This Saturday (10 October), Brighton clubbing institution Wild Fruit heads to Manchester for part two of their seventeenth birthday celebrations. It’s been almost two decades of twisted glamour, club decadence and party excess, as Wild Fruit has hosted some of the most memorable gay parties ever held in the UK.

Jonny M talks to Wild Fruit promoter Paul Kemp and door whore Chrissy Darling to find out more.

The Night
Starting out life in September 1992, Wild Fruit was a groundbreaking club night by any standard. The music, the people, the venue, it was something totally different on the gay scene at that time. In the ensuing seventeen years, the Wild Fruit brand has grown and grown, hosting parties up and down the country and helping to oversee the expansion of Brighton Pride into the monumental festival it is today.

“The first ever Wild Fruit wasn’t hugely well attended, but it just had the right mix of people and a special ambiance and excitement that made it impossible not to do more,” says Wild Fruit promoter Paul Kemp.

“There seemed to be such a demand for a ‘way out’ party in town, and a host of wild creative types in the city made Wild Fruit their home. Over the years they have all contributed in some way, which has always kept the night fresh and vitalised.”

Wild Fruit Door whore and club voodoo doll Chrissy Darling has been in love with the club for longer than she dares to remember.

“Wild Fruit has been a trailblazer as far as clubbing goes,” says Chrissy. “I remember the days when I used to turn up at gay clubs and there was a slot in the door through which someone would look you up and down before deciding whether or not to open the door. Thankfully those days are gone, and it’s down to clubs like Wild Fruit who lead the way in making the gay clubbing experience more open by putting on such fantastic parties.”

In the last seventeen years Paul has welcomed some of the hottest house DJs in the world to the Wild Fruit decks, including Boy George, the Freemasons, Seamus Haji and Fatboy Slim and the list of live PAs reads like a who’s who of house vocalists, with the likes of Katherine Ellis, Barbara Tucker, Jocelyn Brown, Delacy and Angie Brown all making appearances.

On top of the main Wild Fruit events and a plethora of more intimate nights like afterhours session Rebel and summer tea dance Sunday Sundae, the team also hosts the 6,000 capacity dance tent at Brighton Pride, with possibly the most electric atmosphere you could hope to find in a club environment.

So, how best to celebrate all those years of theatrical clubbing, superstar guest performances and groundbreaking club events?

The Birthday
Fast forward to today, and Wild Fruit’s packed out Brighton party with gay icons Boy George, Tasty Tim and Dusty O at seafront club The Coalition is being followed by a second event at Manchester super club Essential. It’s a dual-city celebration.

“Brighton and Manchester have similar attitudes, it’s open, friendly and fun so we love going there,” says Paul. “Essential is one of the best venues in the village, the staff are so positive and welcoming. We’re going to carry on the celebrations with fruity DJs, sexy dancers and glamorous hosts that’ll make this a birthday to remember.”

With the Wild Fruit convoy making its way North to Manchester again, Essential girl Chrissy Darling knows exactly why it’s going to rock.

“Wild Fruit spare no expense when it comes to production,” says Chrissy. “Paul Kemp will think nothing of splashing out for the budget on acts and extra dancers, decor, whatever it takes to make the night great. That is a very rare thing these days.”

“Paul and Nigel Martin-Smith [the owner of Essential] are very similar in that they love great productions in their clubs. When you bring them together, it makes for a sensational night. I’m hoping it’s the start of a very exciting period at Essential.”

The Red Party
Once this double celebration is done and dusted, the next major Wild Fruit party in Brighton is the annual charity fundraising Red Party. It’s a firm favourite in the city’s clubbing calendar, marking World Aids Day each year. Currently, Wild Fruit has raised over £123,000 for good causes, and with the clubbers’ support this total will keep on rising.

“We are moving the Red Party to Oceana for this year as it’s got fantastic multiple rooms and bars so we can provide something for everyone,” says Paul. “You’ll be able to party in the main room, lounge and pose in one of the luxurious bars or join the fun in the over the top drag room, disco room or even the bears log cabin.”

“It’s a really fabulous venue for the event and we hope to raise plenty of funds for worthy causes just by having the time of our lives there. It’s one of those community minded events that you should be proud to support as the money raised is essential.”

Read Our Feature On Manchester Nightlife »
Click to find out what we thought of thr gay nightlife in Manchester.

Wild Fruit Manchester takes place on Sat 10 October at Essential Nightclub, Minshull Street, from 11pm-6am. The Wild Fruit Red Party takes place in Brighton on Sun 6 December at Oceana, West Street, from 8.30pm-3am. Find out more, or buy advance tickets from www.aeonevents.co.uk.

Photos by Chrissy Darling.