Cloudland Opens (Launch Party March 26, 2009) - Fortitude Valley
If you’ve talked to anyone who’s anyone over the last six months, you’ll have heard of Cloudland. Expected to be Fortitude Valley’s next big thing, unavoidable delays in the club’s construction have only served to increase the hype over this upcoming bar and finally, this Thursday night, the club opens with what is expected to be an explosive, invite-only gala event.
Cloudland
641 Ann Street
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Open 7 Days a week. Tapas from 11am-11pm.
A La Carte Lunch & Dinner menu available.
Nestled between Mustang Bar and Empire Hotel on Ann Street, Cloudland is hardly in an ideal location, but if The Met has shown us anything, location is irrelevant when you’ve got a high quality venue that people will line up around the block for. And with a $10 million make-over to complement the powerful vision of club owner Raphael Bickle, success promises to be the only option for this new landmark venue.
Boasting to have an atmosphere expected to appeal to slightly older punters, Cloudland finally creates a destination in the valley for the over 25 socialite. And unlike the cramped and musty Bowery, who previously seemed to cater to this demographic, Cloudland appears to be all about open courtyards and high ceilings, which certainly seems to be a trend that the more popular up-and-coming venues are moving towards. And it’s about time, too - the Valley has too-long been defined by shoebox sized clubs, it’s time to go bigger.
With March 26th being the date of the super-elite, invite-only official launch party (even I couldn’t score an invite), the public itself can visit Cloudland as of Friday the 27th, when the first two levels are reported to open. And with a rooftop bar, basement cellar bar and another level due to open later in 2009, it’s unlikely Cloudland is going to be a place you want to miss.
We’re about to see the dawn of a new era in the Brisbane night life scene.
So with management doing a great job of maintaining a cloud of mystery around Cloudland’s launch, the anticipation has been astronomic, though it still remains to be seen how successful the venue will be. But, from what this humble reviewer has seen so far, we’re about to see the dawn of a new era in the Brisbane night life scene. So make sure you get on down there and check it out for yourself - I know I will be.
– Ross
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With all the hype surrounding the launch of Cloudland, which has only been enhanced by the cloak of mystery that
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March 26th, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
Hey Ross. First time commenter long time reader. Great article about cloudland. Inspiring and rich.
April 5th, 2009 @ 10:05 am
Looks as though Brissies new Cloudlands has a few teething problems, It is a lovely venue but the management need to hire more drinks staff to stop people waiting up to 20 minutes for service, the hand wash facilities in the downstairs male toilets splash water over your slacks and shoes, the barstaff cant or dont want to, hear your order correctly and the overpriced Margaritas are the worst I have had in sixteen different countries, there is no apparent dance floor and the elevator music playing is rather unbearable, a lack of places to sit your drinks or your bum and I hope the statue that looks like Jesus getting crucified doesnt offend to many people….
I must say that the busboys/girls were doing a fantastic job keeping the place free of empties and wiping up after the piggies and the doormen were very polite compared to the majority of doormen in Brissie..
BJ
April 5th, 2009 @ 9:59 pm
I gotta agree BJ - we were in there Thursday night and the exact same thoughts came to mind. I’m just in the process of writing the review now.
April 10th, 2009 @ 10:07 am
Things are a bit chaotic at the moment, as they would be at any new venue of this scope. Need a little time to get things established, but they’ll get there. An exciting place to be, i think. Good to hear the busboys (glassies) we’re doing okay though.
April 26th, 2009 @ 7:49 pm
The worst club I have been to in brisbane, in reality this statement sums up my experience at Cloudlands - while being a direct copy of a successful club in sydney it’s really failed to live up to the hype surrounding it.
May 24th, 2009 @ 1:54 am
We lined up to attend Cloudland tonight - big mistake. We thought Cloudland were aiming for the 25+ age group but turns out they’re just another Brisbane club with a “big fish in a small sea” complex. My friend wasn’t allowed in because she was wearing thongs on her feet despite the fact that the rest of her outfit was very dressy and classy. Nowhere else in Australia or the world have I ever encountered these ridiculous dress codes but Brisbane. Since when did Brisvegas become such a judgemental place? The wait will continue for a truly chilled out venue that welcomes all types and all dress styles - perhaps something like the Valley used to be about 10 years ago….
May 26th, 2009 @ 9:09 am
Mmm after reading some of these comments I’m reluctant to visit this place . Well I guess myself and group will find out this Saturday night if we can get in.
June 10th, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
Hi Sam. Sorry to hear that your night at Cloudland wasn’t what you expected. It’s true the venue is looking at attracting a slightly older crowd that has the kind of sensibilities to really dig what a 21st Century venue is like. Dress codes are always tricky - I mean who knows if the guy that needs a haircut in the sneakers and scruffy shirt is really a design genius, or the girl in thongs when all the other chicks are in sky high heels is actually a fashion designer. They door staff just have to make the call and you can’t always please everyone. Daytime is beautiful at Cloudland and you can wear what you like! Why don’t you try a truly chilled out experience that you’ve dreamt of next to the water lounges one Sunday afternoon? Won’t be a line up I’m sure…
June 10th, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
Hi Mark - Top tip for avoiding the line at Cloudland is to get there earlier… Try before 1opm and just look sharp. No-one is asking you to wear a tuxedo - in fact that would be wrong! Just make an effort and you will glide in effortlessly I’m sure…
June 22nd, 2009 @ 12:22 pm
Lol. Thanks for the shameless promotion, Rebecca
July 1st, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
Hey Ross - no problems!
I hope my shameless promotion was also helpful to your readers!
July 11th, 2009 @ 11:58 pm
I loved the place but the cocktails tasted vapo-rub! $18 too much to pay for a hideous drink. I waswith 4 girlfriends and they all had cocktails that tasted like floor polish. Please fix
November 1st, 2009 @ 6:16 pm
we had a great night at cloudland last night. Got in late after 11pm. Glided in, no lineups. Classy people, fantastic cocktails. Everything very clean, the ladies bathrooms are beautiful. No problem getting a seat. Loved the ‘transitional’ crowd upstairs, so you could always sit at the balcony to watch. Can’t wait to go there again.
November 3rd, 2009 @ 10:29 am
I might check out cloud lands some weekend soon.
The worst club I’ve ever been too was mystique, such a poor club and dirty as inside, never going there again.
November 21st, 2009 @ 4:59 pm
Extremely disappointed in the so called “Super Venue” that can’t even get my month in advance reservation right.
I booked a table for a 21st birthday just over a month ago and confirmed the booking and table 5 days before the night. When I arrived on the night the table I had booked had been given to a group of three women. We were ushered to what looked like a bar to sit with complete strangers, directly under the DJ and speakers. I explained I’m sorry I have made a booking for that specific table. The waiter spoke to the manager who told us that our booking was made mid this week and they could not give us that particular table. I explained that the table was book a month ago so we wouldn’t have to sit here. Then manager said they have to give tables to bigger groups of people because they can’t fit them anywhere else. So I asked if I could possibly sit at one of the other empty tables around, seeing as the restaurant only had three other tables being used at the time. But alas no, we were not allowed to sit there either in case they got “very busy”.
I would have walked out by this stage but I had several friends meeting us here after. The food was over priced, small serves, very bland and served just warm. The desert I had specially ordered a month prior to have “happy 21st birthday [partner’s name]” came out saying “Happy 21th”. By the time we left 1.5hrs later the restaurant was still less than half full and the table that I had requested was empty. Overall experience: managed by wankers, and I will not be going back.
December 19th, 2009 @ 2:01 pm
Well having been out in all capital cities in Australia wearing a nice pair of brown dress shoes last night and never having any trouble getting in anywhere. I was refused entry to Cloudland. Seriously are these guys kidding! Now..to be fair I wouldnt have minded, a dress code is a dress code, but while i waited for some friends to exit the venue other people (obviously friends of the door staff) were allowed to enter wearing shoes looking far less presentable than mine. I was not drunk, i was wearing a dress shirt and i was very polite to the door staff. Please get some consistency in your door policy please. I expected more from what appear to be some reasonable door staff….
February 23rd, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
Cloudland is not a stop on the way, it is a destination. It is a sterile oasis and must remain free from street eaters and coffee carriers. Dress to impress and you’ll have no problems getting in. If you’re a lady wearing thongs, goodluck getting into Cloudland let alone any nice establishments. 3rd world chic is not impressive. I worked the door at the Establishment in Sydney, not once did a “lady” ever try to get in wearing thongs. Brisbane nightlife is on the up, people should either keep up or go to Mustang…
August 17th, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
Had the great displeasure of my first encounter at Cloudland on the weekend of the 14th August. It was my son’s 18th, my daughter’s 21st and her engagement. There was a group of 30 or so party goers heading for Cloudland to meet up for a drink before heading on elsewhere. Most of us had already entered the bar except for the birthday girl and boy. Both were refused entry on the grounds of dress code. What a load of rubbish. My son was almost wearing a suit except the jacket was leather. Tie, vest, the whole kit and kaboodle. When I walked outside to see what was going on and was told that they were not dressed well enough, I said to Security “07″ “are you kidding, he is almost wearing a suit”, I was then thrown out on the grounds of being a trouble maker. Oh great, 48 and thrown out of a club. I cannot believe it. The problem was not what they were wearing, it was their age. The club does not want young people in the club but to say they are not the right age group is discrimination and so therefore they pull the old dress code out instead. The party of friends ranged from 18 to 50 and most were close to 30. So we bundled everyone together and went to La Rouge. Top night. Polite door staff, excellent bar staff, great club. Never again, Cloudland, never ever again. Oh I forgot the best part. Whilst we were waiting for the group to emerge from the club, two transvestites rocked up in the line to Cloudland and were almost kissed by Security 07 and given the royal welcome. Apparently they are friends of the family. Soooo what!!!!!
August 23rd, 2010 @ 3:03 pm
This place is over priced and over rated.
I have been refused entry and allowed entry wearing the exact same clothes. Goes to show, if it’s a quiet night they will let you in, if it’s busy, then it would appear that it’s at the discretion of the homosexual at the door judging what people wear.
The drinks are expensive, the service is appalling and the women appear to be gold digging tramps caught up with their own pseudo magnificence.
September 14th, 2010 @ 10:07 am
I have been allowed entry in to cloudland wearing jeans and a tshirt at about 9pm, but have been refused entry with my boyfriend three times because of his shoes.. he was wearing a full suit with a pair of converse all stars!! All three times the venue has been close to empty and on one occasion we had a group of about twelve people with us. We are both nearly 30 so I can’t imagine it has anything to do with age and we were certainly not drunk as we were driving! I am not sure where cloudland think they have opened a venue but it is not New York city, it’s Brisbane! They open a venue with a target market of over 25’s but then refuse entry to those people anyway!! I wont be going back and neither will my circle of friends.
September 23rd, 2010 @ 3:42 am
My goodness there is more “not so nice things” about Cloudlands than there is about Oprah Winfery coming to Australia, my goodness well i have a birthday party booth booked for this Saturday 2nd October and i’m pretty excited about it but after reading about let down entries, ridiculous prices on drinks my gosh i might as well go to the Casino and eat and let loose, and then I find out that there is a thong party fundraiser on that night well isn’t that gonna make me look like a complete idiot our group will be rocking up dressed like its the Grammy’s lol…
well fingers X’d we get in let alone have an experience to remember… :{
December 4th, 2010 @ 12:01 pm
I’m going to a 40th tonight at this establishment. I might wear jeans & T just for a laugh.J. Rather go to the Bowery anyway!
February 12th, 2011 @ 11:42 pm
ok i have my 25th booked there and i am so scared too now after reading all these comments! i was blown away by all the piccies and the web site and ive gone out and bought an awesome outfit and all.ive been excited for ages now as it really sounded like an unbelievably awesome place not filled with immature ravers and drunks. was and i guess still am looking forward to an unbeatable club experience…but i guess time will tell.
June 18th, 2011 @ 8:54 pm
We rocked up at Cloudland not knowing any of these reviews. Coming into Brisbane for the night from Melbourne we were greeted well, good service at the bar & no attitude at all. The only thing was our group got bailed up for an ID check but one of our guys did look 16! Fair call we thought.
Some of us are in our 40s some not even 21, we had a blast & it was one of the best clubs we’ve all been too, in fact it has been the highlight of our trip!
Cut these guys some slack, you have an amazing club right in Brisbane, support them on a regular basis, trash them like you are doing & you’ll be left with nothing.