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Our story · Footscray
About Pride
A community-owned queer bar and live performance space, in the heart of Footscray, established in 2018 because the West deserved a friendly, colourful and inclusive venue of its own.
Time OutWorld's greatest queer venues · 2026
2026 MEDEAsMelbourne's favourite queer venue
The Story
Pride of our Footscray — P.O.O.F. for short, but lovingly known as Pride — opened in 2018 to bring the West a different kind of venue: one that put art over alcohol and embraced radical inclusion. The crowd has been a beautiful, chaotic mix of the whole rainbow community and friendly allies ever since.
Pride was a community effort from the get-go — around 200 part-owners chipped in to get the venue off the ground, mostly locals, plus others from further away who loved what Pride stood for and wanted to help. Pride is still built by the people who work here, perform here, produce here, gather here, dance here and keep showing up.
Nearly a decade on, Pride is a bar, stage and gathering place for Melbourne's queer community, hosting everything from drag and comedy to film nights, workshops, fundraisers, private celebrations, dancefloor nights and first visits that turn into regular ones — people fall in love with a place with more than enough heart to cover its minor imperfections. Yes, the floor can be sticky!
Despite its humble origins, a long way from Melbourne's famous nightlife strips, Pride was named one of the world's greatest queer venues by Time Out in 2026. Every day, Pride tries to live up to that — in how it operates and how it treats staff, performers, guests and the community around it. So come and share a night of Pride!
200+Part-owners
2018Doors open
Star Observer“A community bar built on equality”
Purpose
What we're here for
Pride is not one thing for one kind of night. The venue shifts with the people, the show, the party and the purpose.
A queer room for the West
The diversity and spirit of Footscray reflect the inclusiveness within Pride, where all members of the queer community and supportive friends are welcome.
A stage for queer culture
Pride is never just open for the alcohol — it's about performance. The stage hosts drag, burlesque, cabaret, comedy, music, theatre, film, trivia, workshops, sapphic nights and community events.
A community-owned venue
Around 200 people chipped in to establish Pride, becoming part-owners of a venue, a philosophy and an adventure. Pride has needed every one of them — two years after opening, Melbourne went into the world's longest COVID lockdown, and a brutal cost-of-living squeeze followed. Pride has only survived because of the village around it.
A place to gather
Birthdays, special celebrations, fundraisers, watch parties, work events, community events and private takeovers all belong at Pride — and we look forward to making it personal and memorable. We have even hosted a celebration of life led by a drag king dressed as Darth Vader. Literally, whatever you need.
Practice
Community in practice
Community means more than saying the right thing. It shows up in how Pride is run, how people are treated, and how clearly we communicate.
Fairness matters
Pride is committed to fair pay and respectful treatment for staff, performers, producers and contractors. For staff, that includes award wages and super.
Performance matters
The stage is part of Pride's purpose: a place for queer performers, producers and community-led ideas to meet an audience.
Local matters
Pride is Footscray-rooted on purpose: loud, mixed, creative, warm, funny and impossible to flatten into one tidy version.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING
Pride in the community
Pride is part of the West's queer arts and community life because people keep bringing nights, ideas and audiences through the door. Pride is never just open for alcohol — you'll always see something memorable.
Pride's programming is really broad as it tries to include as many different arts and performers as possible. Pride's had Drag Kings do a PowerPoint Night, Punk bands hosted by a Drag Queen, Queer Comedy Galas, Musical Theatre and everything in-between. The programme aims to include different artistic expression and endlessly entertain.
Programming Highlights
Pride's general programming is split between shows it creates itself and shows put on by independent producers who hire the venue.
Producers are welcome to pitch ideas (and Pride might adopt the show) or they are welcome to enquire about venue hire. Everything from Poetry to Burlesque is possible!
Pride also participates in many of the major festivals as it endeavours to bring art and entertainment out West, including Midsumma Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Fringe Festival. Again, Pride self-produces some of these festival shows but is also available to hire for festival producers, so check out our Eventotron listing.
- Festivals
- Drag + theatre
- Burlesque + cabaret
- Comedy + film
- Art & workshops
- Fundraisers
FIRST VISIT
What to expect
First visit, new event or access question? Here are the practical things to know before you arrive.
Where
Level 1, 86–88 Hopkins Street, Footscray VIC 3011
Getting here
Close to public transport, including Footscray Station and the Route 82 tram nearby on Hopkins Street.
Access
All three venue spaces are upstairs on Level 1. Stairs only. No lift at this time.
Inside
Events can be loud, bright and busy. Gender-neutral bathrooms are on the same level as the bar, dancefloor and performance spaces.
The people
The people behind Pride
Pride is carried by the people behind the bar, on the floor, at the door, on stage, in the office and behind the scenes.
Mat O'Keefe
CEO
Q&A with Mat O'Keefe
- When did you join Pride?
- I officially joined Pride when I came up with the name on 10 January 2017! But my friends and I had been talking about doing a venue for years, so Pride was in me for a while!
- Favourite item/s from the Pride menu?
- Cocktail wise, it's very clear, Spicy Margarita (burn me version) or a calming Negroni. Otherwise I switch between the King Valley Prosecco or the Heaps Normal Non-Alc beer (if on shift).
- Favourite show/s at Pride?
- All of the shows are my favourite but I particularly love the Taylor Swift Drag Tributes or the Drag Tribute of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode, which has been running for years and is a great joy.
- Where are you from?
- I'm from Melbourne (interrupted by a four-year stint in Darwin as a kid which I absolutely loved).
- Favourite thing/s about Footscray?
- I love the cultural diversity of Footscray, I still feel like I am on holiday every day and I've been West since 2013. It's a great example of good people just being able to live together in harmony, despite having over 150 nationalities represented.
- How do you identify?
- I identify as a DOGG (Distinguished Older Gay Gent), and also as a Swiftie.
Koral
Bar staff
Q&A with Koral
- When did you join Pride?
- July 2024. I joined Pride not long after arriving in Melbourne from Colombia, and it quickly became my second home.
- Favourite item/s from the Pride menu?
- Lychee Martini. Sweet, smooth… and a little dangerous if you underestimate it.
- Favourite show/s at Pride?
- Definitely the Saturday Drag Show. Give me fierce queens, big laughs, and if there are some hot dancers on stage… I'm not complaining.
- Where are you from?
- Bogotá, Colombia — home of amazing people, the best coffee (even though I don't drink it), great food, and even better dancing.
- Favourite thing/s about Footscray?
- The diversity. You can walk one street, hear five different languages, eat food from all over the world, and meet people with incredible stories. It has so much personality… that's why I love it here.
- How do you identify?
- Gay
Will Rendle
Bar staff
Q&A with Will Rendle
- When did you join Pride?
- July 2025
- Favourite item/s from the Pride menu?
- FILTHY martini made by Florian
- Favourite show/s at Pride?
- Debutante
- Where are you from?
- Footscray
- Favourite thing/s about Footscray?
- Its refusal to be gentrified
- How do you identify?
- Aged twink/little monster
Orla McCormack
Bar staff
Q&A with Orla McCormack
- When did you join Pride?
- August 2025
- Favourite item/s from the Pride menu?
- An Amaretto Sour, or the FAMOUS G-Spot
- Favourite show/s at Pride?
- Debutante!
- Where are you from?
- I've lived in Footscray forever — a true local
- Favourite thing/s about Footscray?
- It's dependable — I know the place well, but I'm still always finding more gems and meeting new people
- How do you identify?
- A she/her lover, not a hater 😇
Sam
Bar staff
Q&A with Sam
- When did you join Pride?
- September 2025
- Favourite item/s from the Pride menu?
- Pina Colada! If I could get pregnant, I'll be craving coconut all the time.
- Favourite show/s at Pride?
- Sketchy Behaviors! Roxy's amazing 🤩
- Where are you from?
- Spice Island
- Favourite thing/s about Footscray?
- Footscray cray is for the adventurous! Never boring 🤪
- How do you identify?
- Born to be a baby girl, forced to be independent queer
Find your way into Pride
Coming for a night out, planning something bigger, pitching a show, asking an access question or looking to work with us? Start with the path that fits.