Jimmy Smith – guv’nor of The Two Brewers
What are your three highlights of 2016?
It’s impossible to pick three as there are so many to choose from working at the Brewers. The Clapham Street Party, Drag Idol, The DE Experience coming back, Pam Ann and her frequent fly-bys. The bar has stepped up another level in acceptance and acknowledgement with us winning the Bar None competition. Our partnerships with Kings Cross Steelers and the London Titans FC, with their club nights Ruggercub and Ball respectively, go from strength to strength. Then there are our other nights Enriched and Backroom, not to forget the London Gay Dance Company, Gay Tango, Cactus Club Line Dancing, London Lads Gay Pub Crawl, London Gay Big Band and the theatre of Two Box Productions. I also have to say that week after week our cabaret acts and DJs are highlights, people like Miss Jason, Sandra, Mary Mac, CK, Charlie Hides, Mrs Moore, Kara Van Park, Rose Garden plus regular guests are really outstanding.
What are your New Year’s resolutions?
My New Year’s resolution is the same as every year: to retire far, far away, but there’s no chance.
And what are your hopes for 2017?
That it’s better than this one. 2016, for Great Britain and most of the world, was, to put it bluntly, shitty. Let’s hope in 2017 we can repair the damage done.
Nieko Strobel – Ku Group PR manager
What are your three highlights of 2016?
It’s been a huge year of refurbishments for us, and I’m so proud of the standard and style we’ve achieved across our venues. With the refurbishment of Klub, and then our flagship venue Ku Leicester Square, we’ve now got a group of venues that exceed the standard expectations we’ve ever had for ourselves. So so proud, happy and thankful to our continued loyal customers who have allowed us to reinvest into our venues so that we can continue providing Soho and the scene with what it deserves.
Our new partnership with charity Diversity Role Models is a huge highlight for me. On a personal level, I feel privileged to use our platform and position in our community to help LGBT youths who are struggling to come out to family, friends, peers or who are facing homophobic bullying. The Ku boys are always seen as confident guys and I’m so proud of them to have shared their coming out stories with the world, to truly show that it does ‘get better’. We’ll be working more with Diversity Role Models throughout 2017, so please support our work with them.
And very generally, I’m so proud and happy, and excited too, for the gay scene in London. It’s faced quite the worry of ‘changing’ and disappearing, but I feel there’s been a real resurgence in the past year to the energy, vibe and soul of Soho. There are so many incredible promoters, DJs, hosts and events currently working so hard to make the scene great and give as many options as possible – it’s such a refreshing thing to see venues working together, promoters partying together, and everyone making Soho the best it can be.
What are your New Year’s resolutions?
My resolution is simple – to give back. I’ve really come to a stage in my working and personal life that I feel so appreciative of our wonderful scene and community. I’ve worked in gay venues ever since I came out and they’ve really helped make me who I am. They’ve given me the confidence to be who I want to be, and I want to help others feel as I do, through charity work, events and through publicly showing what a great community we have. If there is a moment I can give confidence, help or advice to someone, my resolution is to make sure I do.
And what are your hopes for 2017?
To be more camp and glam than ever! We’re already working on 2017 schedule of events at Ku and we want to push the boundaries even further. We’ll continue to improve our venues, whilst working with the scene on giving Soho more events, more DJs, and hotter than ever Ku bar boys! 2016 has been an incredible year of growth for our brand – here’s to 2017 being even bigger!
Jason Dickie – The RVT’s general manager
What are your three highlights of 2016?
I went to Sydney Mardi Gras for a friend’s birthday. There were 18 of us so you can just imagine the fun and frolics we had. And being part of a great team here at the RVT and helping to continue to grow the business has been brilliant too.
What are your New Year’s resolutions?
I never make New Year’s resolutions as I usually break them within a day, but I suppose if I had to make any it would be to get back to the gym on a regular basis and to spend less time in the office.
And what are your hopes for 2017?
I’d like there to be more love and peace in the world, and to find love myself too, or course. And to spend some more time in Malta.
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