As a resident drag queen since its start, Miss Ribena is often thought of as the face of Family Bar & Nightclub. With that K Road institution about to turn ‘Sweet 16’, express sat down with the Outrageous one to discuss Family’s enduring success and how she will celebrate it.
When we muse about her favourite times at Family Bar over the years, Miss Ribena makes it clear – for her, it is all about the people. “When legendary Sydney drag queens Polly Petri and Miss 3D flew over for the 10th birthday, Julian Clary came, Gok Wan came…” she lists.
“There was the TV commercial that myself, Miss Kola and Davina Delight filmed at Family with Suzanne Paul, that was fun!”
But she admits the most memorable night followed the return of the Auckland Pride Parade to Ponsonby Rd in 2013 – “the queues to get in were huge,” she reminisces.
Prior to Family 2005 debut, Auckland had gone through a period where LGBT+ bars would struggle to last for longer than two years. Ribena believes Family bucked that because they went into it with big dreams.
“We started with a huge brand. On the opening night, there were 700 people queuing down the street. Since then we have done all the big community events, constantly updating the venue, including the biggest addition of the always-packed Garden Bar, and you know what? 16 years on our karaoke is still as popular as ever!”
Another key to Family’s success is undeniably its location. In the early 2000s Auckland’s gay scene had been languishing around High Street and O’Connell, but Family returned us to K Road. A move Ribena had long campaigned to bar owners for.
“K road has always been the epicentre of diversity. Over the years there have been brothels, saunas, leather bars – it has always been risqué and full of excitement and fun!”
When asked what first inspired her to do drag, Ribena has a very swift response: ‘Miss K’
“I saw her walking down the Coming Out Parade in 1995. She had feathers and a massive hat and she looked fucking stunning. I told her she was fabulous and we have been friends ever since.”
The following year, Ribena tried drag for one night only at Hamilton’s Next Door Bar, but it would be at the 1998 Hero Parade that she decided she wanted drag to be her career.
Over the years, Miss Ribena has booked corporate gigs and birthday parties all over the country, as well as in Australia and Tonga, where she is often accompanied by her bestie Miss Kola Gin.
“We’re a dynamic duo of drag divas,” Ribena tells us. “Miss Kola and I originally met in 2000 outside Legends nightclub and we have been working together ever since.”
The two will be hosting a number of parties together over Family’s huge birthday celebrations over the final weekend of Auckland.
It will all kick off with RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under winner Kita Mean hosting Family on Friday 27 August, then Miss Ribena and guests will host Saturday 28 August at Family, before Ribena and Kola team up to host the VIP birthday party at Bamboo Tiger on Sunday 29 August.
Lucky invited guests will be treated to cocktails and nibbles galore along with performances from the Pink Flamingos, Jo Cotton (True Bliss, Masked Singer) and Amber Claire.
Family’s Sweet 16 Birthday celebration weekend kicks off on Friday 27 August with prizes for the best birthday outfits and giveaways galore. Friday night will be hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under winner Kita Mean & friends, Saturday 28 August will be hosted by the Outrageous Miss Ribena and guests; celebrating 16 years of Family – New Zealand’s Biggest Gay Nightclub.
270 Karangahape Rd, Auckland / Open 7 Days / To book private functions call 09 309 0213.
