Nightclub entrepreneur Barton opens new venue in Southside
A BIRMINGHAM nightclub entrepreneur has launched his latest venture in the city’s Southside district.
The latest addition to Lawrence Barton’s string of businesses is new bar Queer Street. The opening of the venue has helped create seven new jobs.
The venue, formerly known as Purple Bar & Lounge, in Hurst Street, closed in August and since then has undergone extensive refurbishment.
Mr Barton said: “We announced the refurbishment of the bar and are now happy to officially unveil it as Queer Street. The name ties in with the history of the bar’s sister business The Nightingale which historically had a Queer Street night many years ago.”
The acquisition of the bar follows Mr Barton’s buyout of the Nightingale late last year.
Mr Barton, whose family business GB Holdings Ltd, also runs the successful Loft Lounge, Penthouse, and Village Inn venues in Southside.
David Nash, group operations director for GB Holdings, said the new venue was in response to a gap in the market in the city’s gay village.
“This is a unique opportunity to create a venue that will enhance the choice currently available within the gay village and Southside,” he said.
