Solotel outlines WorldPride program

Exclusive hospitality partner of WorldPride 2023, Solotel, has revealed the events and entertainment line-up at its venues, with pride trivia, queer DJ nights and vibrator races.

The group is working with leading ‘tastemakers’ in the LGBTQIA+ community to produce its styling, entertainment and music schedule ahead of February’s festivities.

Events are slated to run over 17 days, and participating venues include: the iconic Opera Bar, the recently reopened Abercrombie, and Newtown haunts the Bank, the Marlborough Hotel, and the Courtyard Hotel.

Highlights include the King’s Cross Hotel becoming the ‘Queens Cross Hotel’, with five levels of celebrations. Queer events team 4the.Love will be putting on their free ‘Beats&Bevvies’ social every day, and the ‘Beats&Buddies’ mixers on 21 and 28 February. Miss Joyce Maygne will host ‘The Gayme Show’ on 15 and 22 February, and 1 March, returning to lead Big Queer Trivia the day after each event.

The pole room is also back at the King’s Cross, with the Empire Girls Party held on 25 February. Those attending the WorldPride Bondi Beach Party on 4 March can get the party started at North Bondi Fish’s pre-beach party, and round things off at the King’s Cross Hotel’s club LOVE afterparty.

All night parties, produced in collaboration with Sydney DJ Kate Monroe and House of Silk co-founder Xander Khoury, will be hosted at the Abercrombie. Heaps Gay, Queer Techno Collective and SUGAR, among many others, are due to host events, taking full advantage of the venue’s 24 hour license.  The Abercrombie will kick off its WorldPride season with a ‘Pride, Play & Party’ Welcome Party on 17 February, and will host a Mardi Gras Parade party on 25 February.

Local Surry Hills ‘queer icon’ Richard Reid is working with the Clock Hotel to curate two weeks of karaoke nights, drag queens and parties. As with every Mardi Gras and Pride, Surry Hills is due to be at the heart of the action, with Collins Street closing to traffic and transforming into the Garden of Adam and Steve, with outdoor dining areas and a ‘heaven’ themed beer garden.

The pub itself will host a Tom of Finland-inspired gallery on the ground floor, boozy brunches on 18 and 26 February and Diva Karaoke on 28 February. Reid described the program as possessing “anything and everything on offer for the entire community.”

In Newtown, the Bank Hotel is working with Birdcage and Woody’s on a varied schedule of events, including DJs & Drag on 17 February, RuPaul Trivia hosted by Jackie Daniels on 20 February and an All Sorts Parade Viewing Party on 25 February. This program will conclude with an all-inclusive GiRLTHING, BOYTHiNG, OURTHiNG party on 4 March.

Fellow Newtowner, The Courty, will put on drag bingo, another Parade Viewing Party, and perhaps most eye-catchingly, will host a vibrator racing competition.

See the full schedule here.