Tuesday 19th January 2010 saw the finale of long running LGBT night ‘Allsorts’ at The Place aka Life. The event had previously been promoted on www.tick.it as “the biggest weekly LBGT Night in East Anglia”.

Speaking to promoters, Varsity discovered that the management made the decision following several departures from the team. Previous promoter Paul Whitbread who was with the night until last summer explained that DJ Nick Shepherdson left last October, resulting in a dramatic drop in clientele. He also complained that that the new DJ “played a completely different style of music and alienated the regular customers.”

In his time as promoter the night was achieving “an average of 150 people each week peaking at 420, a mixture of students and local people.” However, owing to the cheaper drinks and entry prices of alternative night, ‘Rendezvous’, ‘Allsorts’ attracted just 20 people on a night earlier this month.

Whitbread asserted that Allsorts held a string of unpopular themed club nights, including “a porn party, and a sex night”, adding that he feels “the people of Cambridge don't want those kind of nights!”

The Place’s spokesperson confirmed that the night had become “an un profitable session due to lack of interest” adding that owing to the closure of the last LGBT pub The Bird in Hand, the night was increasingly difficult to promote to their “target market”.

Speaking to Varsity, a student who regularly attended the ‘Allsorts’ night complained that unlike the regular Sunday student night, half of the club space was closed off and booths unavailable. He commented that the club was “as busy as a normal night, but half the size” yet still with a “buzzing atmosphere”.

When questioned about the possible success of ‘Ladies Night’, he admitted that it “could mean a fuller club as it is not aimed at a minority” adding that “it’s hard to cater for minorities in a small town.”

A Facebook group now exists in commemoration of the ‘Allsorts’ night, claiming to “preserve the memory of this once fantastic club night” that has run since 2006 under a variety of names: ‘Unique’, ‘Precious’, ‘Fusion’, ‘Thrust’ or ‘Allsorts.’

The Place’s replacement event, ‘Ladies Night’ will be in direct competition with ‘The Night formally known as Jelly Baby’ at rival establishment Cindies. Launching on Tuesday 26th January playing “seductive fluffy R’n’B and hip hop” the night will be “£3 for girls after midnight and £3 for guys all night.”