Spanian checks out how the Infamous KINGS CROSS is going now days. Follow Spanian: / spanian.official www.spanianofficial.com/ Produced by Spanian Media
The Cross during the 90's was the best. Packed with homies,bikies,skaters,goths and bogans. A group of Hare Krishnas dancing and singing made it more fun. Good old times.
Should of seen it in the late 70's early 80's. Was way too funny seeing all those mopeds lined up in that spot, heaps different than the harleys etc that used to be parked there. Sad to see the cross destroyed compared to what it used to be. Yeah I may have been rough and seedy but it was a huge draw card and had a heap of character.
I remembered back in about 2000,the kebab shop under the coke sign...someone got glassed in the throat and there was all blood over the left side,still trading out of the right hand side 🤣
Brother, can I just say what an awesome human you are?! You treat everyone so well and are so authentic. And even after midnight, you will pose for a photo. What a champion.
eveyone loves spanian because he's so genuine for me as well as that it's how simple of aman he is. i guess that comes from his troubled past idk but the way he's stoked and has sussed out his gym routine at his place is prime example. only hardship makes you appreciate every little thing. i love how he shows his passion for such things. Big ups SPANIAN, LETS OGGGG
Sydney is so dead it’s such a shame, used to be so vibrant, so much culture amongst the grime and the crime, now nothing at all in the country’s biggest city, just a nanny state with nothing happening above the surface
@@pats3071 plenty of theatre and arts. food festivals. beach. harbour stuff. nature walks. plenty of good food and drink (just not late). lots of outdoor and indoor sports stuff. etc etc. its jut not vibrant for a party atmosphere.
Lockout laws were designed to send them all broke so developers can then build more units on the main drag as well as another Woolworths on the corner.
wrong, lockout laws were designed to stop the drunken thugs coward punching innocent people in the city by putting less pressure on emergency responders, police ,ambos, doctors nurses every night who had to deal with the aftermath of these idiots building more units is inevitable in prime locations its got nothing to do with developers or Woolworths they are just filling a gap in the market, cant blame them so you can thank the ratbags for the lockout laws ,once again the minority fucking it up for the majority
it was pretty sketchy back in the day though. Drugs, prostitutes, fights, violence, drunk people, criminals etc now it is just dead and boring but sort of better in a way as it is a lot cleaner
@@EatMyShortsAU you mean back in the late 70s early 80s into the 90s. By the 2000s it was so packed and full of people the sketchy ones were long gone. It has its issues but nothing different to the other night spots. Star casino had more assualts than anywhere in Sydney. 24hr trading no Problem.
Australia has become the definition of an authoritarian nanny state. They interject themselves in every single aspect of life that brings joy to anyone until that thing no longer exists. They successfully did that with Sydney's nightlife. Back in 2006 - 2012 you wouldn't be able to walk on the sidewalk without getting knocked over. Candy's Apartment used to have a 2 hour line to get in, and Dragonfly likewise. Getting a taxi at 3am was an hour-long process most timers!
I totally agree with you. I'm old enough to remember the 70's-80's when we were free and just left alone. Then along comes these power mad politicians who take away anything that's fun and micro manage every aspect of our lives till its hard to do anything. And it gets worse every year.
In my opinion it was Howard that first started depressing people and controlling what they can and can't do taking away freedoms one but at a time and it just hasn't stopped since....
The lockout laws in 2014 had a big impact on Kings Cross. It would be interesting to see you walk around other areas of the CBD to see if there is a bit of nightlife left in the city.
Yep. Ever Kieran loveridge fuck up the Cross when he killed Thomas Kelly (coward punch laws introduced). I was living there, the place was pumping. Sad 2 see. City of Sydney shot themselves in the foot, massive loss of revenue
I love these random, kinda unedited videos you’ve done recently. We see classic Spanian, talking to yourself and going off on tangents but that’s what makes you so hilarious to watch 😊
It’s so dope that you can laugh at your past addictions mate, you have come a long way! Props broski from 🇮🇪 Love the content, especially the Cambodian trip, big eye opener.. hopefully catch you over here at some point! Bless cuz.. keep it lit.
i worked at a club for many years in the cross and i can say toward the end when it really died out, say 2015 ish onward, the police really went to extra efforts to try close clubs down, raiding them, being totally out of line, assulting people, checking if we are overfull all the time, it seemed like they were told to try make life harder for club owners toward the end, kings cross really died just before 2020, it is sad but i guess all good things have to come to an end.
Yep lockout laws supposedly for our own good don't worry about how it made the polices job 10x easier and funneled everyone into the casino conveniently just outside the restricted zone..
1st visit in 2006 ish I got held against my will in bada bing. A lady lured me in, went upstairs, no show was on, no music, just 5 heavy dudes drinking at a table. When I seen nothing was happening the lady then blocked the doorway to go downstairs with their arms spread across the door frame. Realising this wasn't going to end too well I pushed her over and ran down those stairs sooo fast
yeah , back in mid 90s there was a lot of grabbing guys off the street to get them into strip joints and the bouncer would then grab your money as soon as you pulled it out and give himself a tip, very dodgy place then, read later a lot of killings at that time there. scary Mafia type shit! they mad movies about it! lol
Steak, mash and veggies for $14? In Sydney? Did I hear that right? To put it into perspective, I was at a pub in Kiama and it was $32 for a steak and chips.. That cafe already has my respect and I’ve never been there. 💯🔥
I used to work as a bouncer at a few venues back in the day as I was going through uni, before the lockout laws..... It's so sad to see what happened to what was an iconic part of Australia
Back in the late 60s the only work my father could get was security at a gay bar in the Cross . number one patron at the time was believe it or not Kerri packer .😂true facts 😂
@@AnthonyTiculin-wp6chprobably because those places were non violent and a better vibe back in the day. Nothing wrong with a straight guy chilling in a non threatening environment
You’re bringing back so many memorable and not quite so rememberable lol memories with these walking yarns around Sydney 🙏 sending our regards and a big fat thank you! And cheers for the laughs, u truly are just so f funny bro 😂 just being you and randos being so darn random, it’s made for views! Idk how you popped up on my utube feed but it turns out my bf was cellys with you for a fortnight or so a few years back now and so we both have been checking out ur vlogs in our down time since coming across ur stuff. Theres Nothing but mad respect for u n what you do. Keep killin it cos you’re influence will be all for the better in peoples lives especially in these trying times…. And it just goes to show that if you do what ya love and therefore love what u do then things can and absolutely will work out for you. May you continue to grow and evolve your platform with your truth 😊
This was literally a walk through memory lane. Early 2000's this place was absolutely cranking, Mitsubishi's everywhere ;) Then the lock out laws and early closures of clubs came in and then they fcked it all up. The scene died ages ago and it'll never be the same. Can't believe how dead it is now brah
Yeah same. 90's were awesome. Left maybe 2002. Began to notice alot of losers on meth thinking they were superman. Just walking straight through a crowd of people shouldering them all. I'd say meth turned it to trash. Those mitsibishi's everyone had fun on, and a good night. But that stuff meh just turns people into trash not worth being around. And it's just everywhere. Such a shitty drug. I'd blame that myself for it needing to be shut down.
I had the best time in The Cross during 2007-2011 at clubs such as Trademark, Hugos, Dragonfly & Ladylux. My kids now in their 20's have always been envious of my Cross clubbing days, something they never got to experience!
Ahhh memories!! 2006-2011 for me, I was 19 when I first went & this video shocks me, it’s sort of sad in a way, but Spanian says it best it’s like a museum now, a reminisce of what it used to be. We’re pretty lucky to of lived the last of the Cross Era ❤️
Well, I think it all depends on how old you are, I used to live up that way and go into the cross back from the mid eighties to the early 2000s. I can tell you now, the late 80s to the 90s it was an absolute fucking zoo ( in a good way )
We love your vlogs, podcasts and everything you have done so far . Only wish you the best ,you deserve it as much as anyone else . Stick with the people who appreciate and really care about you . I don’t think you know how interesting you are to others. Stay positive 😊
Man these vlogs got me in stitches 😂 good humour and all sorts of characters lmao.. that dude was defs off chops that came back for a second photo lol.
So depressing to see it now! I use to go to Kings Cross a lot during the late 1970's and early 1980's. During that era it was pretty much the only place in the Sydney metropolitan area that had pubs/clubs, food shops and "other things" open after 12 midnight. Friday and Saturday nights through to the early hours of the morning, the street was crowded with people, heaps of neon signs and the road was full of cars cruising along... Within the next 10 years it will slowly become all apartment buildings.
To see the people come up to you is saying something 👌👌🤙. You are a great inspiration to all the people that love your channel 👍 cheers 🍻 to your channel mate ❤
This brings back so many memories. I remember me and my friends would go clubbing back in 2009 and Tunnel, The Bank, Tank and Hugos was where it was at. It was packed. So many drunken people. Fights. It doesn't look the same nowadays. Once they had the lockout rules I think back in 2015 - that's where it went all downhill. So much nostalgia watching this!
The Covid waves really put the nail in the coffin for Kings Kross and even before that it got dialled down in fact Sydney itself has lost a lot of tourism hype. The cost of living is outrageous and people got fed up!
Does Sydney have another nightlife district? It used to be 1.kings cross 2. CBD 3. Newtown? Lived a year of partying in 2010, haven’t been back to Sydney yet tho
@@demun6065 It used to be Kings Cross, Oxford Street, Darling harbour, Pitt Street and during the summer Bondi and Coogie would have their thing going on too Kings Cross was always the final destination though.
Its great to see the cross again. Back in 2007 that Italian restaurant was New York slice Pizza, I was the manager there for a while and would give all the bar staff free pizza at 5am.. good times cuz!
I'm from New Zealand. This place is known hard out for its infamy as a night spot. I remember going there for a holiday in 2001. Had one of the wildest nights of my life. Went to a club called ARCK or ARQ, I cant remember the other ones. Ended up buying a bag of Ice and E pill (first time i tried either). Stayed up all night then caught the train out West during the day I think to a place called Dream World or Dream land. It's sad to see it so subdued.
like your content mate - much respect for the way your living and the way youve flipped things - watched a few of your interviews and stuuf - done a bit and known a lot of guys who've not managed to shake off the jail head - so again much respect mate
Loved the Cross. First ventured in there in the summer of ‘88-‘89 when on school holidays before starting year 12. For a group of private school boys it was another world and it was pumping hard. At that age it was mostly about the strip clubs - Stripperama, Love Machine and Porkies were the big 3. They didn’t have a whole lot of rules either. More strip clubs in the 90s, among other things, before their night clubs in the 2000s (when I wasn’t in Q Bar on Oxford St). With the exception of Dancers Cabaret, which I hit hard in the early 2000s, while partying of course and spending up big. I would’ve entered almost every venue in the area over the years - cafes, pubs, people’s homes and way too many secrets to tell. Even that little arcade above Coles I had some favourite shops. Spanian missed so many other awesome streets (like further down Kellett St and the little bars and Spanish restaurants). Almost every venue has changed name. I saw Mansions where I played the old style card machines, and Spanian pointed to what used to be Studebakers and later Hugo’s. Across the road was Bayswater Brasserie and the coolest of night clubs - Sugareef. Then fast forward to 2016, I moved into a new apartment down in Rushcutters Bay and used to walk up like the Cross was my second home, albeit dead by then. Loved the eclectic vibe, the posers and the junkies were both awesome. Even in its prime, with bikies, drug dealers and criminals everywhere, I always felt safe in the Cross.
True, there were lots of criminal types there in the 80's, but I never felt unsafe or threatened. those were the days of the Mr Bigs and crooked coppers.
Hi bro. Thanks for the vid, much appreciated. At 20min was The Empire Hotel. I was a DJ back in the early 90's at a Fijian club called JJ's. It was across the road from Omalley's on Brougham st. I was spinning sounds 7 nights a week and the Cross was on fire. Everyone was happy and getting it on. So many awesome venues and clubs just in that area. Oz Rock Cafe, The Tunnel, Illusions, Paradise Club, VIP's, Round Midnight, The Piccolo, Cardoma Cafe and Benny's ! We used to start DJ'n at Benny's at 2am on Thursday with my friend who had the gig. That's unheard of now. Who starts at a small muso joint at 2am, awesome! So Spanian. The answer to your question. Has the Cross redeemed itself ? No! It is impossible to bring back the vibe, atmosphere and great memories and people I met and the amazing years I experienced as a DJ in Kings Cross. Now at 54 years old I gracefully drive my Uber in the area every week and remember when I came to Australia my parents would take me to see the magical fountain and get a double cone at the iconic ice cream parlour that became The Empire Hotel. Now I feel sad to see how the government and it's red tap lockdown laws has devastated people's businesses and lives. I was 4 or 5 years old then. But these are memories will never go away as long as I live. Long live The Forgotten Cross and lets reopen all Sydney venues and be what we once were.
I remember going to few places across from the COKE sign was like a rave rooftop and lotel million dollar views problem now is non of these venues would pass fire or regulations back then it was - this place is empty lets do it there will never happen again
2008 was my first time and 2014 was last time I was down there from Newcastle. That’s a huge change from what I remember it being like. Love your work.
What a great vlog!!! Studied for 4 years 9am to 5pm or my Diploma in Sydney. Weekends to Dance and have loads of crazy, fun mad crazy laughing was done at the Cross. You have depicted shown spoken shared it so spot on and Brilliantly. I was walking the same Streets I used to 25yrars ago. What a Fricken Blast we had in those days We Danced We Sang We Yarned We Fell in Love We Cared Thank you for saying and showing every nook, cranny, street and the old places that are no longer there
My late Dad used to drive us kids through the cross at night in the 80's. I always wondered why there was women wearing very little just standing outside the front of 'shops' 😂. It was such an alien, colourful and vibrant place and I always loved going through there.
Thanks mate, that was some great (albeit laid back) investigative journalism. It's genuinely sad to see how dead the cross has become, I remember my first experience with a seedy strip club there in the late 70's, then so many rock and roll nights in the eighties and so many step off the street into a small shop front that opens into a cool dance club in the 90's. Oh and the Bourbon and Beef was the go to at any time of the night, any day of the week.
Was in sydney in 05 and 06, legendary parties in KC and around the city in general, was fun to look back with you around KC, sure lookes more quiet now.
Thank you Spanian for posting lad! Living in the UK, I really miss home, and your videos have helped reminisce about our home of Sydney. It’s so sad that the Cross is dead - such an awesome place back in the day. Sydney needs a night time economy - played so many gigs in the Cross. London has a great night time economy
@@tironibusmaximus6100 yeah last time I was home, Newtown was really pumping. It does seem that night economy is gravitating towards other centres outside of the City. It is a shame to see the Cross so dead - a major international city like Sydney needs to have more night life
its kinda funny how similar the London Kings Cross is to the Australian one, they both even have changed now into normal places due to gentrification and things
@@Lokkk350 not quite mate. Kudos to London’s Kings Cross that it’s evolved - albeit controversially through gentrification, but it’s progressive. In Sydney’s case, we have had terrible governance that has ruined a great night time economy and a thriving hub. Sydney’s Cross pails in comparison to London’s Cross. London Kings Cross has some really good restaurants, and it’s a little food Mecca. I can’t say the same for home!
I’m a cabbie in Perth and a lot of people told me they introduced curfews in Sydney around 11pm. That’s really weird and very bad for business. Come to Perth brother and check out Northbridge in Perth on a Friday or Saturday night. Probably like Kings Cross back in the day. It’s basically opened til 5am. Our port city as well Fremantle on a Saturday night when Metropolis Nightclub is open is pumping.
@@Bllurenbullshit. Perth is busier than you think ..northbridge is pumping on the weekends. Sydney looks dead. Didn't look like much content here for spanian
Hey bro, I have story’s back in my day,1979,81. That blog when you’re in Thailand when you go to cross the road and you just go for it,yeah well that’s what kc was like in that respect 👍🏼. And alllll❤the rest of the story’s we had. It really was a great place to spend the weekend as a young bloke back in our day. Thanks for sharing brother
Excellent content, love going for a stroll with Spanyos around ol Sydney town. Very entertaining. Used to frequent Club Blink in the X in thr early 00s. That world is gone now.
I was in Sydney for a couple nights a few weeks ago, a lot more night life than I expected. great fun with plenty of backpackers to keep me entertained
Late 90’s and early 2000’s this joint was littered with characters. I used to bounce in Wollongong and my mates and I would often spend our Sunday nights up here, as it was our night off. Many funny times back then!! 🤣
So much good memories even if it had bad experiences thrown in. Met all walks and nothing was ever out of reach literally, just trying to train it home back out west and wake up miles from where i needed to be after a night up the Cross , 84 85 created some of the best times , what an experience we had aye Kurt Rest Easy🙏🏽
It was the Death of Thomas Kelly some guy who was drunk or high off drugs sucker punched him in kings cross ever since then Sydney nightlife has never been the same
Man this bought back memories, junkies shooting up every morning out side the hostel window on my mates car, and he actually worked in the herb cafe, the laneway out back of the hostel had more baggies and uncapped used fits than I've ever seen under St Kilda pier, one corner you walked past was where we stopped a couple of skater kids getting rolled, and the pool and gym I used to get chased off for skating out front.... Was only there for a bit over 2 months, and that's just a few of the things that happened... crazy days in 2002 bro 🖖🤘
The Cross easily had the biggest reputation in Aus In the early 90s when I was there and the mid 90s when again as well. It had an edge to it like no other place During the day even you had to be on your guard. It was full on. Saw Craig Johnston the Liverpool striker there one night and his crew were in a running brawl and I grabbed him running past and I was like a fan boy. I said,”Hey Craig great to meet you kinda stuff and he said to me. They started it man they started 😅 People getting dropped left right and center,heavy hands Anyway, I don’t know what it was like from 2000 on cause I moved overseas but it was fuking wild place Couldn’t believe your video bro. What a change!!!
Cross had more of a reputation in the 70s 80 s even earlier Vietnam war R&R Americans Aussies miliary would come here king Cross was were most of the Heroin was sold and many criminals were here also massive sex industry inside and out. people from al over the world came here.
Hahaha brah " Bum fights - individual parties " that's the crack head video you were talking about clicked to me right away soon as u mentioned it 😂 keep up the good work boss 💪
I’m a local, what I am hearing is that the cost of living in Sydney is so high that most cannot afford to have a night out in the Cross. It’s so much cheaper to just drink at home etc. Suburbs change, and I highly doubt Kings Cross will ever return to “the 80’s” Kings Cross. Newtown has a great vibe at night on a Friday or Saturday.
Myself and 2 mates went to sus out this KINGS CROSS , and after seeing the GOLDING MILE we were excited to see what its like. We were let down man. Great episode Spainian. Love watching the vids. Need to catch you Melbourne next time your down.
Great video showing the world the truth about Kings Cross today. Far from what it used to be. Would definitely surprise a lot of people planning a visit.
Love the videos!! You should do a walk on a friday/Saturday night down George St in the city, King St to Enmore Rd (Newtown/Enmore), Oxford St and Darling Harbour to Barangaroo! Sydney had to fracture when lockouts came. It'll take sometime to get it back to what it was and I am too old to have a say tbh
I worked in kings x nearly 20 years ago.. in the peak time on Saturday night the footpath and street were packed to the point where you couldn't move.. i was told by club owners that the lockout was really designed to drive the clubs out and change them to cafes or apartments..
@@user-ro3qv6mk8w Sydney is a nice city great beaches. In far north QLD there is the Daintree Rainforest, I stayed in a remote little town called Cape Tribulation where the rainforest meets the sea. Awesome part of Australia. You can see wild crocodiles and the Cassowary, then take a boat out to snorkel/scuba the Great Barrier Reef!
@@user-ro3qv6mk8w Cape Tribulation, far north Queensland. Daintree rainforest meets the beach. Wild crocs, cassowarys and a short boat ride to scuba/snorkel the great barrier reef!
I remember walking out of lido suites in the morning straight to Froth Cafe for a feed after a huge night. Always hit the spot. They even tucked us up the back of the Cafe out of the way of the normal folk knowing we were all still buckled usually.
Wow, so different from the early 80's! Lived in Syd a few years and being from country FNQ would go to the x most Fri nights just to watch the action. Was full on packed and crazy back then.
What a spin out I know that EXACT video clip Span is talking about. Bun Fights Crew, where oldmatey is talking about the “Joint of England” more individual parties, no fighting no clowning around - just more enjoyment 😂😂
The Cross during the 90's was the best. Packed with homies,bikies,skaters,goths and bogans. A group of Hare Krishnas dancing and singing made it more fun. Good old times.
Yeeesssss good times🎉
The hari krishnas!!!!
Should of seen it in the late 70's early 80's. Was way too funny seeing all those mopeds lined up in that spot, heaps different than the harleys etc that used to be parked there. Sad to see the cross destroyed compared to what it used to be. Yeah I may have been rough and seedy but it was a huge draw card and had a heap of character.
there used to be motorbikes parked infront of a cafe all the time back in the days, which club was that? hells angels?
I remembered back in about 2000,the kebab shop under the coke sign...someone got glassed in the throat and there was all blood over the left side,still trading out of the right hand side 🤣
Brother, can I just say what an awesome human you are?! You treat everyone so well and are so authentic. And even after midnight, you will pose for a photo. What a champion.
what a fkn breath of fresh air you are mate.....I wish you all the success with your channel. Cheers mate from Tassie
eveyone loves spanian because he's so genuine for me as well as that it's how simple of aman he is. i guess that comes from his troubled past idk but the way he's stoked and has sussed out his gym routine at his place is prime example. only hardship makes you appreciate every little thing. i love how he shows his passion for such things. Big ups SPANIAN, LETS OGGGG
Spanian brother, random feeds or hood walks with the GoPro going are the best unplanned sometimes, you’re content is great brother GOD BLESS ✝️
WORD
Agree 💯
Sydney is so dead it’s such a shame, used to be so vibrant, so much culture amongst the grime and the crime, now nothing at all in the country’s biggest city, just a nanny state with nothing happening above the surface
Literally so true, sucks being young ere😂
only people who are young or plebs say that.. their is heaps to do if you dont care about drinking and partys..
@@fullsendit292 What can you do mate? Go to a kebab shop on an empty street that closes at 10pm?
@@pats3071 mate the list is endless in sydney..
@@pats3071 plenty of theatre and arts. food festivals. beach. harbour stuff. nature walks. plenty of good food and drink (just not late). lots of outdoor and indoor sports stuff. etc etc. its jut not vibrant for a party atmosphere.
Lockout laws were designed to send them all broke so developers can then build more units on the main drag as well as another Woolworths on the corner.
wrong, lockout laws were designed to stop the drunken thugs coward punching innocent people in the city by putting less pressure on emergency responders, police ,ambos, doctors nurses every night who had to deal with the aftermath of these idiots
building more units is inevitable in prime locations
its got nothing to do with developers or Woolworths they are just filling a gap in the market, cant blame them
so you can thank the ratbags for the lockout laws ,once again the minority fucking it up for the majority
it was pretty sketchy back in the day though. Drugs, prostitutes, fights, violence, drunk people, criminals etc now it is just dead and boring but sort of better in a way as it is a lot cleaner
@@EatMyShortsAU you mean back in the late 70s early 80s into the 90s. By the 2000s it was so packed and full of people the sketchy ones were long gone. It has its issues but nothing different to the other night spots. Star casino had more assualts than anywhere in Sydney. 24hr trading no Problem.
Yeah true true. I guess sketchy by today's standards.@@johnnyp655
100%
Australia has become the definition of an authoritarian nanny state. They interject themselves in every single aspect of life that brings joy to anyone until that thing no longer exists. They successfully did that with Sydney's nightlife. Back in 2006 - 2012 you wouldn't be able to walk on the sidewalk without getting knocked over. Candy's Apartment used to have a 2 hour line to get in, and Dragonfly likewise. Getting a taxi at 3am was an hour-long process most timers!
I remember it from the 80's and Wow they have all but destroyed it now....Sad!
but the wowsers who fucked it all were such great economic managers. so many of their mates got rich as fuck too.
I totally agree with you. I'm old enough to remember the 70's-80's when we were free and just left alone. Then along comes these power mad politicians who take away anything that's fun and micro manage every aspect of our lives till its hard to do anything. And it gets worse every year.
In my opinion it was Howard that first started depressing people and controlling what they can and can't do taking away freedoms one but at a time and it just hasn't stopped since....
Yeah but ppl go to outdoor mutli day festivals now, not clubs
The lockout laws in 2014 had a big impact on Kings Cross. It would be interesting to see you walk around other areas of the CBD to see if there is a bit of nightlife left in the city.
It's slim pickings everywhere now. Manly and Newtown probably the last refuge.
Lots of good pubs all over the place but for proper nightlife you’ve got buckleys in Sydney these days I reckon!
Yep. Ever Kieran loveridge fuck up the Cross when he killed Thomas Kelly (coward punch laws introduced). I was living there, the place was pumping. Sad 2 see. City of Sydney shot themselves in the foot, massive loss of revenue
From someone who lives in the city I tell ya, nightlife is still very much alive and kickin.
Sydney is a ghost town at night
I love these random, kinda unedited videos you’ve done recently. We see classic Spanian, talking to yourself and going off on tangents but that’s what makes you so hilarious to watch 😊
Im thinking that this channel is actually a lot better than the main channel now. :)
It’s so dope that you can laugh at your past addictions mate, you have come a long way! Props broski from 🇮🇪
Love the content, especially the Cambodian trip, big eye opener.. hopefully catch you over here at some point! Bless cuz.. keep it lit.
This takes me back, I remember staying in the cross a couple of weeks, back in 2009, at The Jolly Swagman Hostel, visited that Maccas a few times,
i worked at a club for many years in the cross and i can say toward the end when it really died out, say 2015 ish onward, the police really went to extra efforts to try close clubs down, raiding them, being totally out of line, assulting people, checking if we are overfull all the time, it seemed like they were told to try make life harder for club owners toward the end, kings cross really died just before 2020, it is sad but i guess all good things have to come to an end.
Yep lockout laws supposedly for our own good don't worry about how it made the polices job 10x easier and funneled everyone into the casino conveniently just outside the restricted zone..
Yep, I was working then too.
Yep coppers acting on behalf of Sydney City Council and state government to clean up the Cross.
I lived there in the late 80s. It was still good then !!Gentrification sucks.
Good things you rekn.
Fkn biggest shit hole in Sydney.
Old mate in his undies trying to keep the cross alive brother 😂😂 love the work span
1st visit in 2006 ish I got held against my will in bada bing. A lady lured me in, went upstairs, no show was on, no music, just 5 heavy dudes drinking at a table. When I seen nothing was happening the lady then blocked the doorway to go downstairs with their arms spread across the door frame. Realising this wasn't going to end too well I pushed her over and ran down those stairs sooo fast
yeah , back in mid 90s there was a lot of grabbing guys off the street to get them into strip joints and the bouncer would then grab your money as soon as you pulled it out and give himself a tip, very dodgy place then, read later a lot of killings at that time there. scary Mafia type shit! they mad movies about it! lol
The first strip joint I went to was bada bings . It was busy though . Dead now
Tuning in from New Zealand brother,love all the content you provide,been watching from day dot,keep up the mean mahi/work one love bro chr chr
Steak, mash and veggies for $14? In Sydney? Did I hear that right? To put it into perspective, I was at a pub in Kiama and it was $32 for a steak and chips..
That cafe already has my respect and I’ve never been there. 💯🔥
Totally agree with you an average bistro would charge 20+ maybe 30 bucks for that
my nan and pop are from kiama haha
@@muzzaaaaa2848 what's that got do with a $32 steak 🥩 and chips 🍟?
I was there this morning….
Good value! Mostly those cheap and cheerful cafes have gone bust due to greedy rental increases.
I used to work as a bouncer at a few venues back in the day as I was going through uni, before the lockout laws..... It's so sad to see what happened to what was an iconic part of Australia
Back in the late 60s the only work my father could get was security at a gay bar in the Cross . number one patron at the time was believe it or not Kerri packer .😂true facts 😂
@@AnthonyTiculin-wp6chprobably because those places were non violent and a better vibe back in the day. Nothing wrong with a straight guy chilling in a non threatening environment
You’re bringing back so many memorable and not quite so rememberable lol memories with these walking yarns around Sydney 🙏 sending our regards and a big fat thank you! And cheers for the laughs, u truly are just so f funny bro 😂 just being you and randos being so darn random, it’s made for views!
Idk how you popped up on my utube feed but it turns out my bf was cellys with you for a fortnight or so a few years back now and so we both have been checking out ur vlogs in our down time since coming across ur stuff. Theres Nothing but mad respect for u n what you do. Keep killin it cos you’re influence will be all for the better in peoples lives especially in these trying times…. And it just goes to show that if you do what ya love and therefore love what u do then things can and absolutely will work out for you. May you continue to grow and evolve your platform with your truth 😊
This was literally a walk through memory lane. Early 2000's this place was absolutely cranking, Mitsubishi's everywhere ;) Then the lock out laws and early closures of clubs came in and then they fcked it all up. The scene died ages ago and it'll never be the same. Can't believe how dead it is now brah
Lol red Mitsubishi’s I remember that haha
Yeah same. 90's were awesome. Left maybe 2002. Began to notice alot of losers on meth thinking they were superman. Just walking straight through a crowd of people shouldering them all. I'd say meth turned it to trash. Those mitsibishi's everyone had fun on, and a good night. But that stuff meh just turns people into trash not worth being around. And it's just everywhere. Such a shitty drug. I'd blame that myself for it needing to be shut down.
I had the best time in The Cross during 2007-2011 at clubs such as Trademark, Hugos, Dragonfly & Ladylux. My kids now in their 20's have always been envious of my Cross clubbing days, something they never got to experience!
Ahhh memories!! 2006-2011 for me, I was 19 when I first went & this video shocks me, it’s sort of sad in a way, but Spanian says it best it’s like a museum now, a reminisce of what it used to be. We’re pretty lucky to of lived the last of the Cross Era ❤️
Classy
Well, I think it all depends on how old you are, I used to live up that way and go into the cross back from the mid eighties to the early 2000s.
I can tell you now, the late 80s to the 90s it was an absolute fucking zoo ( in a good way )
Had some of the best nights of my life, in the World Bar on Bayswater road.
Yeah but ppl go to outdoor mutli day festivals now, not clubs
One thing that’s cool af is you’ve always got time for fans man.
We love your vlogs, podcasts and everything you have done so far . Only wish you the best ,you deserve it as much as anyone else . Stick with the people who appreciate and really care about you . I don’t think you know how interesting you are to others. Stay positive 😊
Much respect Spanian ya legend! Happy new year brother, all best aye ❤
Love your content mate, enjoy watching everything you do I look forward to watching every day. Keep up the good work well done Spanian.
Great video. Happy New Year to both you and your wife! I hope you both have an amazing 2024!
“Let me in, I’m stressin” 🤣🤣🤣
World Bar used to be anarchy 10-15 years ago. Laneways near Maccas used to be heroin hangout. it's crazy to see how dead it is now
World Bar was the best night club there. Do you remember the club across the road from there? Can't remember the name of the club.
@@TheDoleBludgerBoganHugo’s. Was big on Sunday nights
@@RimBrakeKing Of course, it was Hugo's. Now I remember. Thanks 👍
These vlogs are awesome. I have them running on my second monitor as I work. Keep it up. Thanks
Every time i watch your vids you always give the impression your just living your best life i love it
Man these vlogs got me in stitches 😂 good humour and all sorts of characters lmao.. that dude was defs off chops that came back for a second photo lol.
Congratulations on your success legend, and the work you put in your vlogs is great💪
So depressing to see it now! I use to go to Kings Cross a lot during the late 1970's and early 1980's. During that era it was pretty much the only place in the Sydney metropolitan area that had pubs/clubs, food shops and "other things" open after 12 midnight. Friday and Saturday nights through to the early hours of the morning, the street was crowded with people, heaps of neon signs and the road was full of cars cruising along... Within the next 10 years it will slowly become all apartment buildings.
To see the people come up to you is saying something 👌👌🤙. You are a great inspiration to all the people that love your channel 👍 cheers 🍻 to your channel mate ❤
Thanks for putting stuff out, and being honest for the kids. Every kid not going to jail is a win. Much love
This brings back so many memories. I remember me and my friends would go clubbing back in 2009 and Tunnel, The Bank, Tank and Hugos was where it was at. It was packed. So many drunken people. Fights. It doesn't look the same nowadays. Once they had the lockout rules I think back in 2015 - that's where it went all downhill. So much nostalgia watching this!
Was the cross as bad as it is made in underbelly, I’m from England 🏴
ROGER RAMJET 😂😂😂that’s a blast from the past
@NewDocs77 Not as bad as you'd make it out to be
If you're looking for a fight, you'd find one. Otherwise a lot of fun
@@hondomclean6759 cheers mate thanks
Tunnel, The Bank and Gold Fish!!! Man those were the good old days getting a cab was a nightmare but a fun night. This was nostalgic ❤
Always wondered what the cross is like this day n age, well done Spanian
You are the realest youtuber bro keep up the great videos man love em all bro.
Tha joint was pumping back in tha 80 s they where tha days of tha x , love ya work 👍👍👍👍🇦🇺
The Covid waves really put the nail in the coffin for Kings Kross and even before that it got dialled down in fact Sydney itself has lost a lot of tourism hype. The cost of living is outrageous and people got fed up!
Shit city these days
The old covid hoax
People actually believed that scam hahah
Thats a fact, it was almost the same as now in this video by 2018
Does Sydney have another nightlife district? It used to be 1.kings cross 2. CBD 3. Newtown?
Lived a year of partying in 2010, haven’t been back to Sydney yet tho
@@demun6065 It used to be Kings Cross, Oxford Street, Darling harbour, Pitt Street and during the summer Bondi and Coogie would have their thing going on too
Kings Cross was always the final destination though.
Bro your vlogs keep me sane
Keep them coming everyday
Love the random walk-throughs! I remember those corners all too well from back in the day. Clubbing at YU, Trashbags, Empire...so good!
real patient with ya fans especially the old bloke, respect
Its great to see the cross again. Back in 2007 that Italian restaurant was New York slice Pizza, I was the manager there for a while and would give all the bar staff free pizza at 5am.. good times cuz!
Keep ur good stuffs brothaaaaa!!! Love ur content man! Cheers from Canada brothaa
I'm from New Zealand. This place is known hard out for its infamy as a night spot. I remember going there for a holiday in 2001. Had one of the wildest nights of my life. Went to a club called ARCK or ARQ, I cant remember the other ones. Ended up buying a bag of Ice and E pill (first time i tried either). Stayed up all night then caught the train out West during the day I think to a place called Dream World or Dream land. It's sad to see it so subdued.
You did ice?
like your content mate - much respect for the way your living and the way youve flipped things - watched a few of your interviews and stuuf - done a bit and known a lot of guys who've not managed to shake off the jail head - so again much respect mate
Loved the Cross. First ventured in there in the summer of ‘88-‘89 when on school holidays before starting year 12. For a group of private school boys it was another world and it was pumping hard. At that age it was mostly about the strip clubs - Stripperama, Love Machine and Porkies were the big 3. They didn’t have a whole lot of rules either. More strip clubs in the 90s, among other things, before their night clubs in the 2000s (when I wasn’t in Q Bar on Oxford St). With the exception of Dancers Cabaret, which I hit hard in the early 2000s, while partying of course and spending up big. I would’ve entered almost every venue in the area over the years - cafes, pubs, people’s homes and way too many secrets to tell. Even that little arcade above Coles I had some favourite shops. Spanian missed so many other awesome streets (like further down Kellett St and the little bars and Spanish restaurants). Almost every venue has changed name. I saw Mansions where I played the old style card machines, and Spanian pointed to what used to be Studebakers and later Hugo’s. Across the road was Bayswater Brasserie and the coolest of night clubs - Sugareef. Then fast forward to 2016, I moved into a new apartment down in Rushcutters Bay and used to walk up like the Cross was my second home, albeit dead by then. Loved the eclectic vibe, the posers and the junkies were both awesome. Even in its prime, with bikies, drug dealers and criminals everywhere, I always felt safe in the Cross.
Yeah me too I visited in mid 80s unreal the best back then !!
Dream Machine
True, there were lots of criminal types there in the 80's, but I never felt unsafe or threatened. those were the days of the Mr Bigs and crooked coppers.
Hi bro. Thanks for the vid, much appreciated. At 20min was The Empire Hotel. I was a DJ back in the early 90's at a Fijian club called JJ's. It was across the road from Omalley's on Brougham st. I was spinning sounds 7 nights a week and the Cross was on fire. Everyone was happy and getting it on. So many awesome venues and clubs just in that area. Oz Rock Cafe, The Tunnel, Illusions, Paradise Club, VIP's, Round Midnight, The Piccolo, Cardoma Cafe and Benny's ! We used to start DJ'n at Benny's at 2am on Thursday with my friend who had the gig. That's unheard of now. Who starts at a small muso joint at 2am, awesome! So Spanian. The answer to your question. Has the Cross redeemed itself ? No! It is impossible to bring back the vibe, atmosphere and great memories and people I met and the amazing years I experienced as a DJ in Kings Cross. Now at 54 years old I gracefully drive my Uber in the area every week and remember when I came to Australia my parents would take me to see the magical fountain and get a double cone at the iconic ice cream parlour that became The Empire Hotel. Now I feel sad to see how the government and it's red tap lockdown laws has devastated people's businesses and lives. I was 4 or 5 years old then. But these are memories will never go away as long as I live. Long live The Forgotten Cross and lets reopen all Sydney venues and be what we once were.
Illusion night club was one of the best 🎉🎉
I remember going to few places across from the COKE sign
was like a rave
rooftop and lotel
million dollar views
problem now is non of these venues would pass fire or regulations
back then it was - this place is empty lets do it there
will never happen again
Most likely The OZ Rock Hotel. Around 4 levels with a rooftop party area. @@Simon-Simon-Simon
Ziggurat
@@powerplay.556 Straight across from Colosseum
2008 was my first time and 2014 was last time I was down there from Newcastle. That’s a huge change from what I remember it being like. Love your work.
Happy new year spanian family and friends thanks for the content
This man’s a king honestly I listen to him in my sleep the phones goin off
I lived in the Cross from 1992 -1997 and it was full hectic. Brings back memories of places you walked through there!
R.I.P. The Cross 1965 - 2005 (ish). Some hectic decades man.
Yeah I was only young back in 90’s early 2000’s my first E’s was in the cross was crazy and fun at the same time, kids nowadays have no idea lolz
someone gotta dig up the footage of Spanian on Bondi Rescue.
F for when someone finds it
The uncut version 💯
For the culture
What a great vlog!!!
Studied for 4 years 9am to 5pm or my Diploma in Sydney.
Weekends to Dance and have loads of crazy, fun mad crazy laughing was done at the Cross.
You have depicted shown spoken shared it so spot on and Brilliantly.
I was walking the same Streets I used to 25yrars ago.
What a Fricken Blast we had in those days
We Danced We Sang We Yarned We Fell in Love We Cared
Thank you for saying and showing every nook, cranny, street and the old places that are no longer there
I am from Malaysia, and I was here 15 years ago it was banging. I have not visited Aussie since it's crazy to see how things have changed.
My late Dad used to drive us kids through the cross at night in the 80's. I always wondered why there was women wearing very little just standing outside the front of 'shops' 😂. It was such an alien, colourful and vibrant place and I always loved going through there.
Ha! Awesome dad you have!
@@oldmate99 thanks mate 😊 he was.
Am I the only one who wants to see that’s video of Spanian save that guy on Bondi rescue 🤣🤣
Yes
Lol what???
Someone update me 😂
Yes
Yeah bro, you are.😅
Thanks mate, that was some great (albeit laid back) investigative journalism. It's genuinely sad to see how dead the cross has become, I remember my first experience with a seedy strip club there in the late 70's, then so many rock and roll nights in the eighties and so many step off the street into a small shop front that opens into a cool dance club in the 90's. Oh and the Bourbon and Beef was the go to at any time of the night, any day of the week.
Was in sydney in 05 and 06, legendary parties in KC and around the city in general, was fun to look back with you around KC, sure lookes more quiet now.
Thank you Spanian for posting lad! Living in the UK, I really miss home, and your videos have helped reminisce about our home of Sydney. It’s so sad that the Cross is dead - such an awesome place back in the day. Sydney needs a night time economy - played so many gigs in the Cross. London has a great night time economy
Sydney has a night time economy - just not in the city anymore. Enmore is starting to pick up as well btw.
@@tironibusmaximus6100 yeah last time I was home, Newtown was really pumping. It does seem that night economy is gravitating towards other centres outside of the City. It is a shame to see the Cross so dead - a major international city like Sydney needs to have more night life
its kinda funny how similar the London Kings Cross is to the Australian one, they both even have changed now into normal places due to gentrification and things
@@Lokkk350 not quite mate. Kudos to London’s Kings Cross that it’s evolved - albeit controversially through gentrification, but it’s progressive.
In Sydney’s case, we have had terrible governance that has ruined a great night time economy and a thriving hub. Sydney’s Cross pails in comparison to London’s Cross. London Kings Cross has some really good restaurants, and it’s a little food Mecca. I can’t say the same for home!
@@lildrum78 your not the first person iv heard talk about bad governance over there tbh
I’m a cabbie in Perth and a lot of people told me they introduced curfews in Sydney around 11pm. That’s really weird and very bad for business. Come to Perth brother and check out Northbridge in Perth on a Friday or Saturday night. Probably like Kings Cross back in the day. It’s basically opened til 5am. Our port city as well Fremantle on a Saturday night when Metropolis Nightclub is open is pumping.
Perth is pretty boring tho. Not much content for him there.
This cabbie is an idiot, I just left there after living there for 10 years, Perth is shit...
There are no curfews after 11pm. The lockout laws were in a couple of blocks around the cross. It did not affect the rest of Sydney.
@@Bllurenbullshit. Perth is busier than you think ..northbridge is pumping on the weekends. Sydney looks dead. Didn't look like much content here for spanian
@@ACDZ123 I've lived in the CBD of Perth, Midland, gosnells, wanneroo, Northam, toodyay. Its boring as hell.
Hey bro, I have story’s back in my day,1979,81. That blog when you’re in Thailand when you go to cross the road and you just go for it,yeah well that’s what kc was like in that respect 👍🏼. And alllll❤the rest of the story’s we had. It really was a great place to spend the weekend as a young bloke back in our day. Thanks for sharing brother
Always puts a Smile on my face.! Thanks Spanian!😊
$14 for steak mash and veggies is unreal
You going into Froth puts eyes on it. Which is great for them with your fan base.
What bruh
Love your videos Bro👍🏼 always keeping it real
Excellent content, love going for a stroll with Spanyos around ol Sydney town. Very entertaining. Used to frequent Club Blink in the X in thr early 00s. That world is gone now.
I was in Sydney for a couple nights a few weeks ago, a lot more night life than I expected. great fun with plenty of backpackers to keep me entertained
Late 90’s and early 2000’s this joint was littered with characters. I used to bounce in Wollongong and my mates and I would often spend our Sunday nights up here, as it was our night off. Many funny times back then!! 🤣
Yeah i was in the x all the time early 2000's hecktic days. 👊
So much good memories even if it had bad experiences thrown in. Met all walks and nothing was ever out of reach literally, just trying to train it home back out west and wake up miles from where i needed to be after a night up the Cross , 84 85 created some of the best times , what an experience we had aye Kurt Rest Easy🙏🏽
These videos are brilliant, real life experiences from a local. The price at that place is unheard of these days especially in Sydney.
Always stay humble. You the man of the people now.
It was the Death of Thomas Kelly some guy who was drunk or high off drugs sucker punched him in kings cross ever since then Sydney nightlife has never been the same
That was Mike Baird's excuse for funnelling everyone into the casino .
Man this bought back memories, junkies shooting up every morning out side the hostel window on my mates car, and he actually worked in the herb cafe, the laneway out back of the hostel had more baggies and uncapped used fits than I've ever seen under St Kilda pier, one corner you walked past was where we stopped a couple of skater kids getting rolled, and the pool and gym I used to get chased off for skating out front.... Was only there for a bit over 2 months, and that's just a few of the things that happened... crazy days in 2002 bro 🖖🤘
The Cross easily had the biggest reputation in Aus In the early 90s when I was there and the mid 90s when again as well. It had an edge to it like no other place During the day even you had to be on your guard. It was full on. Saw Craig Johnston the Liverpool striker there one night and his crew were in a running brawl and I grabbed him running past and I was like a fan boy. I said,”Hey Craig great to meet you kinda stuff and he said to me. They started it man they started 😅
People getting dropped left right and center,heavy hands Anyway, I don’t know what it was like from 2000 on cause I moved overseas but it was fuking wild place
Couldn’t believe your video bro. What a change!!!
Cross had more of a reputation in the 70s 80 s even earlier Vietnam war R&R Americans Aussies miliary would come here king Cross was were most of the Heroin was sold and many criminals were here also massive sex industry inside and out. people from al over the world came here.
The bourbon next to the cops shop, end of an era
Lots of respect how you Beat Addiction Spanios, and How strong your will power is!! God bless brother 💪
Hahaha brah " Bum fights - individual parties " that's the crack head video you were talking about clicked to me right away soon as u mentioned it 😂 keep up the good work boss 💪
Happy new year mint vids respect due!
The cafe was the Piccolo bar...great Thai Buddha sticks wrapped in string and
ocasional red and gold cellophane wrapped hash back in the day.
I’m a local, what I am hearing is that the cost of living in Sydney is so high that most cannot afford to have a night out in the Cross. It’s so much cheaper to just drink at home etc. Suburbs change, and I highly doubt Kings Cross will ever return to “the 80’s” Kings Cross. Newtown has a great vibe at night on a Friday or Saturday.
Massive fan I like when you travel around the world in the hoods. Keep the vlogs going your channel is good man
Love your work !
Thank you for taking us with you ❤ Stay blessed and keep up the good work 😊👍🏼
Myself and 2 mates went to sus out this KINGS CROSS , and after seeing the GOLDING MILE we were excited to see what its like. We were let down man.
Great episode Spainian. Love watching the vids. Need to catch you Melbourne next time your down.
You're probably 25 years too late brother
@oldmate99 yeh true man...but I can say I've been there and see that
happy new years eve brother luv you spanian i can relate to you so much.
"Roger Ramjet, he's our man, Hero of our nation. For his adventures, just be sure To stay tuned to this station."
Great video showing the world the truth about Kings Cross today. Far from what it used to be. Would definitely surprise a lot of people planning a visit.
Love the videos!! You should do a walk on a friday/Saturday night down George St in the city, King St to Enmore Rd (Newtown/Enmore), Oxford St and Darling Harbour to Barangaroo! Sydney had to fracture when lockouts came. It'll take sometime to get it back to what it was and I am too old to have a say tbh
I worked in kings x nearly 20 years ago.. in the peak time on Saturday night the footpath and street were packed to the point where you couldn't move.. i was told by club owners that the lockout was really designed to drive the clubs out and change them to cafes or apartments..
Thank you so much for your video I'm from New Zealand I've heard heaps of stories about kings cross
Steak, mash & veg for $14…that’s incredible!!! How do they even profit from that? Mega value for money!
How would they not bargain from being not greedy? It would work in their favour.
You couldn't m ake it for less, how are they making money?
@@Conssumed I run a restaurant so I know they would be making very little profit, would have to be pulling in some big numbers to make it worth while.
Pokies
Thanks for showing us around always wanted to go there I am from England, St Helens Merseyside love watching you
Kings cross in OZ was the asshole of the universe. You didnt miss much.
@@JohnSmith-pn1vv wats the best place in oz to visit for a holiday
@@user-ro3qv6mk8w Sydney is a nice city great beaches. In far north QLD there is the Daintree Rainforest, I stayed in a remote little town called Cape Tribulation where the rainforest meets the sea. Awesome part of Australia. You can see wild crocodiles and the Cassowary, then take a boat out to snorkel/scuba the Great Barrier Reef!
@@user-ro3qv6mk8w Cape Tribulation, far north Queensland. Daintree rainforest meets the beach. Wild crocs, cassowarys and a short boat ride to scuba/snorkel the great barrier reef!
That was nice of you to be in the uber drivers live feed 😊 helped him out when he was so nervous he kept flipping the camera haha
Just started watching bro from Perth. You are so funny bro with your sense of humour I love it😂. it's good that you're Off the drugs loving life 👍
I remember walking out of lido suites in the morning straight to Froth Cafe for a feed after a huge night. Always hit the spot. They even tucked us up the back of the Cafe out of the way of the normal folk knowing we were all still buckled usually.
Wow, so different from the early 80's! Lived in Syd a few years and being from country FNQ would go to the x most Fri nights just to watch the action. Was full on packed and crazy back then.
Im glad they got to film two hands with heath ledger while the cross was still pumping
Fcken oath
What a spin out I know that EXACT video clip Span is talking about. Bun Fights Crew, where oldmatey is talking about the “Joint of England” more individual parties, no fighting no clowning around - just more enjoyment 😂😂