Bar News

All of the above - and the smoking ban.

So cambo is a Millwall thug

Reflex on St Mary Street is closed to become a gay bar called "Mary's". Seems a bit out of the way from the other bars on the scene and the last place I'd expect a gay bar to open would be St Mary Street!

Amoore - where is this info from? Can't find anything online. Not even a Facebook page.

And Reflex is still advertising Xmas party bookings
http://www.reflex-cardiff.co.uk/season/christmas/

It's definitely going to happen, my mate works for Stonegate who own it and there was an ad on Gumtree for staff.

They've got Reflex and Flares which are very close to each other so I guess they're looking for a different demographic for one. Stonegate also own the 2 Brewers in Clapham which is one of their most profitable sites so they're clearly chasing the pink pound.

In fairness the gay bars are Cardiff are pretty awful so hopefully this could be an improvement.

Interesting. Would be good to see the Gays in Cardiff a bit more integrated and less silo'd. Although it is quite a way away from the main 'Drag' (both figuratively and literally). Thats been a problem in the past - the old DnA under Harlech Court struggled for clientele despite being a nicer venue with much better aircon, and that was closer to the other bars than St Mary's street.

2 Brewers is a bit of a shameful favourite of mine, I must admit. Clapham is about the only part of London where gay bars seem to be holding their own. Recent years have seen bars close in Camden, Shoreditch, Lewisham, Stratford, Islington, Stepney, Vauxhall, Earls Court.

From my understanding, they intended to turn Reflex into their new Popworld format, but that relies heavily on cheap drinks and the police effectively blocked it on those grounds. So the only other format they could realistically use is their gay one (they have a few gay bars across the country).

I wonder if this might deal a fatal blow to the already vulnerable Golden Cross, or will it help to have another bar across that side of town. Currently on Churchill Way, Pulse, The Kings and Wow benefit from people being able to migrate between them easily.

Talking of The Kings, it has had a rather impressive top to bottom refurbishment, which surprised me when I popped in over the weekend.

I think the Golden Cross days as a gay bar are probably numbered. It's a fab building though with a lot of heritage protection. I can see it becoming a craft ale or foodie place at some stage.

Whatever The Golden Cross becomes it has to be a destination venue as it's not in a good location at all for passing trade. The huge student tower planned opposite may give it a new use in the future though.

There is a planning app in for Reflex and it will indeed be called Mary's and will be a gay bar -

http://planning.cardiff.gov.uk/online-a ... 726545.pdf

In terms of the Golden Cross it has been struggling for years. I used to go there occasionally many years ago when it was run by Ronnie Bird, ex Cardiff city legend, and it seemed that the only reason it was kept going was through the goodwill of City supporters who drunk there because Ronnie was landlord. As an aside what a lovely bloke he was - a real gentleman and always happy to chat about his Cardiff City exploits.

It is a little bit out of the way although there is Porters on the same road and the Motorpoint is just round the corner. It may be the case that concert goers will be more inclined to have a drink or two at the Golden Cross before a show if it isn't a gay bar. I hope that doesn't sound homophobic as its not meant to be but I think the reality is that many people may be put off going there at the moment.