Splash - New Yorks premier gay club

New York is, without doubt, the heart of the gay world.

It was in this progressive metropolis that the famous Stonewall riots happened in 1969 and it provided an example for gay communities all over the globe. One of the pleasures of visiting Gotham is to enjoy this famous community and its impressive nightlife. Although other cities have caught up with New York, there are few that party harder and get the most out of their sexuality. And the 'queen of the scene' has to be 'Splash' club in Chelsea which is one of the best gay clubs in the world.

Although the centre of the gay scene is probably now Chelsea, it is always worth visiting where it all started -- Greenwich Village. This for 25 years was the centre of the New York scene and some of the most famous pubs such as the'Stonewall Inn' still stand overlooking Sheridan Square. This square has been given a clean-up and now people sit on benches enjoying the sunshine with a dozen bars in the immediate vicinity (see photo). Christopher Street is not far away, and visiting it again it seemed to be much quieter and cleaner then I remember. Most of the action has moved to Chelsea.

And Chelsea on a Saturday night is a sight to behold especially between Eighth Avenue and 22nd and 19th Streets. Groups of men in tight T-shirts chatter in the street, and 'G' Bar on 19th Street (between Eighth and Seventh) was a superb bar, with no cover and very popular with 'guppies' (gay urban professionals). It is a large circular room with a bar in the middle. The barmen looked like bodybuilders and the music was good. Most people were with friends and moved on after a while and coming from the land of the frothy pint I will never . . . repeat never . . . get used to people drinking pink or green cocktails on a night out.

But the big draw in this area is 'Splash Club'. Situated on 17th Street (between Sixth and Fifth Avenues), it is more of an event then a nightclub. Every night of the week has New York’s best DJs, performers, dance shows, talent contests, tea dances and outrageous entertainment. Costing $15 entrance the club packs in hundreds of men in a mixture of age ranges. It helps to be buff and beautiful and the bartenders are employed for their looks just as much as their serving skills. Three bars dominate between two enormous dance floors. Huge screens on the walls showed moving pictures and the music was very good -- high energy with a few camp classics thrown in. Downstairs is another bar which is far more intimate and drinks are expensive at SBNY -- Heineken costs $5.50 a bottle.

New York is a fantastic city to be gay in and lives up to expectation. Go out and enjoy, this is where it started for me and the rest of the world . . .