Melbourne club Hugs&Kisses to be put up for auction
- PublishedFri, Mar 2, 2018, 00:26
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- The venue is expected to close after the site is sold later this month.
- Melbourne's Hugs&Kisses is slated to close after the site is auctioned off on March 16th. The club space occupies a floor of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes building in the city's CBD, which Broadsheet reports is being put up for sale by its owners. Its operators briefly explained the situation via Facebook saying, "It is with great regret and sorrow that we announce that it is indeed true. The building we have called home is set to be sold. We don't know when exactly we will be forced to close, as we haven't been given a clear date. We only know that's it's coming." Originally launched as the Buffalo Club in 2010 by Hugo Atkins, the party space—which requires entrants to be members due to its unusual gentlemen's club license—became Hugs&Kisses in 2014 with local DJ Andee Frost taking on the venue's programming. Over the past two years, the club has hosted underground favourites like Intergalactic Gary, Vladmir Ivkovic, Mr. Ties and Rrose, as well as being a regular spot for crews like Animals Dancing, Club D'érange and Butter Sessions. Speaking to Broadsheet, Atkins says, "It was always a ticking time bomb in regards to the city being developed. I think it's a really big blow for the city." He indicated he would be looking for a new space, although "finding a liquor license in the CBD that goes past 1 AM is going to really difficult. The only way to do it is to buy an existing permit which comes with a price tag." A run of closing parties is expected to be announced after the property is settled. In the meantime, Bizarro will be hosting London selector Moxie at the club tonight, March 2nd.