Has Flash, the 11-week-old gay Sydney dance party, become a victim of its own success?
Overnight Saturday, a flurry of DMs arrived in the Gay Sydney News inbox from upset and frustrated patrons attending Darlinghurst venue Two 3 One for Flash, the new weekly event that regularly sells out its presale tickets and which we described in a review as dark, sweaty and intimate.
“Concerning times at Flash as we witness the death of what was hope for Sydney gay nightlife,” said one Flash-goer in a dramatic 1.51am message.
“They stopped allowing anyone in around midnight and [did] not allow anyone upstairs for hours at a time for a broad range of reasons including ‘capacity’ … Nanny state in full flight. Local council inspectors arrived and were inside the venue, while the police were out the front on the street.”
Said another at 2.01am: “Flash was tragic tonight. [Council] rangers in full flight. Security and staff uncertain about the future. A sense of confusion among patrons. Blueballs for what could have been a great night. RIP Flash (as one patron yelled out during their departure).”
Other variations of concern ranged from “Do you have any intel on what happened at Flash last night?” to “Apparently Flash got shut down.”
Another claimed it had been “shut down by Clover’s police” (referring to Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore), while yet another said that some people who had pre-purchased tickets ($20) weren’t being let in.
So what actually happened? Turns out someone dobbed the venue in to the City of Sydney council over safety concerns, leading to entry being restricted – but it wasn’t “shut down”.
While the entire Two 3 One building holds up to 312 people and operates under a prized 5am liquor licence, an approved development application shows its top-level dancefloor – where house music is played – is licensed for just 72 people, while the level below, which features pop music, is capped at 120.
The ground street level also has a capacity of 120 (contributing to the total of 312), but Flash only uses it as a cloakroom on Saturday nights, meaning the gay party can host just 192 people at any one time – including staff, patrons and performers.
By comparison, Aura (formerly Arq) has a venue capacity of 900 across its two dancefloors and mezzanine, the Oxford Art Factory can host 500, and Kinselas’ top and middle floors can accommodate a combined 450.
“After being contacted by a member of the public, staff inspected a nightclub on Oxford Street early on Sunday morning,” a City of Sydney spokesperson told Gay Sydney News on Monday, noting that it took “the safety of its residents and visitors very seriously”.
“Our staff observed the establishment was over capacity and they also identified issues relating to fire safety equipment, fire safety doors and fire exits.”
The council said its staff “worked with the establishment to address the issues on the night”, which included “temporarily restricting people entering so the capacity issue could be addressed”.
“We will continue to engage with the nightclub to ensure they properly address the issues identified on Sunday morning so the safety of their patrons is a priority,” the spokesperson said.
Exactly who complained is unclear and will likely never be revealed. Patrons on the night speculated that a rival venue might have been involved, but there was no evidence to suggest this.
A source familiar with the complaint said it was made to council before Saturday night’s event and that there would be council follow-ups with the venue to address the fire safety issues.
An industry source who has worked with venues that have different floors told Gay Sydney News that managing capacity between levels was something a nightclub like Two 3 One would always struggle with.
The building housing Two 3 One is owned by the Matterson family and is currently for sale. Businesses it has hosted over the years include The Gay Bar, Tonka Bar, Meraki Arts Bar, Bad Hombres and De Nom.
It last sold for $3.8 million in November 2021 and there are “concept plans for [an] oversized 3-bedroom warehouse-style apartment with parking” being spruiked as part of the current sale.
Flash co-founder Ryan Marshall and Two 3 One were contacted for comment on Sunday but did not respond by Monday evening. The NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority referred inquiries to council. NSW Police said no incidents were recorded at the venue on Saturday night.
Gay Sydney News editor