“The Culture Has Changed”: Babylon Bar’s Owner Speaks on Venue’s Shock Closure

The owner of Babylon Bar in Johannesburg, Heinz Rynners, has opened up about the closure of the popular long-standing queer venue, and his future plans for the brand.

In a recent Facebook post, the Illovo bar and nightclub, located in the city’s Illovo suburb, announced that it would shut its doors at the end of February. The post offered no explanation for the unexpected decision, fuelling rumours and speculation.

MambaOnline contacted Babylon owner Rynners about the closure, and he confirmed that the venue will permanently close from 1 March 2026.

“I Wanted to End It on a High”

Rynners said there was no dramatic or urgent crisis behind his decision, explaining instead that the time felt right for Babylon Bar to bow out gracefully after 15 years.

“I wanted to end it on a high. We have still been doing well, but the market is thinning out,” he said. “The culture has changed. There seem to be fewer gay people and more fluid people. And people are drinking less, which impacts us.”

He added: “We could have run it for a few more years, but I didn’t want to run it dead — then it wouldn’t end with the memory of all the good times.”

A Personal Decision Beyond Business

Rynners admitted that his decision extended beyond business considerations.

“It was also a massive personal decision — my identity has been linked to the place for so many years. And I wanted to get out of the nightclub life — I call it the vampire life,” he said with a laugh.

Changing Queer Spaces and Community Needs

Commenting on the broader queer club and party scene, Rynners shared a view that some may find somewhat controversial, saying that society has become more inclusive of LGBTQ+ people than in the past.

“There’s more integration of gay and straight. The world is more open [today]. I think there is less need for gay-only spaces. I’m gay myself, but I would never open a gay-only place again.”

Responding to Criticism About Babylon’s Crowd

Rynners also addressed criticism that, in later years, Babylon Bar’s patrons became increasingly heterosexual and cisgender.

“We really tried our best to keep it gay. When people complained it was too straight, we even showed more explicit videos on the screen. But [ultimately] I still had to pay the bills.”

The Babylon Brand Will Live On

For fans of Babylon Bar, it’s not all doom and gloom. Rynners revealed that the brand will live on through occasional, smaller pop-up Babylon tribute events, which he plans to host upstairs at his Pink Mamas restaurant in Dunkeld.

In the meantime, there’s still an opportunity to celebrate the end of an era with the remaining final big party nights at Babylon every Friday and Saturday until the end of February.