Grand Valentine's Night Charity Celebration
Kampus, China Street, Lancaster
Saturday 14 February 2004

Reviewed by +

Busy and profitable night
The gay local community was absolutely determined not to be outdone by the majorities on this occasion, and the celebration was turned to further good effect by raising over £200 for the Lancaster LGB Switchboard.

The bar was packed to capacity when we arrived a little after 10pm and, as we have continually noted, the clientèle was drawn from the young and old, men and women. Following her nose for good entertainment, our esteemed VL colleague Satori attended, and enjoyed herself as much as anyone in the friendly atmosphere. With a range of music from resident DJ Junior and Blackpool's Peggy, the dancing was up to the high standards we have so often seen in gay venues across the land. (the dancing was some of the direst I've yet seen - but nobody gave a monkey's and the ambi was totally happy - satori)

Respectable raffle prizes
Everyone was in party mode, and the premises were tastefully adorned with red balloons and other festive decorations. Even the fresh carnations were red. The charity raffle also added to the festive spirit and, unusually, the prizes went beyond the usual token donations of bottles of inexpensive liquor and naff toiletries.

Included were meals for two at two Lancaster restaurants of repute (one very much carnivore and the other vegetarian); a delicious box of quality locally-produced foodstuffs from a very respectable market business (we shall enjoy these) , an opulent fresh fruit basket, toiletries and tasteful clothing items (though we did not inspect them); champagne (not imitation); kitchen and dining room accessories of the quality kind and, curiously, a Playdough set which was eagerly accepted by a very shy young local man … Even the proprietors' dog Benjy was rewarded by some canine treats for its purchase of tickets.

Later on, an auction furthered the fundraising with a star prize of a night's accommodation for two in a Blackpool hôtel – complete with dinner, of course, in a suitably up-market Blackpool restaurant. Many gay people value such excursions; Bosie and I are still to savour the delights of the fleshpots further down the coast.

Satori was right. The packed bar, along with good entertainment and a safe, warm and friendly atmosphere iced its cake and plonked on a cherry with a sizeable financial contribution to a local community-based concern. So it now seems that Kampus, after a little more than two months, has forged for itself a distinct, consistent, sensible and caring reputation as the focal point for the gay community in the locality and beyond.

Copyright © 15 February 2004 Oscar O'Lune and Bosie O'Bare