Let's make a list of "Rent Bars" in Europe that are still operating?
Any info please?
Maybe start a new post!
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Let's make a list of "Rent Bars" in Europe that are still operating?
Any info please?
Maybe start a new post!
So we have:
• Berlin
• Dusseldorf
• Hamburg
Sauna Thermas in Barcelona is still operating and good.
Going rate is €50
Is this the third thread about the two rent bars in Dusseldorf? I'm losing count. It's taking on Tarntawan Hotel proportions.
There is also a rent bar in Madrid called Black & White.
This bar is still open and had some MB's in there.
Two in Düsseldorf, next door to each other.
4 in Berlin around the Függerstrasse area. I wouldn't bother visiting them unless you fancy being the bottom for some Arab (NO WAY).
Gone are the days when there was some cute talent in these bars, with the back up option of some hookers in the sauna 10 minutes walk away (currently closed).
I think the phone apps have taken over.
If you are a top, or like cute boys, comparisons with Bangkok are irrelevant. Most of what is left working the bars in Germany is not at all cute and is top only. There is zero chance of me offing most of them, even if they paid me.
I fully agree, the days have gone when you could have got a nice cute guy in these bars.
No doubt this is because of the apps and I also strongly believe the guys now operating in these bars (none Germans/caucasian people) have pushed out all the cute/good looking caucasian boys. Because with these boys in their way, the none European guys won't get business/make money?
If you look at all these bars, you will not find those cute blond boys anymore. Such a shame.
But I still like visiting these bars, as sometimes you can get some nice guys, and who do more than only wanting just to be Top?
If you live nearby, I imagine it's worth rolling the dice & visiting these bars a few times.
However, if you're flying to Berlin for a short holiday or weekend and EXPECT f*** some cute lad, the bars are unlikely to provide this. After visiting the bars, I find myself looking for a Thai masseur on Planet Romeo & visiting him at about 1:00 am.
Those who read my Dusseldorf report, would have notice there were no German Caucasian boys mentioned.
I agree a big majority (90%) are just Tops, but you have to look hard to find a bottom. And certainly not worth the flight if you live far?
Remember how Amsterdam and Prague use to be? Those were the good old days!
I used to fly to Amsterdam once a month from the UK. Great fun at the Whynot, Boys for Men and my favourite the 21.All full of cute Caucasian guys. Not any more.
This thread made me look up the 21 ( the sole remaining Cub) and I am horrified to see that they now charge 175 Euros for an hour with a boy. Thats just under 7000 fucking Baht...
without the cost of drinks!
Thank god I discovered Thailand ....
Gerefan2 wrote.
*Thank god I discovered Thailand ...."
My sentiments exactly. Especially when compared to any other 'gay' destination.
In other words a form of colonialism. Although most definitions simply assume a state actor as the colonial power it isn’t always true eg. the early European settlement of North America or the early days of trading entities like the British East India Company. There’s little difference morally between staying in one’s own country and having sex with prostitutes who have been trafficked there, and travelling to that country of origin in order to have sex with local prostitutes
If you say so frequent.
I was going to say Pinocchio in Prague, great, great pick up bar in Prague, but I haven't made a stop in Prague in a while, instead driving straight through, and sadly turns out Pinocchio is history, Scottish-guy reporting. It was truly great pick up place, Czecks are naturally handsome, friendly. No wonder half of gay porn is shot in Czech. We used to drive to visit Pinocchio on weekends, even though city was becoming increasingly expensive. No more.
https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showt...-End-of-an-Era
Any road trip to Italy, passing Prague is a natural stop, if you take the road southbound in Poland, towards Wroclaw. The other option is driving West, passing Poznan, and in about 4 hours you are in Berlin.
Blue Boy was open in August, visited on my way to south of Europe, and on way back North 3 weeks later. Passing Berlin on first stop was hopeless, it was 35C heatwave that very day, early August 2018, place was dead, but day time, and we never went back at night.
One a way back passed Berlin again, and parked strategically near Blue Boy (not easy on dead end road), and observed market for an hour or so, just 2 guys on a terrace, nothing interesting. But it was early afternoon, Tuesday.
I can tell you Baltics is dead, everyone even half good looking works in Stockholm, Koppenhagen now, and further in Western Europe, where the real money is. There are some mutts on apps, still, asking rediculous prices in hopes of scoring a drunk Finn, but the scene there is basically dead.
I'm off to Prague in 3 weeks time so I'll have to keep an eye open to see what's what there and check out grindr to see if it's busy or not etc. However as I'm going there to take my 80 somehting year old mother and my BF to see the Christmas markets etc I very much doubt I'll manage to escape for any proper deep and dirty investigations of the seedy services on offer - probably ?! :-)
As DD says, Pinocchio is closed - and has been for maybe 20 years! That might be an exaggeration but certainly more than 10. It turned into Club Temple, which is now also closed. What the space is now may be revealed when Marsilius files his report, as he's just come back. Worth saying that Escape Club (which I never really liked) is also closed.
Just for the sake of reminiscence, on my first visit to Prague there was no Pinocchio's and no Escape.
Villa David and Villa Mansland (also both closed) were the 2 Gay hotels. Mansland was as much of a brothel as a hotel mind you but you get the idea.
The only gay "club" in town was called the G L Club, which was a basement bar full of extremely young hustlers who all looked about 15. To be fair, that was the Czech Age of Consent at the time, so it was a bit shocking at first sight but nothing out of the ordinary in those days.
They had a DJ who was constantly being asked (by the boys) to play "I'm a Call Boy" by Wayne Samuels. I'd never heard of the song (neither has anybody else I bet) but it seemed so apposite to the situation that we spent the whole of the next day searching every record shop in Prague for a copy.
I was very fortunate to obtain a 12 incher - which I still have. I take it out and look at it occasionally - would anybody like to see a pic?
:drink:
PS: DD mentions Blue Boy Bar in Berlin. Worth saying to anyone who hasn't visited Berlin in a while that it moved a couple of years ago so I'm guessing DD was observing the "new" one. The old location (Fuggerstasse, next to Blond Bar) is still in operation as a re-named rent bar (making 4 within staggering distance). Would have been 5 but one (Eldorado) has turned into a gay cafe selling breakfasts and cakes.
Blue Boy Bar's claim to fame is that (in the original location) it was a favourite and regular haunt of the Pet Shop Boys - and you'll still see that mentioned in some gay directories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oooyUiG8V7g
There you go, a little something for you to reminisence over and a good reason to use the insert video button again it seems ! :)
ps no need to remove the "s" just for your info - just copied and pasted directly from the youtube URL - BUT I always open the link first and take the link from the URL window and not just the link shown in google as sometimes there's parts missing off the end etc, copying the ACTUAL live URL always seems to work just fine though.
Yeah you'll realise I deleted the post about removing the "s" when I found out links now works without any alteration !
And yeah that the same cover I have except mine is 12 inches.
I have to say I brought it back with me and a number of pub and club DJs back home were tickled pink to play it!
"Of it's day" I think
Maybe the Pet Shop Boys could do an updated version for Blue Boy Bar - I can almost hear Neil Tennant lisping his way though the lyric right now - after all they're "Shameless" :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG5oi1FGf_I
I'm just glad you didn't bring it to Thailand on any of the trips that you never went on ( there I saved you the post Minimee) as I think we'd of been sick of hearing - mind you it does have a better beat to it that "My Way" if nothing else I guess ! :)
When I open my drag bar in Gran Canaria it'll be heavily featured.
Be sure that's not until after Christmas then please as I dont want to be listening to it THERE either when I go in December as that racket from Rickys Showbar is QUITE bad enough thanks ! :)
Don't bother wasting your time. Prague rent scene is completely dead now.
My friend is there right now and said it's completely a waste of time. He goes every few weeks on business but goes to the bars every night. He says it's empty, with just the bar man and himself in the club downstairs most times.
What they do now is close the bar upstairs at 10pm, to try and encourage people to go downstairs to Temple or now known as "Downstairs Club".
The former Pinocchio name was change to Temple Club, then that previous owner, Joe sold the lease to his Head Bar Man Rebeca, who took over the place and changed the name to Up & Down Bar and Club. (As before Monty Bar was upstairs and Temple Club was downstairs)
And the other rent bar called Escape Bar has been closed for few months now, although the new owners (Americans) who apparently are going to open it again were drinking in Club Temple the other week.
Prague is still my favourite City, and I have fond memories of the place, and there is still a gay scene in Prague, but if you're going for the rent bars, don't bother.
Yes, apps still works, but not much MB's about I'm afraid.
But don't let that put you off, as I said it's a great City!
Well, in that case I'll just give my mother my full attention then and resist the urge to slut it out for a change ! Hell I could do with the Brownie points for when I die anyway ! :)
Blacktouch is being a bit too negative about Up & Down, I think. I was there last week and initially posted my impressions on the "limericks" thread elsewhere (hence it includes a verse) - but it has since been moved by the moderators to create a new thread on Sawatdee Gay World.
Nirish guy, as you are going to Prague already, please visit Up & Down Bar and Club for yourself. And please kindly report back your findings?
Now if you were going to Prague just for the rent scene, I would not waste your time and money?
As I said, Prague is still my favourite, and a great City, and I will visit again one day.
I can only go by what my friend has told me on several occasions, and two others who live there. One person who has an apartment in Prague has given it up, and will only now visit occasionally. I also know few other people who have given up going to Prague.
I use to go often, but have stopped going since 4 years now because of its decline.
Still my favourite City, and still good looking guys.
But please do visit and let us hear your thoughts? You never know, you may find a nice cutie?
The gay scene is shrinking all over the world. I don't know why. It can't just be the apps surely.
My friend got back from Prague last night (Wednesday)
He went from Monday to Wednesday (2 nights).
He visited both Up/Down Bar & Club (formerly Monty Bar and Temple Club).
He said the attendance was as followed:
Monday eveing/night
Up Bar: 4 customers/5 MB's (nothing special, usual furniture guys).
Down Club: 3 customers/No MB's.
Tuesday evening/night
Up Bar: 8 customers/6 MB's (nothing special).
Down Club: 5 customers/2 MB's (Usual furniture guys).
Furniture Guys = regular local MB's who have been there few years, age 25 upwards.
Please note this was during the week, so weekends may be more people?
My friend only goes during the week on business. His next trip is on 10th December.
These bars use to be full every day, all year round, but not anymore, which is such a shame, as Prague is such a lovely City.
Hi All
I post more on the BT forums, and Gay Thailand, but I was surprised to come across the thread here about Dusseldorf. It sounds great to me, but I hadn't even heard of the bars there - no one seems to have posted about it before - so I was thinking about starting a thread like this - to see if there were anymore hidden gems in Europe that I hadn't heard of. So thanks Blacktouch for starting!
Amsterdam and Prague sounded so good back in the day! I'm so sorry I missed it. Having said that, I've been to Escape in the last few years and absolutely loved it - especially during Pride Week - they had cute boys and shows every night. Gutted that its closed. And hopeful of its revival. Though the stories of Up&Down sound promising. Amsterdam, less good. I went to 21 as well and it was awful. Nothing there and my friend and I got charged 40 EUR for 2 vodkas. Would never go back there.
I've been to the bars in Berlin a couple of times, and to be honest I don't mind the guys being Arab/Romanian/Turkish - as long as they have a cute face, and a nice attitude, I'm easy. Though I'm definitely careful, as I've heard some bad stories. From the threads on this site, Hamburg and Dusseldorf sound like they have a similar set up, so I'm considering visiting these cities now.
Another place, not often mentioned on these boards is Milan. I've visited Afterline club in Milan several times - they have great gogo shows with hot guys (not available to take home) and there are a lot of Romanian guys who you can take to the darkroom downstairs. I've found it enjoyable if you are looking for something quick.
I've also been to Black and White in Madrid a couple of times, but found almost nothing there - and they were weekend nights! I don't think I will visit there again. But I've found the quality of guys online in both Madrid and Barcelona to be excellent.
Unfortunately the internet has taken over everything I'm afraid.
In the UK high street shops/stores are closing down, as more people are shopping online now.
Restaurants are suffering, as people are ordering food online more, from delivery Companies like "Just Eat", "Deliveroo" and "Uber Eats".
Mini cabs (taxi firms) are closing down, as Uber is online, and people not using the shop based taxi firms, where you phone and order a taxi. (In UK we say Cab).
Rent Bars are closing down all over the World, as MB's are using the apps to get business. They can stay at home, play computer games, search the net, relax in the comfort of their own home, without going to a bar and stand on a stage, or sit at a bar waiting for business.
The list goes on.
You're correct and the High Street stores at least have the ability to fight via their own online presence - yet they still close. Imagine how bad it must be for small Independent retailers who do not have the resources to even get near the first page of Google.
People want the cheapest and they want it now. They may say that they don't mind paying a little extra to support local business but it's like those who say "I'd gladly pay an extra 1p in the £ in my tax for the NHS" yet when any political party puts it in their manifesto they get hammered at the polls.
Only the property owners can do something about this by realising their rents are unrealistically high and reducing them.
I disagree. A distinct gay social scene is declining because at least in the inner cities there’s a greater social interaction between different sexualities and people seem more prepared to be accepting. You have only to see television soaps like that ghastly American series “Modern Family” to understand what is going on
You're correct about that to a degree (try snogging the face off your bf down your local pub in the way a str8 couple could) .
However, and with all due respect "greater social interaction" has absolutely nothing to do with rent bars.
Rent bars have very little to do with engaging in social intercourse and everything to do with engaging in quite another type of intercourse.
Also, I think more and more gay men are coming out, and not hiding their sexuality anymore. Whereas before men used to marry a women, but lead a double life. I'm sure this still goes on in this day an age, especially in Countries where being gay is very difficult? So when they live a double life, most use the rent scene to get to have their fun, and the choice of young cute guys!
More heterosexual venues are excepting more homosexual people and the old gay bars seem to be closing down completely because less people are attending them and the added fact that the owners of the properties are selling to property developers for large sums of money. Also the leases/rents are sometimes extremely high that these businesses are forced to close.
In my area of North London where I live, there were over ten gay venues one could go to, over a space of 4 miles, now all of these gay venues are all closed down. When you drive pass them, they have all been made in to expensive housing developments or trendy heterosexual bars.
Thank you boyfous, my aim is to make a listing of Rent Bars Experiences that are still operating in Europe?
Dusseldorf was ok. I enjoyed it. Feel free to read my report on my two visits back in June and October this year.
I've also been to Berlin a few times and have always enjoyed myself. And I will visit again in the new year.
I also don't mind the Arab/Romanian/Turkish/Bulgarian/Moroccan/Macedonian MB's who are in these bars.
I am very interested in Milan, as never been before. There was one gay sauna called Alexander's Club, which is now listed as CLOSED. apparently that was a nice place to go? I still believe there are more venues like this in Milan and would appreciate if you can confirm this?
I've been to Black and White in Madrid, but that was just a waste of time. I'm guessing most of these venues are a hit and miss?
Barcelona Thermas Sauna is still good, and I have some friends who still visit from time to time.
I'm told there is a City in Czech Republic where apparently there is a bar where there are MB's available? How true this info is, i'm not sure? I'm just waiting on more information from a friend, and I will make a short two days visit and report back.
Not sure what to say here! I assume Blacktouch means a city other than Prague? Or is phenomenally slow on the uptake?
I do remember talking to a waiter in a Prague gay bar who told me "...at the weekends I make my drag in Brno" - maybe there's something there? I never investigated further.
Moving on....I've never been in Austria (as an adult), but I'd imagine there's a fair chance of rent bars there. Anybody have experience?