MANILA, Philippines – The lights may be dimming and the music soon fading, but the spirit of Nectar Nightclub lives on, despite its impending closure on December 31.
In a Facebook post, Nectar Nightclub, the pioneering gay club that has been a staple safe space for the LGBTQ+ community in The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City, announced it will be closing its doors effective January 1, 2025 due “to The Fort’s upcoming closure.”
“It’s an end of an era, but also a moment to celebrate the unforgettable experiences we’ve shared,” they said.
Nectar has a fun-filled farewell scheduled for the rest of 2024, hosting a series of events “to relive their best moments” with their patrons.
Nectar’s finale calendar includes:
Nectar has long been established as a premier nightlife destination, with live performers, DJs, and drag artists part of the nightly dancefloor celebrations.
More than just a nightclub, Nectar has served as a community safe space for queer individuals to unite in celebration and self-expression.
Aside from its weekly events, Nectar is known for its own iconic drag competition, Drag Cartel, which was created to give baby drag queens a platform to shine. Nectar and its Drag Cartel have played a pivotal role in promoting the Philippine drag and its artists, producing locally and internationally renowned queens such as Drag Race Philippines Season 1 favorite Xilhouete, who previously served as Nectar’s creative director and left in 2023. Other notable Drag Cartel winners include Minty Fresh (2017), O-A (2018), and Marina Summers (2019).
The recognition gained by the queens helped them enter the larger drag scene and compete in Drag Den Philippines and Drag Race Philippines. O-A placed 7th in Drag Den Season 1, while Minty Fresh finished 5th in Drag Race Philippines Season 1, alongside 3rd placer Xilhouete and runner-up Marina Summers, who also represented the Philippines on Drag Race: UK vs The World, finishing as a finalist among 10 other global queens.
Local drag competitions like Drag Cartel, beyond the glamor and glitz, have become a safe space for expression, resistance, and celebration. For the LGBTQ+ community, these competitions and skits are not just about performance; they are a means to assert visibility, amplify their voices, and raise important issues.
As the nightclub’s doors close, the friendships, memories, and movements that have touched the hearts of many will remain etched.
In the comment section of Nectar’s post, patrons expressed their sadness over the closure.
Some mentioned that they hadn’t yet had the chance to visit and had hoped to, while many others shared their fun experiences, unforgettable memories, and performances they witnessed.
Several reminisced about how Nectar had become their “safe space and beacon of joy.”
Patron’s reply on Nectar’s post, courtesy of Matty Filart
Despite the closure, patrons also expressed excitement for Nectar’s next chapter, as the brand also teased its comeback with new concept “Nectar 3.0” in the near future.
Patron’s reply on Nectar’s post, courtesy of Chefy & Co.
Nectar Nightclub was founded in October 2016 at The Fort Strip. A renovated Nectar 2.0 came in September 2019. – Rappler.com
Zach Dayrit is a Rappler intern studying BS Psychology at the Ateneo de Manila University.
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