Kings Cross nightclub icon World Bar will reopen as ‘Cali Club’ this Wednesday 12 December, ensuring the Darlinghurst Street property will remain a nightclub institution in Sydney.
Earlier this month, World Bar announced it was closing its doors, after nearly two decades of clubbing and live entertainment. The news was met by outcry across the city, as people mourned the end of one of Sydney’s last club icons.
Hospitality duo Dane Gorrel and Matt Weir have now taken on the venue, having also recently reopened neighbouring institution Club 77 on William Street. They will spend the coming months getting a feel for the venue and area, before refreshing the space.
Gorrel says: “We need to preserve our nightclub institutions. They have a tremendous impact on Sydney’s culture, and once they go, it’s incredibly hard for them to return. We really want to help keep the candle burning for our city’s night life and continue the venue’s legacy”.
Cali Club opens next week with the return of longstanding club night, ‘The Wall’, set to continue every Wednesday. The duo will collaborate with the likes of iRock entertainment and Poster Child to have different nights over the weekend – from house and tech to hip-hop and afro beat.
Weir says, “Night clubs provide a space for artists and DJs to cut their teeth and connect with people through their music. Going out and listening to music is part of growing up, it helps shape identities and build communities. We want to play a positive role in that part of people’s lives”.
The duo, who met in Kings Cross, have extensive backgrounds in bars and clubs across Sydney. Weir had one of his first DJ residencies at World Bar, before starting famous Sunday session S.A.S.H and touring agency, Solid Circles. Gorrel was General Manager of S.A.S.H.’s original home, The Abercrombie Hotel, and Koh in Bali, an underground nightclub with a huge cult following. They reopened doors to Club 77 in September, after opening apera restaurant in Castlecrag.
“World Bar means a tremendous deal to a lot of people, so we like to think of Cali Club as just the next chapter in the venue’s colourful history. Cali Club is fun, young and all about having a great time, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back this week”, says Gorrel.
