It’s all-change at Manbar! New owner, Chris Amos, talks to QX…
You recently took control of the venue. How did that come about?
It’s a bit surreal to be honest. I have been working with Manbar on marketing since it’s inception last November. In that time, I had been struggling to push through my grand vision to restore the venue back to something that could really be wonderful for the gay scene, especially in Soho. I put together a 100-page business proposal, which I gave the previous owner to give me a controlling stake in the bar. It was accepted and since the 10th June I have been working around the clock to improve the bar. I have been working with gay bars in the UK since 2000 when I was editor of Bent Magazine for seven years. Since then, I have been publishing Gay Buddy Map in London and been a regular in gay bars for over 20 years – so have a few ideas of what guys are looking for when they go out.
What sort of improvements have you made?
The most significant improvements are that I have brought in new disco lighting, TV screens, projector and introduced an art gallery space and hired some pretty faces behind the bar… and on top of the bar! The old Manbar lacked atmosphere and, to be honest, I was embarrassed to bring my friends there as it felt so dull and boring and the music was terrible. So, I have livened the place up now to create a party atmosphere every Monday to Saturday night with a commercial dance friendly music soundtrack. I am looking to have two sessions of entertainment every day we are open – early evening, and late night.
What is the current line-up of weekly parties?
All the weekly nights have benefited from the improvements made. Beartrap is now packed every Monday. Also we have locked-in our resident DJs Eduardo Herrera, Julio Bravo and Severino to give it more consistency, so you know what you get each week. Spotlight on Tuesdays with hosts Duncan Day and Chantal is really amazing. When we started the live variety show idea we were lucky to have twenty people in the audience now we have about hundred-and-fifty people turning up each Tuesday and it’s getting busier. Last week we had a soft launch for Hifi Sean’s new mid-weeker Record Box. Sean has an incredible array of music styles and back catalogue of music. Record Box is basically a ‘Back To Mine’ style music policy perfect for a midweek night out. Sean has recruited Kris Di Angelis to also take part. Brent Nicholls and Jonny Hooley with guest Tommy Moss from Popstarz are having a blast with our retro Thursday night Revival where the customers can request classic hits. There’s a lot of fun and silliness ahead of the weekend.
We noticed you now have GoGo dancers on weekends…
Fridays and Saturdays have always had a following at Manbar, but I am looking to pull out all the stops here. I have recruited a dozen professional dancers of all shapes and sizes who will be appearing on the bar dance poles and stage every week on rotation. It’s actually crazy that there is only one other venue doing this in Soho because the customers love it! We just did a photoshoot with the dancers this past weekend and you will be seeing them pop up in the Manbar adverts in QX over the coming weeks. For me Fridays in London is very much about Soho. And until now there really hasn’t been somewhere fun to go out on Friday nights – well, now there is! We have a great line-up of DJs who play commercial crowd pleasing music rather than a tech house vibe. We want to appeal to a wider audience and offer a no attitude environment. And it’s working – we get over a thousand people through the doors on Fridays now!
You hit headlines around the world with the poster of Prince Harry advertising your £2.50 drinks deal before 11pm on Old Compton Street – have you heard from the Royal Family?
It was really bizarre how that unfolded. I thought it would be good to promote ourselves on Old Compton Street ahead of Pride. I have licensed the Prince Harry mural from artist Mikesbliss and the image has since become iconic. TMZ ran the story first after a reader sent a photo of the poster into them. Then Perez Hilton picked up on this and then The Huffington Post, then every celebrity website in the world just ran their stories! A writer from The Daily Mail gave me Harry’s publicist’s number wanting me to reach out to Harry to create some trouble I expect. I will do at some point, but it will be to invite him to a fundraiser at the bar. We are going to be selling the Harry design on shirts soon… I will send him one!
“Fridays and Saturdays have always had a following at Manbar, but I am looking to pull out all the stops here.”
You have been doing quite a few community events. Do you think more bars should raise money for charities?
We have GMFA money boxes on the counter, hosted several events to raise money for Pride, and our Champion monthly sport social events have raised about £3,000 now for gay sporting groups. We regularly have collections for various charities. I am looking to work with the Peter Tatchell Foundation to support their campaigns. Next month, we will be taking part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Macmillan Cancer on the 27th September. I think giving back is a very positive attribute for any bar or club. Jeremy Joseph has been amazing with his fundraising at G-A-Y and the more venues giving back the better.
What made you decide to dedicate some space in the bar to art?
In Australia where I am from originally it is not uncommon to see art from local artists in bars. When I was looking for ways to turn Manbar around – and do this on a budget – it made sense to use art and creativity to change the perception that this is a sleazy, cruisey venue. William To, an Australian photographer, first approached me to hang his photos and it totally felt the right thing to do. We currently have a Mikesbliss curated exhibition in the bar that features art from seven gay London artists and photographers. Coming up, Gui who works behind the bar, has some sensational photos he is going to exhibit. Plus, I have lined up the London debut of an artist I think will really set the benchmark for what I am aiming for at Manbar.
What further improvements are in store for Manbar?
You will have to come to the bar and see because every week there is something new. There are new faces behind the bar – most of them under-30 – plus new sexy videos on the screens. I am launching a movie night every Monday evening soon and a big name artist on the drag scene will take up a weekly residency early evening on Wednesdays. There’s so much more to look forward too.
• Manbar is at 79 Charing Cross Road, Soho, WC2H 0NE.
