UNIVERSAL Sydney

Great spot for drinks and a dance with friends, great to have the option of heading upstairs if wanting to carry on! Amazing bartenders, great security and management - will keep coming back!

A moderately-sized, modern bar and dance venue in the heart of the Oxford Street precinct that is busy on weekends and some week nights, often until the early hours of the morning. Unfortunately, another looming feature of the venue as at April 2023, is staff who at times can be disappointingly unkind, unhelpful, and bordering aggressive, especially toward those who don’t fit the mold. This is not typical of comparable venues in the area. Venue staff have been known to single out customers based on appearance not behaviour (older, larger, taller, dressed differently, etc.), and treat them differently or refuse service altogether under the guise of RSA Rules. This can happen aggressively at times - which can make one feel rather unsafe, or at the very least, unwelcome, in the venue, even if you’re only witnessing it happen to someone else. One of the managers, Jayden, has been witnessed to come across as particularly unprofessional and aggressive with some customers. Customer service aside, for a venue that claims to be LGBTQI+ friendly in a city the size of Sydney, they certainly have a ways to go in embracing, respecting and celebrating the differences in others in our community. There are certainly kinder, safer, and more inclusive options in the immediate vicinity. My recommendation: give it a try, but be prepared to go elsewhere for a safe and fun time. Or, skip it all together and go somewhere more inclusive.