Exclusive: A co-owner of the straight Oxford Street nightclub Noir is in advanced negotiations to acquire the lease to the gay club Arq, less than eleven months after the owner of Home The Venue took over management of the venue.
Three separate sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, said that Noir co-owner David Auld, who also co-owns the Seadeck party boat business, is spearheading the bold bid to run Arq. He declined to comment when contacted by Gay Sydney News.
Shadd Danesi, the owner of Arq, also offered “no comment” when called. Similarly, Sophie Kollmorgen – the daughter of Susanah Page, owner of Home The Venue, and the owner’s representative – did not respond to a phone call, emails, or a text seeking comment.
This bid follows Susanah Page’s acquisition of the venue finalised on April 1 last year and raises questions about the future of Poof Doof Sydney’s Saturday parties at Arq. A Poof Doof representative declined to comment regarding its Saturday night future at the venue.
The bid also prompts questions about the direction Auld would take with the club, given his ownership of Noir – a straight venue on Sydney’s gay strip, where patrons have been accused by members of the queer community of homophobia.
A stabbing incident outside Noir in July 2023 further raised concerns about the club’s presence on the strip.
Despite some negative sentiment from the community, Auld’s various businesses have supported queer parties, including hosting party promoter Nic Holland’s Pop Yacht events and some of GAYM Entertainment’s Morning Glory events on Seadeck; holding Brisbane DJ Harry Katsanevas’ events on Auld’s Brisbane boat Oasis; and providing influencer Jay Fisher with access to run the Lavendr Lounge pop-up at Noir during Sydney WorldPride.
Two sources informed Gay Sydney News that representatives from Home The Venue have expressed their willingness to vacate Arq in favour of Noir running the venue, citing underwhelming revenue figures as a key reason for being open to leaving the premises.
Another source said that under Home The Venue’s management, Arq has struggled to attract promoters beyond Poof Doof to host events at the club, due to its perception among straight promoters as being a “gay club”.
Apart from rare external events, the club remains largely dormant from Sunday through Friday. Since it opened under Home The Venue’s management, it has posted only seven events unrelated to Poof Doof on its Instagram carousel. These include an event called Arqade, which ran once; Afterglow; Bar Kylie, Brute; a party run by Red Heaven Events; and two In The Dark shows featuring touring Drag Race stars.
It’s unclear if other events were held but not posted about. Coming up, the venue is scheduled to host a Thick “N”‘ Juicy event during Mardi Gras, as well as Poof Doof-run parties outside of the usual Saturday schedule.
Interestingly, Danesi is still listed on property records as the primary leaseholder for Arq under his business, Keyhoe Pty Ltd, until July 31, 2043.
A Sydney property source noted that this is likely because Danesi had subleased Arq to Susanah Page.
A separate source close to last year’s negotiations confirmed that Danesi was offering parties bidding for the Arq premises a sub-lease, not an actual lease, meaning Danesi would retain control under his own company. This was described by one person as a “bizarre arrangement”.
A property source explained that a sub-lessee has fewer rights under the law than a normal lessee.
“A lessee has rights under property law. But the way he’s [Danesi] structured it [the lease with Home The Venue], he can terminate the lease at any time and the sub-lessee just has to accept it,” the source said.
“A sublease is meant to be temporary but the way some people structure them … just gives the landlord more power.”
As reported last year when Susanah Page took over the lease, Auld was one of the other parties who competed to acquire the club’s lease.
But just as Auld was about to deposit the required funds to secure the venue, he was informed that Danesi had signed a lease with someone else, who turned out to be Susanah Page.
At the time, Poof Doof owner Anthony Hocking was also negotiating to potentially acquire the lease to Arq and the adjacent sex-on-premises venue Sauna X by 357, then known as Bodyline, in a joint deal.
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: ben.grubb@gaysydneynews.com.au
