Gold Coast Nightclubs: LGBTIQ-friendly clubbing back on at Coast through Rainbow Allsorts after last gay nightclub shuts

A gay-friendly clubbing experience will launch on the Gold Coast after the city’s last LGBTIQ club closed earlier this year.

A GAY-FRIENDLY clubbing night is starting on the Glitter Strip after the closure of the Gold Coast party precinct’s sole nightclub catering for the LGBTIQ community.

Gold Coaster Patrik Holmkvist, 33, is launching his gay-friendly party event tonight - called Rainbow Allsorts - at Underground nightclub on Surfers Paradise party strip Orchid Avenue.

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Rainbow Allsorts set up at The Underground in Surfers Paradise.

The Surfers Paradise resident said he started up his business Rainbow Lounge to put on the parties at established venues after gay-friendly MP’s nightclub abruptly shut in January.

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MP’s shut on January 11 after the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) axed its licence, prompting co-owner Claire Kingston to call it a “closed-minded” decision.

MPs nightclub in Surfers Paradise closed down earlier this year.

But OLGR rejected any suggestion of an anti-gay bias stating any decisions were made by a commissioner under the Liquor Act in “accordance with relevant legislative provisions”.

Mr Holmkvist said he noticed the lack of “gay scene” and he has been in talks with multiple Glitter Strip venues about hosting Rainbow Allsorts nights.

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After spending years managing gay bars on the Glitter Strip, he said he wanted to have a crack and start his own business.

Patrik Holmkvist (middle) at the Underground.

“I’ve been talking to a few different venues about holding gay and lesbian events,” he said.

“I used to manage (Surfers Paradise gay bars) Rise and Escape over the years and since they’ve shut down it’s left a hole in the scene.”

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Underground is the first place to jump on board with Rainbow Allsorts, hosting a LGBTIQ friendly party every week.

Clubbies enjoy The Underground Nightclub in Surfers Paradise. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

“There will definitely be lots of rainbow decorations,” he said. “It needs to have the feel there that there is a different night of kind.”

Mr Holmkvist wasn’t interested in opening up his own bar or club as he wants it to be celebrated at venues across the Coast.

“I don’t think having one venue would be as cool. When you have the same venue all the time, people often get bored.

“There are so many great venues on the Gold Coast to host events at,” he said.

“The Gold Coast has come a long way. There’s heaps of drag queens shows.”

Doors open at Underground for Rainbow Allsorts tonight at 9pm with $10 entry fee.