Popstarz

Popstarz was the first alternative gay nightclub in the world and remains the flagship of the gay alternative clubbing scene in London and the United Kingdom. It is currently held every Friday at Sin in Charing Cross Road, London.

History

Created by DJ and promotor Simon Hobart (1964-2005), Popstarz was the first gay nightclub to capitalise on the Britpop and Indie music scene that exploded in the UK in the 1990s. Hobart wanted to create a club night that was not based on the formulaic dance/drugs and body beautiful scene that dominated much of gay nightlife.

It opened its doors in 1995 at the Paradise Club in Islington before moving venues to the Leisure Lounge in Holborn, Hanover Grand off Regent Street, then back to Islington, Scala in King's Cross, and for the moment settled at Sin on Charing Cross Road.

The door policy is majority gay and lesbian, and the crowd is very mixed and welcoming.

Many popular bands have graced the Popstarz stage over the years, including: Scissor Sisters, The Gossip, , We Are Scientists, , Cansei de Ser Sexy, Dandy Warhols, Goldfrapp, Chicks on Speed, Calvin Harris, Mutya Buena, Unklejam, Le Tigre, Alphabeat, The Long Blondes, The Pipettes, Maximo Park, Ladytron, Electric Six, Pull Tiger Tail, New Young Pony Club, Brett Anderson, Dragonette, , & .

Celebrity spotters may have seen Will Young, Dan Gillespie Sells, Mick Jagger, Suede, Siouxsie Sioux, the Pet Shop Boys, Pete Burns, The Prodigy, and Skin propping up the bar.

Popstarz Rooms

At Sin there are 3 main rooms:

The Indie Ballroom Chandeliers, a stage, plush velvety booth seating and a long bar make this the perfect room for mashing away to indie/rock/electro music with regular live performances and guest DJs.

The Pop Lounge Red velvet walls, gold drapes, pop art and disco balls turn Sin's plush lounge into a kitsch pop heaven, playing credible Pop music from the 1970s to the present day.

The Rave Room With it's mirror and glass walls and gorgeous leather couches it has the feeling of a New York Penthouse from the 80's so what better room to have a Rave in? Old rave, nu-rave, twisted pop remixes and electro white labels this room have Fridays in London pumping like no other.

Gay Alternative Club Followers

Following Popstarz's success, a host of other gay alternative nights sprang up throughout London including The Cock, Miss-Shapes, Duckie, Shinky Shonky, Red Eye, Nag Nag Nag & Rebel Rebel, with other alternative club nights appearing in Manchester and San Francisco in the United States.

Hobart subsequently set up two smaller venues, (an incredibly successful underground nightclub) & Trash palace (combining a bar and a club).

Two weeks after Hobart's untimely death, a benefit night in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief was held entitled "Popstarz Forever". All events and venues run by Hobart were and continue to be run on a semi-charitable basis with any profits after costs going to charity.

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