YES! Dublin launches Kickstarter to open permanent queer café and nightclub in city
YES! Dublin — a permanent LGBT+ café and nightclub in Dublin city’s 'queer quarter,' according to founder Brandon Felczer. Picture: iStock
Ireland’s bars and pubs have experienced hard times in recent years, with many family-run venues forced to close due to the rising cost of doing business, high Vat, and people feeling the pinch on their weekly income.
With these venues highlighted as essential to rural communities — offering a much-needed social outlet — similar spaces also play a key role in bringing people together elsewhere.
Enter YES! Dublin — a permanent LGBT+ café and nightclub in Dublin city’s “queer quarter,” according to founder Brandon Felczer.
Having co-founded and run the award-winning bar and restaurant TOKEN, Mr Felczer hopes to take the lessons he learned there and bring them “to the heart of YES!”
Ahead of the Kickstarter launch for YES! Dublin, Mr Felczer told the : “This isn’t just about opening doors, it’s about building a space where people feel they belong, and making sure it can thrive for the long term.
“We’re aiming to secure a home within Dublin’s queer quarter. Broadly, that stretches from the start of Capel St and up Parliament St, across the areas bordered by Dame St, George’s St, and Grafton St, with the edge of St Stephen’s Green marking the southern boundary.
“It’s where so much of Dublin’s LGBT+ nightlife and community already thrives, and it feels like the natural place for YES! to take root.
“At TOKEN, I helped turn what started as a niche idea into an award-winning venue by focusing on two things: Creating an experience people wanted to be part of, and building a community that felt ownership in the space.
“That experience taught me the importance of patience, persistence, and listening to your community, including curating events that turned customers into genuine fans.”
Entering the market alongside established names like The George, Mother, and Pantibar, Mr Felczer said: “YES! isn’t just about creating another venue, it’s about purpose.
“During the day and throughout weekday evenings, it would serve as a warm cafe and gathering spot, doubling as a stage for community life - from spoken word and queer trad to drag performances, viewing parties, and beyond.
“When the weekend arrives, the space would shift gears into a full nightclub: Think wall-to-wall pop and the anthems of our community,” he said.
That sense of community is a central pillar of the project, and Mr Felczer is placing charities and programmes at the heart of his mission.
“Once the doors are open and the venue is thriving, a portion of profits will be dedicated back to the community. Part will go to established LGBT+ charities and programmes in Ireland, and part will be directed by our own visitors through a simple ‘drop-a-token' system that supports causes nominated by the community itself,” he said.
“Groups we’ve highlighted thus far include BeLonG To, Bi+ Ireland, Dublin Lesbian Line, Dublin Pride, GCN, MPOWER, and TENI. The aim isn’t just about a one-off donation - we want to work with these groups long-term, making YES! a platform where their visibility and work is amplified.”
Getting the LGBT+ community involved from the start, the Kickstarter “is designed both to raise funds and to prove demand” by offering founding membership in exchange for pledges. These "will activate once the permanent venue opens and include benefits like free entry, skip-the-queue access, early invites, and more”.
Mr Felczer added: “Because we don’t yet have a venue secured, we’ll be transparent with backers about how funds are being used and how they’re moving us closer to launch.
“Our initial €25,000 target won’t cover everything, but hitting that goal will show that the community is behind this project - and that’s exactly the kind of signal that helps unlock the investors and partners who can make YES! a reality.
“If the kickstarter is successful, our aim is to open YES! Dublin by summer 2026, possibly even spring if everything lines up smoothly.
“YES! is a collective effort. It’s being built with and for the community, and it’s meant to last. We know Dublin needs more queer spaces - not fewer - and YES! is our way of making sure the next generation has a place where they can feel safe, celebrated, and seen.”
The YES! Dublin Kickstarter is now live, with an initial goal of €25,000. More information is available at @yesdublin on Instagram.
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