“This is on Level 2 of the Kings Cross Hotel. The team bring amazing productions all year round – the shows have been getting good crowds. The people who come in to perform love that it’s a theatre in a pub.”
It’s fair to say the venerable Kings Cross Hotel has witnessed some changes in its time. This six-storey edifice sits opposite the famous Coke sign welcoming visitors to Sydney’s traditional red-light district, and while the lights of the Cross may have dimmed since the lockouts, the KX powers on. From the subterranean Dive Bar to the prized real estate of the Rooftop, the KX is a meeting spot for the diverse communities of Potts Point and Darlinghurst as well as a venue that knows how to party. We asked assistant manager Ben Le Messurier exactly what makes it tick.
Ben, how long have you worked here?
Just over one year. Before KX I was at Darlo Bar just down the road, so I’ve been in the area a while. I love bigger venues; it was kind of daunting at first when you look at the six levels we have, but it’s a well oiled machine.
What do you love about your job?
I love working in a field that is so eclectic. There’s never a normal day at work and our mix of customers is so vast that I am able to meet such colourful personalities daily.
Do you have any favourite regulars?
The most memorable would be two of our locals, Trish and Wayne. They know the staff by name and they have great stories about the history of not only about our venue but many others throughout their years living in Kings Cross. They are true locals. They both moved to the area back when it was vibrant, and they’ve told us that what we’re doing at the venue is getting back to the roots of what Kings Cross used to be.
What does the Kings Cross Hotel bring to the locality?
Our goal has always been creating a diverse, inclusive and safe space for the entire Kings Cross community. We are able to so much within our six floors, from a beer and a game of pool in our Dive Bar before dancing the night away with our live band on the ground floor or a night at Kings Cross Theatre before finishing off with a cocktail at our Rooftop Bar. We will always be a venue with something for everyone.
