EDINBURGH WOMEN’S CLUBS

Clublife for lady-loving ladies in Edinburgh has been rejuvenated of late, with a change of DJs for both monthly nights Velvet and Fur Burger, a change of venue for the latter, and the addition of regular live performances and a pre-club event across the road at Bar Sirius for the former.

Fur Burger now resides in the basement club of Twist, which itself has had a makeover in the style bar mould after a long spell as gritty men’s den, the Newtown Bar. The redecoration and lesbi-residency (with record players Dejaybird, the Funki Diva, Boy Toy and Debi Tits) has encouraged a pleasingly mixed-sex clientele in the bar, and the alcoved seating areas and dinky dancefloor downstairs are well-suited to a night where chatting is as important as a boogie. Caroline Crozier, aka the Funki Diva, is pleased with the move. ‘It’s a more intimate venue, and it’s a Friday night as well. I know the dancefloor’s small, but it’s nice; you’ve got the cosy little caves that people can go and chill out in, so it’s sociable.’

Over the Festival month, Velvet featured performances from Fringe acts including comedian Rosie Wilby and cabaret vamp Holly Penfield, and this feature has been carried through to the autumn. In September, the Truly Truly Scrumptious dancers - denizens of the art of erotic lap entertainment - gave a demonstration, and in October, showgirls troupe Burlesquad will perform. DJs Random and Carpe Diem promise the ‘most diverse club night on the gay scene’ with ‘eclectic and multi-genre-spanning music’, and the club night was voted best in Scotland for women by the Pink Paper. Like Fur Burger, Velvet welcomes gentlemen - so long as they are accompanied by a gorgeous female, naturally.