WHEN a popular gay nightclub first opened its doors 17 years ago, customers often found themselves the victims of verbal abuse.

Such incidents are now extremely rare, with bosses of Colors, in Southernhay, Basildon, putting it down to changing attitudes.

When Steve Gage, 55, who also runs the adjoining Beehive pub, moved the nightclub into the town from Romford in 1999, it was the first venue of its kind in south Essex.

"It was quite a new and different thing when we opened Colors in Basildon", he explains.

"Now there are gay club nights in Essex, and of course there are gay nightclubs in London, but I would still say there is nothing really like us."

The businessman, who has been in the nightclub industry for 30 years, believes Colors helped people in Basildon become much more accepting of gay people.

"Things have changed a lot with regards to people's attitudes to gay people. When we first opened it was very hard for gay people to be openly gay, because it was not accepted as being normal", he says.

“It was not easy but as time passed society, community and Basildon did become more liberal and accepting of this and gay people.”

When he first moved to the town, Mr Gage witnesses a lot of hostility towards gay people, and his customers in particular.

He added: “The first few years were very hard for business, but the club has always been busy and popular.

“We had incidents in the past where people would get in the queue for Colors, but would be abusive to other customers. We've also had people walking past the club and being abusive to the doormen.

“A lot of people did not feel comfortable around gay people and some did not like witnessing gay people embracing in public. I think that people were more against two men being together than two women, that just seemed to be the way that it was."

It took more than ten years for him to start noticing the changing attitudes.

"By 2011 I think attitudes and feelings towards gay people really changed a lot in Basildon as it became much more accepted and more of social thing. I think it is and was very refreshing to see", he says.

Today, Colors attracts a mixed crowd.

Mr Gage says 60 per cent of customers are gay, with measures but in place to ensure the nightclub is a safe haven.

He added: “Around two years ago we installed a face recognition system on our front doors, this means that we take a photograph and full details of people who visit the club.

“This system means that if there is trouble we can pass on the details of people involved to the police. The system also means that people who have been before will be recognised on the door and this means that they do not have to bring identification with them such as a passport to enter the club.

“We feel this makes the club a very safe place to visit and it makes people who come to the club feel safe.”

Adam Ludlow, 36, assistant manager, is determined to make the venue better than ever before as it prepares for its official birthday celebrations this Bank Holiday weekens.

“We are bringing in different music rooms for the club", he explains.

"This is something new for Colors but something that other clubs currently have.

“We will have two rooms with alternate music playing in each room. The music will be all different types from chart music, pop to party music and cheesy music.

“The club is something different, there is nothing else like it in Basildon or even the rest of Essex, and I really don’t know why to be honest."

Colors will be celebrating its 17th birthday with two club night celebrations this weekend.

There will be a reunion tonight, where well known DJs who have played and hosted events at the club in the past will return.