Pink bar turns heads in Stoke
The sleepy city of Stoke-on-Trent is getting its second gay bar, and the bright pink exterior is causing some residents to see red.
The Pink Lounge and Bar will open next Thursday in the city’s Piccadilly area.
Nearby traders told the The Sentinel newspaper that they do not feel the paint job is in keeping with the ambience of the area.
Paul Magee, owner of Gemini Menswear, in Piccadilly, said “It is not in keeping with the Cultural Quarter. It’s quite garish, they could have used pink lighting on the building.
“I have no problem with it being a gay club and I wish them all the best, it’s good to see new businesses opening – but the colour is frightening, everybody seems to be talking about it.”
Others have implied that if heterosexual businesses attempted to paint their premises in such a way, there would be objections from the council.
The bar is bringing new life to the run down Piccadilly area, where some shops stand empty.
The manager of The Pink Lounge defended his somewhat outlandish tastes:
Steven Buckley told The Sentinel : “Most of them have said how good it will be for business.
“There isn’t a lot going on at that end of town at night and this is something different.
“I don’t see how people can criticise when the outside of the building isn’t finished.”
