Swindon bar named best gay club in the southwest (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Swindon bar named best gay club in the southwest

9:48am Tuesday 22nd January 2008 in Swindon By Ben Perrin

SWINDON officially has the best gay club in the south west.

The Pink Rooms is celebrating after topping an online poll for the region in the Pink Paper gay newspaper.

Everyone connected with the Victoria Road establishment is delighted by the latest success.

The venue, which opened in December 2006, has a capacity of 300 people and is usually packed out on Friday and Saturday nights.

"We are ecstatic to have won," said owner Helen O' Gorman. "I think this is a great accolade for Swindon.

"We want to make Pink Rooms a place for everyone to come along and enjoy themselves if you're 18 or 88.

"I think we appeal to a wide audience. We have a stylish venue with a full cocktail menu and some top named DJs playing.

"I also think we have brought some mainstream gay to Swindon."

The club's unisex toilets were a little controversial when first introduced but have been a big hit with customers.

"They proved a big talking point," she added. "We thought it could work after visiting GAY in London.

"The pole on the dance floor has been a hit. I'm sure there would be uproar if we took it away," Helen joked.

Regular club goer Alexander Hawks, 22, said: "It's definitely a well deserved title.

"It's a great venue with fantastic music and good social scene.

"Whenever I go I always have a good time."

Tris Reid-Smith, the editor of the Pink Paper, said: "This is a real achievement.

"We have thousands of nominations before it gets whittled down to the top five.

"It must be a very popular venue to have come out on top."

For more information on the venue call 01793 488662 email info@ thepinkrooms.co.uk or visit www.