A Bar Called Barry Review

Review By Lana Wilson

This place is nothing short of a Melbourne institution. Cheekily situated on the corner of Smith and Gertrude Streets, Collingwood, "Barry's" is a pumping party of pop, rock and retro tunes every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night that is only a skip, hop or 5 minute tram ride from the CBD.

If you love corny party tunes, reasonably priced drinks and busting a move, then you will feel right at home at A Bar Called Barry's.

Entry into Barry's is cheap - the cover charge for a Saturday night is a bargain at $10, but lines can get lengthy and long, so it's best to avoid the peak time between 10:30pm - 12am.

Having said that, once 3am hits, the crowd steadily dies down, and deep into the early hours, this place can feel a bit empty.

But that's okay, because Barry's drink prices are quite reasonable, so by the time the party people leave, you should be well gone yourself. Beers start at $5, spirits at $8 and soft drinks at $3. Premium mix drinks, such as Jagerbombs are a little pricier, but the faces of the friendly, flirty staff make that burn hole in the wallet worthwhile.

Speaking of people, the crowds who flock here are pretty laid back, looking for a good time. Everyone from funky techno geeks, to urban, inner city-dwelling bohemians to wild women dressed in pink veils clutching penis straws dance the night away here. Fun times can be maximised, however, should you choose to bring your own crew along.But do choose what night you want to boogie on down too wisely - each night caters to a different crowd. Thursday is Queer night; Friday is advertised as 'IQ Fridays' and Saturday night is 'Pop Rox', playing everything from Lady Gaga, to Aerosmith to Cyndi Lauper.

Advertisements on the bar's website indicate that Friday nights suffer from a slight identity crisis, and little information on theme details can be found, even on the Facebook fan page. So take it from a closet fan - Saturday night is the biggest and best night for a guaranteed good time.

Barry's has three great cons to its name - a sultry, jailbird style smoker's room, a big dance floor with a massively mounted video projector playing music videos and a second, slightly secluded staircase with silver railings leading to the 'Barryoke' room.

So, if you've been ditched by your best friend, who is busily licking lips with a brown haired, slightly beer bellied bloke by the name of 'Dan', then you can take comfort in the fact that there are many avenues of escape and opportunities for fun. Or alternatively you glide up the sticky staircase, close your eyes, and pretend you actually are a member of the Spice Girls, looking down to your loving fans, drinks in hands.




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A 2nd Review of A Bar Called Barry

Review By Verity Trott

The 86 tram from the city to Smith St will transport you to a most affable queer community that occupies A Bar Called Barry's every Thursday and Friday nights. IQ Thursdays offer a spacious, gay-friendly club where every indie or queer can feel comfortable regardless of their preferred orientation; straight gals too often favor IQ for a place where they can let loose on the dance floor without the threat of sleazy glances.

An entry free of five smackeroonies filters out the dodgy folk of the surrounding area and assures a flavorsome night of committed partygoers. The venue's prime attraction is it's centered and open dance space accompanied by a large screen showcasing a combination of the latest and greatest pop music video clips. The resident DJs sit up high along with the vast screen, overlooking the youthful and energized bunch of 20-somethings and domineering their dance moves.

'Happy Coming Out' along with 'Happy Birthday' messages flash brightly on the grand screen and are communicated across the loud and distorted bubble of cheerily singing voices, shouts of attempted conversation and the loud beats of pop tunes. Rare couches and stools are scattered on the sidelines of the illuminated dance floor and a staircase leads to a rather exposed balcony that looks out onto the clambering bodies. Hanging off the balcony one can observe a sea of brightly glowing and colourful attire. Plain white tees transform into glowing blue shirts amongst the assemblage of casual but stylish garb.

Two bars are located effectively, one serving the dance floor the other situated at the entrance, offers expensive drinks and free compliments by the chic and lovely staff. Also extending off from the entrance is the fairly vast smoker's area. Facing the street, the smoker's area also functions as a quieter place for chatter away from the hustle of the dance floor. The tightly nit queer community becomes apparent as friends amusingly bump into old friends and ties are resurrected as new ones are established.

As the night carries on into the early hours of the morning, the dance floor empties as dribs and drabs make their way around the block to The Peel. Whether you are queer or not A Bar Called Barry's is respectably the place to go if you seek a night brimming with fun, laughter and dance in a friendly and agreeable atmosphere.

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