MEMBERS of York's thriving gay community say they have nowhere to go after the demise of their favourite haunt.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are looking for a fresh venue to call their own after the city's most popular gay night time destination was remodelled into a rock bar.

New owners at The Bay Horse, in Gillygate, previously known by many as the "Pink Pony", have transformed it into a hard rock bar for punks, goths and bikers, named Certificate 18. Gay drinkers have now collected a petition of more than 200 names which seeks to highlight the lack of social facilities for those trying to spend the pink pound.

Jane Fitzpatrick, 30, a former Bay Horse bar manager who now works at Walkers Bar, Micklegate, said organisers hoped to present the petition to City of York Council.

But she admitted that there was little the public authority could do and that it would probably be down to a private business to spot the gap in the market.

She said: "The Bay Horse was a bit of an escape for people who may have had to pretend at work and at home. Now we need someone to put money up and back a new business bid."

Rob Wannerton, of York Mesmac, a community support service for gay and bisexual men, said the loss of The Bay Horse had left a vacuum in the alternative York night scene.

He said many people wanted a destination that was exclusively gay, rather than a pub or club which just catered for the occasional gay night.

"They want somewhere that's friendly, comfortable. Somewhere people do not feel they are being taken for a ride and can walk home safely afterwards," he said.

Certificate 18 licensee Trevor Garner, a lifelong rock music fan, said few gays drank at the refurbished pub now as "there is nothing here for them any more".

He said: "It would not have mattered who was here before. I'm catering for myself and other like-minded people."

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "We've been working with Yorkshire Mesmac and they have been taking part in our Without Walls community planning partnership.

"One of our visions for York is to create a diverse and vibrant culture and we're committed to providing equality."

Updated: 10:37 Tuesday, September 30, 2003