Oyster/Instinct

[The Scene]

Well, having been to Instinct/Oyster a few times I am non the wiser as t what type of bar it is!!!! It is NOT a gay bar, it is NOT a str8 bar, its somewhere in between. I find for guys like myself who are not out (or only to a few close pals) but have friends on the scene it is very difficult to feel secure and safe going to Instinct.
No.1... You have to pass down the Vineyard Bar to the end of a lightsome but dingie laneway.....
No.2...once inside you could not only meet some of the good, Bad or Ugly gay guys on the scene you could also meet str8 friends and put yourself in a compromising position to say the least....
No.3...Its full of women (lessers of hags) and
No.4.... there is NEVER EVER a united atmosphere in there that can only be achieved by a smaller, fuller bar. Whats your opinions folks????... I think we deserve a bar that is suitable to our community and not to the owner who cream us for cash on our vunerablility and lack of choice!!!

MESSAGE FOR FABULA... Your great girl, i love your shows but i think you intimate witty humour and pleasing charming smile would suit you far better in a smaller, more intimate surrounding, even if it is Loafers!!!!... you must understand my thoughts, in so far as Drag and Fetish guys and Trannies will be subject you abise on a bar so close to other bars and in the limelight of Burger King, Abrakebabra, and Patricks Street in general!!!!! Hope all are well. :)

[Claw]

Has any one any thing good to say about the scene? All i have ever read in this forum is people putting the gay scene down. The Oyster is a new bar a lot of work has gone into it. It may not be every ones cup of tea but why bad mouth it and its cliental. Lot of u moan about the club i think it has come a long way over the last year and i bet a lot of u coul d tell a story or two about things ye got up to in there, people ye have met or shagged in the loos etc. instead of moaning about places why not give suggestions of what ye would like to see or be done in these places. Im sure if the owners want to make money and keep their cliental they will gladly listen to your suggestions and work on them. They need help to it must be hard to cater for everyone.

[redbulljunkie]

I think the Oyster is class. If you're worried about meeting straight people in there, remember if they're in Instinct then that means they're gay-friendly so you shouldn't worry about them seeing you in there. In fact, if you're assuming they're straight, then they could be assuming you're also straight.

[Slayer]

No.3...Its full of women (lessers of hags)


oh, i'm sorry, i didn't realise us lesbians aren't allowed to fill a bar, just like gay men do in almost every other venue.

And I do NOT like your derogatory use of the word "lesser" (spelled lezzer actually, if you MUST know). i would never use the word faggot, unless the people i was talking to knew for absolute DEFINITE it was a joke.
it's bad enough that homophobia is present amongst the heterosexual community.

And for the record, I love Instinct. It's friendly, big(two adjectives that usually don't come together), the service is good, the music is fab, generally a good helping of eye candy, and the staff rock.

Oh, and Fabula, of course, rocks! I think the venue suits her brilliantly. She is a queen in her beautiful palace.

And not to mention the fact that unlike Taboo, the Club and loafers on occasion, you can actually move around in the pub in comfort, without feeling like a sardine.

[Strawberry]

As a person who spends an awful lot of time in instinct i can assure you that instinct is never "full of women" UNFORTUNETELY and how dare you even
No.1...Insinuate that this would be a distinct disadvantage
No.2...use the term "lezzer" even though you spelled it wrong.
If someone posted here saying instinct is crap its full of faggots and poofs you'd be pretty insulted too eh?!! Instinct is a gay bar, (btw gay does not equal exclusive to gay men it means for gay people...both men and women) and granted the weekends are full of straight women but the bar cant do anything to stop them coming in...to not allow entry to someone based on sexual orientation is illegal. Personally i think this will wear off in the next few weeks or months...its still a novelty for now.

Yes you have to pass down by the vinyard...it is very well lit with lots of bouncers outside oth the vineyard and instinct...it is not a dingy laneway like taboo used to be down..now THAT was dingy.

there is NEVER EVER a united atmosphere in there that can only be achieved by a smaller, fuller bar. Whats your opinions folks????... I think we deserve a bar that is suitable to our community and not to the owner who cream us for cash on our vunerablility and lack of choice!!!

oh get over it!!! united atmosphere??! do you want people to join hands and start chanting "We're here and we're queer" or something?!

you are not being "creamed for cash" in the slightest. theres a dj 4 nights out of 7, for FREE!!! plus the staff do rock as slayer said, always friendly and they;re always working hard.

so theres my 2 cents. say lezzer again and ill kick your ass!





Well, having been to Instinct/Oyster a few times I am non the wiser as t what type of bar it is!!!! It is NOT a gay bar, it is NOT a str8 bar, its somewhere in between. I find for guys like myself who are not out (or only to a few close pals) but have friends on the scene it is very difficult to feel secure and safe going to Instinct.
No.1... You have to pass down the Vineyard Bar to the end of a lightsome but dingie laneway.....
No.2...once inside you could not only meet some of the good, Bad or Ugly gay guys on the scene you could also meet str8 friends and put yourself in a compromising position to say the least....
No.3...Its full of women (lessers of hags) and
No.4.... there is NEVER EVER a united atmosphere in there that can only be achieved by a smaller, fuller bar. Whats your opinions folks????... I think we deserve a bar that is suitable to our community and not to the owner who cream us for cash on our vunerablility and lack of choice!!!

MESSAGE FOR FABULA... Your great girl, i love your shows but i think you intimate witty humour and pleasing charming smile would suit you far better in a smaller, more intimate surrounding, even if it is Loafers!!!!... you must understand my thoughts, in so far as Drag and Fetish guys and Trannies will be subject you abise on a bar so close to other bars and in the limelight of Burger King, Abrakebabra, and Patricks Street in general!!!!! Hope all are well. :)

[Bootyzilla]

Hm. It always struck me as weird that people who claim to be scared of being found out as being gay still go out, in public, in full view of God and the Punters, to (wait for it, this is a shock)... Gay Bars.

If you're so terrified of being seen out as a Homo then why would you bother going to a gay bar at all? You'd have just as good a time at a straight bar.

So, in response...

No.1... Does it actually matter that you have to pass another Bar to get to Instinct? I mean, you have to pass a load of Bars on Douglas St. to get to Loafers, depending on which way you approach the Club you have to pass a Centra or more Bars on South Main St., and generally when one is going someplace one does end up passing other buildings, even at the best of times. Why is this such a problem? Are you allergic to doors?

No. 2... I refer to my original point, if you're scared of being seen by your straight friends in a gay bar (and in all my years I've never witnessed this happening in Cork, but that's a moot point) then why are you in a gay bar in the first place? If it's confidentiality and support you need then join a social group or do some volunteer work at the Other Place. Bars, being public by nature, are not places where confidentiality was ever a major concern, gay or straight.

No. 3... Stupid thing to say. Perception of a divide between gay men and lesbians only leads to widening that divide, which in reality, doesn't exist at all. Perhaps it's time, then, to stop buying into the stereotype that Lesbians = Hatred of Gay Men and just get along? (And this doesn't even begin to touch on the gross offensiveness or stupidity of this remark, a point which really isn't a point at all).

No. 4... United what now? United Atmosphere? Is that a new football club? Ozone FC, is it? If you want a smaller, fuller bar then get the booze in and charge people a fiver for the use of your living room. It's high time the Cork Scene took a step out of the shadows and dingy, cramped little buildings, and became a valid, open way of enjoying oneself on a night out.

The bottom line is, any bar cannot discriminate on the basis of sexuality, nor can it provide some sort of panacea for your own sexuality-based issues. If you're an unhappy camper (pardon the pun) then bung your arse into therapy, come out, or get over it, and start to have a good time. You can't honestly expect a business that's in business to make a profit (like 99.9% of all the other bars all over the world) to bow down to some sort of Gay-Men-In-Secrecy-Only Ideal that, thankfully, lost popularity the moment homosexuality was decriminalised. Do you really want us all to agree with you, and throw ourselves fifteen years back in time? Do you really want us to cut ourselves off from Lesbians and heterosexuals, sequestering ourselves into some dingy stinky little half-a-pint-of-shandy-booze hole, just because we *gasp* MAY BE RECOGNISED??? Can you provide an answer for why a bar, a business, should be expected to provide some sort of smoke screen to the world becuase you don't want to be held accountable for your same-sex actions?

I don't think so.

[Proud Mary 1980]

Personally I find the scene in Cork good, yes everyboy complains about it but whats new, we are Irish complaing is what we do best. Now I can understand the fear of being outs in a gay bar but in fairness justy because your in a gay bar doesn't mean your gay? The lane way, I think its a fab safty feature I mean when you turn off Patrick Street you could be going to the vineyard. Intinct Rocks

[northsider]

I have to agree with all the points made in the replies to this post. I mean fair enough the lane is dark and dingy but i never once heard any straight person complain about this in all the years it was straight bar. I mean what do people want? Just because its turned into a gay bar doesn't mean there should be a bloody yellow brick road leading up to it! Also the fact that you have to pass a straight bar before you get to Instinct, no doubt people would be complaining if the bar was isolated in some part of the city!
I think the fact that a bar has opened and it attracts equal amounts of both gay men and women is a marvelous thing but no pub in the world will you find that everyone is the best of friends!

[jc]

I dont understand why anytime someone comes on here stating something that is actually quite interesting, its met with complete aggression and anger.

I dont think the original post from 'The Scene' was meant to seem how its been perceived. Forgive me if Im being naiive here but the phrase 'lessers of hags' isnt the same as 'lezzers or hags'! I think he meant the sheer volume of straight girls who go there who dont actually know any of the gay guys.

I agree, worrying about passing down the Vineyard is something not to worry about. I mean, I dont think there are people who go there to stand inside the window with notebooks and camera to report on who's coming and going from Instinct. But then again, if you're new to the scene, I guess this would seem to be a reasonable concern.... 'who saw me going in?'

I think Instinct is a nice place and its a great improvement on what was there prior to its existance. I do feel that its still in its teething stage though and I have to admit that at times, Ive felt uncomfortable in there. Being the new bar thats normal. Give it time.

And lay off the slagging match. It was a genuine obsevation and I dont think it was meant as an attack on anyone.

[Claw]

And at least u have choices now. I like the oyster there is a great mix of everyone there, u can go to loafers for a quiet drink if thats what ur into and if its lesbians ur looking for well its packed with them on a thursday night. Then there is the Other Place they have a strict door policy strictly a gay club and there guests, if ur not known at the door or ur not with a member or a regular its hard for u to get in. which makes it a safe place its small but the music is good and the staff seem ok to. so stop moaning no one is asking u to stay in these places all night spread the night out visit all three have a miniature pub crawl.

[LittleTimmy]

Jc has made some valid points. I think TS is being misinterpted. And it is reasonable for people to have worries about who sees them in a gay pub. Its disingenious for any gay person to say otherwise, cos we've all gone thorugh the ' i don't want anyone to know phase'.
On the other hand I think the management have done a very good job with Instinct! I'm impressed. One note of constructive criticism though (and I know it has been said before) The music is far too loud. Fair enuff on a friday or saturday nite but on sunday most people are outt for a chat, and its almost impossible. Something to think about, but all in all well done.

[LeBaron]

No.2...once inside you could not only meet some of the good, Bad or Ugly gay guys on the scene you could also meet str8 friends and put yourself in a compromising position to say the least.... :)

You could try wearing a Burkka

:)

[markinmanc]

If TS is worried about people thinking she/he is gay, why go there?

[LovePuppy]

Instinct Rocks!!! And the lane is brill....I spend most of the night outside...oh and TS, it's just been painted Bright white :o))))

[cute_girl]

ya instinct is really good. the staff are friendly, music is changeable but likeable and iv never had any trouble with the bouncers.

[Lainey]

Well, having been to Instinct/Oyster a few times I am non the wiser as t what type of bar it is!!!! It is NOT a gay bar, it is NOT a str8 bar, its somewhere in between.

I was talking to the owner and he told me it's a straight friendly bar.

Just thought i'd clear that up.

[Proud Mary 1980]

If I'm not mistaken I'm sure it was originally advertised as a lifestyle bar. Follow your instinct.

[The Scene]

For God sake....What does "Lifestyle Bar mean"??

[Bootyzilla]

Nobody complained when Taboo was marketed as the 'Disco Bar' - and I'm sorry, but unless it was a disco of amoebae and midgets then that was another name that made no sense whatsoever.

[LeBaron]

LOL

Reminds me of the writing on the back of a toilet door I seen somewhere " Beware of Gay midget limbo dancers "....

Did not see that in Taboo 'tho ..... no toilet door !

[apollo]

" Beware of Gay midget limbo dancers "....


It is on the toilet doors in either the Boole library or basement of UCC.

[LeBaron]

Must check that out !

[lipstick_diva]

Instinct in my opinion is a class bar, it has the cork scene proud, you can tell by the venue alot of money has been put into it for the gay people of cork.
The dj's are class there is a brillant variety of music genres to suit their customers tastes and there not afraid to try new things.
The staff i have to say are such eye candy from Kevin (tall) to Jay & bruno. For the girls then they have ciara to sexy manager jackie. I must admit i have a soft spot for john he's so cute its a pity he's finished school :(
instinct a big thanks from a regular not a alcholic :)

[apollo]

Yeah the range of music in there is good, there is something to suit everyone and not the usual kylie/britney fanatics. :)

[jezebel]

I was at instinct last night and as usual it was goddam cool! :cool: Even with the rain pissin down we was all safe and sound under there lovely canopy's!! super-fab! :D :p