The Prince of Wales/ Prince Bandroom

The Prince Bandroom is one of Melbourne’s most storied live music venues, occupying part of the landmark Prince Hotel at 29 Fitzroy Street in St Kilda. Behind its Art Deco façade lies a concert hall that has welcomed generations of musicians, clubbers, outsiders and night owls. International stars, Australian legends, emerging bands, DJs and alternative performers have all appeared on its stage. The programming changes constantly, moving between rock, pop, punk, electronic music, tribute shows and occasional queer events. This is not a conventional nightclub with the same format every weekend: the artist or promoter determines the atmosphere, audience and opening times on any particular night.

The venue also possesses an important place in Melbourne’s LGBTQ+ history. Long before rainbow branding became commercially fashionable, the Prince of Wales Hotel was known as a meeting place for gay men, lesbians and other members of the city’s queer community. Beginning in the late 1970s, its famous Sunday-night Pokeys parties combined drag performances, dancing and gloriously theatrical entertainment. The event reportedly attracted enormous crowds and ran for around fourteen years. The hotel also hosted Pennies, a popular lesbian disco. These nights helped make the Prince one of the defining LGBTQ+ social spaces of its era and contributed significantly to St Kilda’s reputation as a bohemian, tolerant and sexually diverse neighborhood.

Today, however, travelers should understand that the Prince Bandroom is no longer a specifically gay venue. Its regular concert audience is broad and mixed, and most events are organized around music rather than LGBTQ+ nightlife. The building’s queer credentials come primarily from its authentic history and inclusive legacy, not from functioning as a gay club every night. Gay visitors should therefore check the event listing rather than arriving with the expectation of finding a permanent gay party. Depending on the program, one evening may bring an alternative rock crowd, another an electronic dance audience and another a distinctly queer celebration.

The Bandroom itself has the atmosphere expected from a veteran concert venue: dark, energetic and focused on the stage. Its reputation has been built through strong live performances rather than polished VIP theatrics. The room can feel intimate with the right show, yet has enough presence to accommodate artists with a serious following. Standing events can become crowded, loud and sweaty, which is either the entire point or a warning to choose comfortable shoes. Bars operate during performances, while additional dining and drinking options can be found elsewhere within the Prince Hotel.

The wider complex brings together the Bandroom, hotel accommodation, bars, food and event spaces close to St Kilda Beach, Fitzroy Street and Acland Street. It is easily reached from central Melbourne by tram. Because concert schedules, ticketing arrangements, door times and age restrictions vary, booking through the official event page is strongly recommended. A hotel’s general opening hours should not be confused with Bandroom access: the concert hall generally opens only when a scheduled performance or private event is taking place.

The Prince Bandroom remains open and continues to host live entertainment. The hotel is undergoing a wider evolution during 2026, but is expected to continue trading throughout the works. For gay travelers, this is best approached as a legendary Melbourne music venue with an exceptional queer past rather than a dedicated contemporary gay bar. Come for a concert that interests you, stay for the atmosphere and remember that generations of LGBTQ+ Melburnians once turned these rooms into one of the city’s most fabulous Sunday-night institutions.