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Wave goodbye and say hello

London's longest running weekly gay night to shut after 15 years

DTPM - the capital's longest running weekly gay/polysexual club night - is to close its doors after 15 years at the vanguard of London's nightlife. With a reputation for bringing through the best DJs and a hedonistic party spirit, DTPM's weekly party, currently at Fabric, will close with a special final event on 2nd December.

An epic line-up of Cammy, Mark Westhenry, Paul Heron, Guy Williams, Steve Thomas, Reza, Justin Ballard, Nick Tcherniak, Malcolm Duffy, Lisa German and Paul Christian, amongst others, will bring the curtain down at the last weekly party and proceeds will go to charity for World AIDS day.

Looking to the future, club promoter Lee Freeman explained that he would be concentrating on staging special DTPM events rather than weekly parties.

"We're not closing permanently but we are closing as a weekly event because we don't think it's sustainable anymore," said Lee. "DTPM has always evolved over the years anyway, by changing venues and opening times. This time we're choosing to open less, make it more into an event."

"There are not many weekly nights in London now, and we think 15 years is probably quite enough! We're going to do special one-off events from now on."

Starting as a post-Trade after-hours session in 1993 at Villa Stefano, DTPM grew in popularity, moving first to Bar Rumba, then The End, revolutionising Sunday night and the polysexual clubbing scene in the process.

"It's been out there a long time, representing a high standard in clubbing," Freeman reckoned. "On the gay scene, it's been there for those who want something more than just a commercial sound."

The club's longest tenure has been at Fabric, its home since 1999, and where its distinctive clubbing brand - signified by their logo, the dancing man -gained its greatest popularity.

In the course of DTPM's status as clubbing bigwigs, the club has been responsible for launching many DJs' careers, with a musical policy of quality, tough-edged house.

"We certainly raised the profile of some of the DJs who played for us," observed Freeman. "We introduced Steve Thomas to the gay scene, before he started playing at Trade. And Alan Thompson definitely benefited from the partnership with the club. He's now running DTPM in Australia, so he's still part of it today. And Miguel Pellitero and Lisa German have also come through via the club."

Lisa German in particular is full of fond memories of DTPM, with her big break coming one Sunday night when the club started at Fabric.

"I played my first set for DTPM at Fabric, at the first night it opened, it was my birthday," German remembered. "One of my best memories was my first set there. It's been my home from home over the last eight years. The New Year's Dayparties, the atmosphere and the people have all been amazing. DTPM's like a family and I'll miss it."

But Freeman is keen to stress that this isn't the end for the club: it'll come back bigger and better for one-offs in the future.

"I think the main message we want to get across is that this is just part of the club's evolution. We want to focus on those one-off events, rather than what's turning into a bit hit-and-miss weekly clubbing. We'll be back next year."