Laird Hotel
Editorial
With almost thirty years under its belt, The Laird is the grand old daddy of Melbourne's gay scene, and the spiritual home of all things man. It was Victoria's first hotel to be granted male-only status by the Anti Discrimination Board as a nod towards the spirit of providing a safe home for gay men. The hotel's full name, The Laird O'Cockpen, makes one marvel that it wasn't, in fact, always a gay venue.
A no fuss approach lends itself to a relaxed, blokey atmosphere minus the drama. The beer's cheap, the pool tables are free, and there's a great big beer garden out back unrivalled by any other gay venue in Melbourne. Don't expect glam here - it's a dark and industrial space that regularly opens its doors for various fetish events, including the infamous Thursday leather night - Spit N Polish.
However, in recent years, The Laird has worked hard to welcome all gay men, not just those in chaps. Friday nights almost go the other way, with the Abercrombie and Fitch types out in force. Whatever your scene, the Laird's staff are friendly, and so's the crowd. Weekends feature spot on DJs, and there's even accommodation upstairs if you can't bear the thought of making it all the way home. Just snuggle up with a bear and keep warm this winter.
Stephen Russell, April 2010
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Solo Visitor
March 06, 2011
Nice venue but I found the clientel very clicky. They gathered in their groups but no one would return a smile or a "hi"
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