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| Rhoobarb |
The first time we went to Tension it was in Egypt Cottage. We went quite regularly for a while. The last time it was in Rocky's, so... what, maybe four/five years ago? Rocky's wasn't a venue I was comfortable in, there weren't many people there and the door policy was relaxed/dropped later in the evening to admit all and sundry. We didn't go back.
Until now.
We'd seen that Tension had managed to get The Baron and Baroness for a venue, a place we'd always thought would make a fabulous club venue when we used to go there for the Newcastle Munch. Tension was now back to a Saturday night and we decided to give it a try again.
The venue looked fantastic, the dungeon furniture displayed in all the little nooks and crannies, the small rooms and the gothic splendour lending it a very good atmosphere. Upstairs was less busy, most people were downstairs round the bar with some of them venturing onto the dance floor from time to time. But upstairs was where I preferred to be, sitting in a 'throne' at the top of the stairs people-watching. Listening to the sound of slaps and cracks of floggers and canes and bare hands.
The equipment is much improved since our last visit, with a lot of very good sturdy pieces, nicely finished and looking enticing. A bit of a shame that a few people were using some of it as drinks tables, and leaving sticky rings from glasses on it. A gynae chair was tucked away in a small curtained off area and seemed to be busy all night. The grope box (remembered with much favour by me.. and by him!) sat right at the entrance door and didn't seem to be used all night.
When we arrived I waited for ages at the bar to be served, but I think that was due to the rush of people trying to get in before nine pm, as a little bit later the bar staff were no longer under siege and it was easy to catch an eye and buy drink.
I'd have liked to have played, but B had slipped coming down the stairs in the dimness, lost his balance and caught himself from falling by putting out his hand, which jarred against the surface of the reception desk and shocked all the way up his arm and into his shoulder muscles. He's right handed and so no hitty play was going to happen to me, from him anyway!
The music was loud, we had forgotten this aspect of Tension, it made holding conversations difficult. I met a couple of people I'd spoken to in the IC Chatroom, but if I smiled and nodded in the wrong places it was because I couldn't hear very well. I was introduced to a woman, but despite asking her to repeat her name three times I still didn't catch it, and asking her for a fourth time was beyond me. However, I did manage to carry on a few conversations during the evening and found Tension attendees to be as friendly as I've always found them.
Towards the latter part of the evening I spotted a camera set up on a tripod aimed downstairs towards the dance floor. A bit later it was moved along the balcony a bit and was now aiming towards the entrance and the area that was being used for changing and bag storage.
We'd taken a couple of friends down with us, and met there another couple of friends who were in Newcastle for the weekend. All four had said they enjoyed it and would return, although one of them found the smoke from the smoke machine was aggravating. It's not good for asthmatics, I guess, despite making the lighting look pretty!
I found Tension in its new venue to be beautifully set up, friendly, fun and lively, but a little bit too loud for my tastes. If the music in the upstairs play areas could be at a considerably lower volume than the downstairs area, I'd enjoy it a lot more. I do hope I can get back there to try again soon.
