's a place for everyone, says owner Julian Barsony. “We're going to be very gay-friendly,” he explains. “I don't believe in discrimination. This is an attitude-free zone, so everybody's welcome as long as they're civil.” Barsony says the club is now officially open, after having a couple of ‘unofficial' low-key openings last weekend. “We're still in the process of putting the club together, but it is functional enough for us to say we're open now.” Starting this week, every Friday will be officially ‘FAGF' night – ‘Fabulous and Gay Fridays'. “We're always going to have a drag revue, and playing camp gay music, keeping in the theme it used to be when it was Pound.” Shows, bands and comedy nights are planned, and themed nights will include Heavy ‘Metal Monday', and Wednesday will become ‘Wild Karaoke'. The club has been completely refurbished since ‘Pound' closed earlier this year, but the layout is the same. The dance floor area will always be open, but the smaller bar space adjoining it will be for private parties and also serve as a VIP lounge on certain nights. “The place was a shell when I got it,” explains Barsony. “We completely changed the colour scheme, and installed all-new lights, all-new equipment, and new bathrooms. We have TV screens up now so we can do music videos too, and we put in some skylights to add some ventilation.” Barsony made up the name ‘Spicehammer' himself. “I was just going to name it ‘Spice', but that was when it was going to be a restaurant with a dance club in it. But it's turned out the opposite way where it's now a club – but we'll eventually have a kitchen to provide food.” Spicehammer nightclub: Level 1, The Oaks Complex 71-81 Cuba St Wellington Phone: 04 384 2120 Ref: GayNZ.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 5th December 2006 - 12:00pm