Salford gay club

A new club explore ‘the full spectrum of queer culture’ is opening in Islington Mill.

Lurid Ultra Hybrid club, located on Chapel Street, Islington Mill hopes to inspire a new wave of night life in Salford, reaching out to students, and anyone in the community that is looking for a new spot closer to home.

Club manager Nick Spalding, 35 said: “I felt that the mainstream gay club’s didn’t cater for my interests so I wanted to create a place of sanctuary for LGBTQ+ people in Salford that celebrated the full spectrum of queer culture.”  

[Its] Definitely the vibe of it, its an extremely friendly place. The background of it is that I’ve thought for probably around ten years that, why are gay clubs terrible?

Nick spoke about how Salford’s new club hopes to diversify the gay scene: “I decided that it was time that we had a proper gay club that was actually a really good one, you know fun and edgy, catering to the more underground scenes, and put on a much more varied spectrum of events.  

“We have some kind of classical A Capella singer coming in in February, we’ve had comedy nights that were very eccentric.”

Salford gay club
image credit: Nick Spalding

The Salford club currently runs on an event basis, instead of set weekly opening hours. The events generally take place on Friday’s and Saturday’s, with new experiences available each time, which are advertised on their Instagram @luridultrahybrid.

The manager also spoke about some previous events they have hosted. He continued: “Last weekend was a really special one, when we launched a queer music label ‘pearls’ and we put on some of the acts that they are excited about at the moment. That was a really big event, all bells and whistles, great vibes”. 

Nick shared that managing this club was his “fun” job, but day to day he works within the media industry, working on props and set dressings etc.

Nick aims to attract a diverse audience to the club: “The LGTBQ+ audience of Manchester but it’s the alternative crowd, they’re the crowd that don’t feel catered for by the mainstream gay scene.

Salford gay club
image credit: Nick Spalding

I think Salford is a home for alternative culture, particularly the art scene surrounding Islington Mill.

“Islington Mill is queer and women led, and hosts the events, Nick shared the support he received from the community: “They’re extremely supportive, and it wouldn’t be able to happen without their help.

“I spoke to them about the idea at a queer networking event maybe three or four years ago, before lockdown, and it is through their support and their guidance that it has managed to happen. 

“Also through their generosity in letting us have this space for a very affordable price, because it’s an amazing space that we’ve got because they believed in the project.

“The clubs main objective is to bring something unique to Salford, ‘In an unusual and eccentric environment, sure to be a night out like no other.'” 

 

 

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