The nightclub was only open for just over a year but had a clientele filled with familiar faces
Liverpool’s Cumberland Street is situated in the city’s Pride Quarter(Image: Ciaran Robinson)
A city centre nightclub has been fondly remembered as a “hidden gem” that was “full of life.” OUT! was undoubtedly one of the most vibrant clubs to grace Liverpool and offered a welcoming haven for people from all backgrounds.
Launched in July 2018, the LGBTQ+ hotspot spanned three levels and boasted a showroom, several dance areas and bars, a games room, and even drew comparisons to a scene “thrown up from Katy Perry’s California Girls video”.
Scattered throughout the Cumberland Street venue were cultural references that any dedicated drag race aficionado would instantly recognise. On Friday and Saturday evenings, customers were treated to a show every half hour from the resident performance troupe, including Krissy Friday, Azzuro Penderghast, and Violet Period-Pain.
The bar was part of the Pub Invest Group family, alongside Fusion, Level, SoHo, and McCooley’s. After customers were finished in OUT!, they could gain complimentary entry to its sibling club, Heaven, just a short walk away on Victoria Street.
OUT! shut its door for the last time in August 2019
At its inception, general manager Ryan Fanthorpe shared with the ECHO his vision for it to be a “gay McCooley’s or Wetherspoons, somewhere it isn’t super stressed” and a place where anyone could come to dance the night away.
The short-lived venue, situated on the former Lomax club site, shut its doors permanently in August 2019 after less than two years.
Azzuro Penderghast, a regular performer and DJ at the club, previously told the ECHO: “OUT! was a special little place tucked away on Cumberland street. It was a visual colourful spectacle overflowing with opulence and drama.
“A club which became a hidden gem of a safe space to many queer peoples of Liverpool. The ones who know, know. It was full of life and it was new. Feeding off the root of the iconic club that was there before, it quenched a drag race thirst we all had.”
The venue had an in-house show team featuring Krissy Friday, Azzuro Penderghast (pictured) and Violet Period-Pain.(Image: Bradley James Falcus)
The drag queen, originally from Belfast, explained the customer base “was wonderful and full of an amalgamation of all types of queer people”. While working alongside “bar staff who were overflowing with personality,” Azzuro treated guests to quiz nights, bingo sessions and “never shied away from the chance to do a themed show.”
She said: “It’s sad it closed and it’s sad it didn’t last long either. I really think it stays in people’s minds as a wonderful little moment in the city. Something new and exciting. I think it’s hard to introduce something new amongst places that have fought so hard to belong.
“People go where they are used to going, and we were so grateful for those who came to us. The city has several amazing LGBTQ+ bars and clubs you were almost spoiled for choice. Regardless, that it didn’t work I think most could agree the air was different in that place. It holds a special place in mine and so many people’s hearts.”
The venue is fondly remembered by its staff still to this day(Image: Bradley James Falcus)
During its time the club even welcomed a few famous faces through its door including RuPaul’s Drag Race queens, Pandora Box, Charlie Hides, Alaska, Adore Delano, and Celebrity Big Brother winner, Courtney Act. Their autographed portraits were scattered around the venue “almost as their seal of approval”, according to Azzuro.
As Azzuro entertained guests on one side of the bar, Bradley James Falcus, the club’s bar supervisor, was quenching their thirst on the other. The 26-year-old was “there from the beginning” helping paint the rooms, tables and chairs. He said seeing it all come together was “honestly amazing and the whole Pride Quarter was buzzing with excitement.”
He told the ECHO: “I’m glad I got to experience it in its opening glory. It was like you were the number one fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race and you wanted to renovate your garage into the ‘werk room’ on a budget. It was every gay cliché rolled into one. A delightfully queer experience all around.”
The nightclub was described as a venue ‘thrown up from Katy Perry’s California Girls video’
Echoing a similar sentiment to Azzuro, Bradley explained how it never really felt like work because of the team around him. He added: “It was a complete family with jokes, arguments and laughs. Sometimes it’s not great to get close to your colleagues but with the team we had, it was inevitable.
“Pride 2018 is my favourite memory. The day is such a fun and exciting time for everyone involved and as much as I think the 14 hours I worked were possibly the hardest of my life, there were just so many funny and heart warming moments throughout the shift which just kept us going.”
While the club won’t be making a return anytime soon, it continues to hold a special place in its staff’s hearts. Azzuro added: “I think it was really important for the community it wasn’t like other gay clubs that already existed. Similar but different.
“I think more relaxed where you could grab a quiet drink and play some pool or get messy and twerk on a stage. Queer folks still need a place that is wholesomely queer, welcoming and accepting of all queer people of all ages.”