It’s an inclusive and safe social hub, live entertainment venue, café, library and more… There’s nothing you can’t do at Diverse-City.
With the announcement of their new Gouger Street location offering a bright and intimate space, you can look forward to the community coming back together with its soft-launch opening today, 12 July. However, venue owners, founders and wife-duo Sue and Sarah Gallpen took to social media to announce the new location’s official grand opening party will fall on July 21.
Already, they feel welcome as the newest residents on the block.
“We love it,” says co-owner Sue. “We’ve only been here a week and a half, already the neighbourhood is lovely and the locals are very excited. We’ve had really nice conversations with them passing by when we’ve been out the front painting and setting up lighting boxes.”
“We’ve rainbow’d it up and made it very much our own.”
“The locals are open to it, everyone’s been interested and keen and happy. I think we’re in a truly lovely precinct, it has a really good feel.”
Right in the heart of the Adelaide CBD, there’s something for everyone, and it seems Diverse-City couldn’t have found a more welcoming location to be the hub of their many events.
“Our mission is to bring the LGBT community and the wider community closer together.”
There’s still construction going on, and it’s shaping up to be a vibrant space in readiness for the grand reveal.
“It’s full on, absolutely full on,” Sue laughs. “When I left today, there was gyprock flying everywhere, we’ve had everyone in today. It’s all part of moving forward.”
“It’s also a bit more modern,” says Sue, comparing the new spot to their previous location on Grote St. “One of the comments of the previous space was that because it was a dark theatre, it may not seem as welcoming, unlike our new location which offers a lighter, brighter, and more uplifting space.”
Now on Gouger, new and returning visitors can expect the stage to be a little smaller, says Sue. That, and “the ceilings aren’t 7-metres tall!”
“Instead we have gorgeous soft upper lighting in the ceiling, especially for events it will give the space a vibrant feel.”
Not to mention, the kitchen is much larger, which opens up their capabilities for catering.
“When we host an event, we often offer a two-course meal with a cabaret show or a live band, or other events. We’re really about dedicating the space to the performing artist of the evening, they can stick around after the show and have a drink and mingle and get the absolute most out of their experience.”
“We’re having a couple of make shift events into the lead up to the grand opening, and from then our regular events will pick up.”
“Our regulars are so loyal – they set up GoFundMe’s to help us out. It was a lovely testament to the generosity of people, and a wonderful show of how phenomenal our community is.”
At the grand opening on Friday 21 July, visitors will have an opportunity to see what the new venue is all about. Sue says all are welcome in any time between 3pm and 8pm, be it after work for a drink or spending a cruisey afternoon. Guests can expect complimentary food, as well as a drink upon a arrival, plus live entertainment, mingling, and enjoying everything the new space has to offer.
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone back.”
Diverse-City’s new location Grand Opening Party
When: Friday 21 July, 3pm-8pm
Where: 163 Gouger Street Adelaide, SA, Australia 5000
Free entry, complimentary drink on arrival.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates
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