london nightclubs 1990s london nightclubs 1990s

It was one of the premiere south London nightspots of the time, with Glenn Miller, Audrey Hepburn and Charlie Chaplin among the top names to grace its stage. In 1987, Rachel Macmillan, granddaughter of the Conservative prime minister Howard Macmillan, died aged 31 after a night at the Limelight. A string of London's best-loved night clubs have closed since 2000. The West End night spot was based in a former chapel on Shaftsbury Avenue until its popularity declined and sadly, it was sold on and converted into a bar. I wouldnt even know where to go nowadays for a night out. In its 80s heyday, Limelight was one of London's top nightclubs and a hangout for the decade's biggest celebrities. 10. The club on the corner of Mount Pleasant and Brownlow Hill was one of the city's most famous venues in the 90s. circa 1990. Killjoy councils, student debt and stolen phones: the slow death of British clubs, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Many thanks Big small club! The club was renamed Canvas in 2003, when Billy Reilly took over the club, also opening the Key and the Cross next door, creating a golden triangle of clubbing in N1. When Limelight fell out of favour as a celebrated nightspot it was sold and in 2003 became a Walkabout bar. This made me rather emotional. With alternate Saturdays at Happiness Stan's/Fourplay at Smith's and the Jazz Bistro in Farringdon. Ill email you! Even Prince Charles has been to the Limelight club - he was snapped getting out of the royal car as he arrived to attend a reception for the Prince's Trust at the venue in December 1997. 5. Much better than the cross! I worked at AKA for many years. (1989) " London Nights " is British Europop duo London Boys ' biggest hit single, released in 1989 from their debut album, The Twelve Commandments of Dance. We also ran revesceen magazeen We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The spot is now a lap dancing club called The Red Rooms. Great article, and Ill second and third and fourth what has been said here. The cinema was never built; now locals have a block of fancy flats to enjoy instead. It was where world-famous artists like Adele and The XX cut their teeth, and was a gem of the North London nightlife scene. All the London clubs now are appearing and disappearing like mushrooms. One for you beer and one for the otherThat place was magic. Ah. This week, Boris Johnson has been considering a decision that will affect the future of Londons most famous nightclub. Find out what is now open where you live by putting your postcode into our handy widget below. Turning around and seeing floor fountains and Mail on Sunday readers sipping lattes and eating Danish pastries made my heart sink. Great article Tom. Dirty, worn, in your face, street cred with banging, hard but funky beats. I will never forget it. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Stars from the world of the music who were regulars at the nightclub included Boy George, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Steve Strange. All rights reserved. Weve picked our Top 5 such venues, all of which were in stumble-home-from distance for Kentishtowners (thats why theres no Club UK for example, if youre wondering). Pre-club beers in the Backpacker, I was never really that keen on Turmills as I felt the space was a little awkward. The site on Curtain Road is now the uber-cheesy Sunset cocktail bar and offers VIP Packages underneath a branch of the burger chain Hache. Before the Millenium Dome became the O2 Arena we know today it was home to a couple of nightclub's. If you were staggering down the Clerkenwell Road on a Sunday afternoon at around 4pm in the early 90s then you can consider yourself a true nightclub pioneer. Something went wrong, please try again later. musical boundaries being broken, relationships being formed, inspiration etc, is then taken and truned into something else. Something went wrong, please try again later. But in London most places turf revellers out well before 4am and there's a severe lack of "after hour" options. I stood at one and there was one in between us, unmanned. 9. Located in the west lodge outside Euston Station, it ran from 1995 to 2008. Throughout the 90s and 00s the venue attracted party-lovers from far and wide and also played host to a number of big-name acts. These exclusive extracts and photos tell the story of. Or did that go the way of the marbles?! I think great venues have heritage. A most excellent post Tom.. Kids going out today wont realise its a tragedy, but it is. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The councils motives were questioned soon after, however, when it was revealed the club had already been ringfenced for demolition and development over the next few years by the owners. The West End establishment started out as a burlesque club but later became a staple for Central London's "fringe-culture" community. Back then, the huge 2,000 capacity venue was a Saturday night lockout and one . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Mass and Babalou, Brixton1996-2012Bearing in mind this pair of venues were hosted within Brixtons St Matthews Church, which leased the space to them, it was always pretty cheeky for Mass to host Torture Garden events in the crypt. The Norman-style Welsh Chapel was built in 1888 by James Cubitt for inner London's Welsh community and was empty for 15 years before it found new life as nightclub Limelight. Anyone have a time machine so I can attend the all night Cox party or a Laurent Garnier night. These days? Great article. It closed after an issue with underage drinking was reported in 2009, before re-opening as Electric Brixton. Lots of good memories but it was living on borrowed time even back then in the early 00s. Great memories for me toobut pickling clubs in aspic is a sign of ld age, new generations inven their own vibes in new venues.Some of those big clubs that are eulogised here were seen at the time by older clubbersd as too corporate and bland. Between 1987 and 1990, when police pressure forced its closure, Shoom was where the London dance club as we know it today was born. Gaz ran a weekly night there from. If you were staggering down the Clerkenwell Road on a Sunday afternoon at around 4pm in the early '90s then you can consider yourself a true nightclub pioneer. Happy days. Good to see http://givingupdrugsforlent.tumblr.com/ in full swing again this year. People queuing to get into The Cross mid 1990s, Madame Jojo's in London's Soho closed after losing its licence in 2014, The O2 Arena was once a massive nightclub, The Good Ship supported emerging artists and comedians and was a gem of the London gig scene. 10. He was a sound guy actually. But if you were part of that tiny privileged crowd then you would have been drinking, dancing and pestering David Bailey to take your portrait in Scotch of St. James. In one fell swoop, however, the Cross, Canvas and the Key were culled in favour of the regeneration of Kings Cross. When it opened, the Fridge was the club of the New Romantics - Boy George was a regular - before becoming famous for its nights hosted by Soul II Soul. I completely agree would be a fitting tribute to see them all immortalised appropriately in some way. The first Limelight club opened in Hallendale, Florida in the 1970s and after a devastating fire later that decade, Gatien opened his next Limelight venue in Atlanta. Sad to see the blandification of London continues. The Blow Up Metro Club, Soho2001-2009Crossrail dealt the West End club scene another blow, taking the scalp of the Metro with the same swoop of the sword that ended the Astoria. Top 5 Lost London Nightclubs of the 90s - The pace of progress eh? The basement of 69 Dean Street, Soho, housed Gossips (formerly Billy's) nightclub, which hosted various one-nighters, the best known being Gaz's Rockin' Blues. The arcade room downstairs Sadly, the chances of mere mortals gaining access to the club today are about as likely as Keith Moon making an appearance and he died in 1978. I walked into the toilet and my brother was stood at the urinal. Memories from each venue for sure. The massive warehouse club in King's Cross was a close as you could get to a legal rave. 2021-2023 - Luxury London. So many wonderful memories, so many great pills. These might have often been dank, crumbling, smelly old places, but they are where countless people enjoyed some of the most intense and vital moments of their lives. thanks for the article, spent many crazy nights/days in all of these places, Velvet Underground aside. The End on a Friday and Turnmill on a Saturday were more my thing. Don't skip a beat and sign up to The 12 newsletter here. It was around the corner from Angel station. (1989) "Megamix". In 2010 a group which was known for squatting in large homes and embassies moved into the the building. Those that were there will never forget and those that werent would wish they were if they knew. Having recently celebrated its 50th birthday, Tramp has changed remarkably little in the half century since the small door on Jermyn Street in Mayfair opened its doors. But at least theres still Visions Video Bar. Thanks Liam. Nice article Tom, brought back some memories. 9/10 you lose 1 point for making me feel old! Will come back around and write more. Bring your dancing shoes and prepare for a night packed with tunes from the likes of Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Beyonce and Jay-Z as we introduce the best R&B events . Clip ref DW0126681990s Ministry of Soun. Plus I think Friction was there for a bit to. It set the tone for mixed gay clubbing and for techno music especially to become more mainstream. When I was at DJ Magazine, Paul Oakenfold once said to me that important former nightclubs should, at very least, have a blue plaque on the wall. But Crossrail was the final nail in the coffin for the much-loved Soho venue. But we've been getting all nostalgic and wishing we could have a final drink at Limelight. lol, The tranny on stilts Every club claims that its all about the music but in Plastic Peoples case, the ideology really did manifest. In the 90s, it was all about wild weekly. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section. 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. I was just chatting away, when I heard this rhythmic, squeaking sound, along with heavy, thundering footsteps. However, I do hold dear the fact I took advantage of the last ever NYE at The End..needless to say Laurent Garnier did not disappoint:). So sad to see it all boarded up. When the lease ran out, Turnmills left amicably, leaving the buildings owners to develop the site into an office block. Worse than that, advanced ticketing is now the only option promoters are now willing to risk, destroying that brilliant spontaneous thing of being in the pub and deciding who you wanted to see and where (knowing you had a good choice of reliable venues that you knew inside out.) Sign up to our weekly email. But the magic was gone weve since seen the end for the Den, too. I used to be the membership girl at Freedom. For me it was just a little bit over a year that I lived in London. I will be following developments closely. The works. Last modified on Tue 2 Jun 2020 05.49BST, Photograph: Ray Stevenson/REX/Shutterstock, Photograph: Dick Barnatt/Redferns & Paul Talling, Photograph: Paul Talling & Ilpo Musto/REX/Shutterstock, Photograph: Ray Stevenson/REX/Shutterstock & Paul Talling, Photograph: REX/Shutterstock & Paul Talling, Photograph: Paul Talling & Marc Sharrat/REX Shutterstock, Composite: David Corio/Redferns & Paul Talling, Photograph: Paul Talling & David Corio/Redferns, Photograph: Brendan Beirne/Rex Shutterstock & Paul Talling, Photograph: Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock, Photograph: Paul Talling & Ray Stevenson/REX/Shutterstock, Photograph: Suzie Gibbons/Redferns & Paul Talling, Photograph: Ray Stevenson/REX/Shutterstock & Paul Talling, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every We put a swimming pool onthe terrace one night, fairground rides another. Bagleys moody security also trying to half in your gak. The brand name is constantly evolving and the club continues to survive despite numerous threats of closure. SeOne, London Bridge2002-2010It was billed as Londons biggest nightclub, a 3,000-capacity venue set in a vast set of arches beneath London Bridge station, known for big-name Saturday nighters as well as regular Moondance raves. Trying to find your mates Thats brought back some memories. Acts to have played The Scala include Foo Fighters, The Killers and Coldplay. Ok, its technically a pub and Im not sure if we were going there in 90s. The Whirlitzer seating in The Cross Garden The Soul City nights in Covent Garden were also really good. I Did the lighting and laser systems at turnmills for many different promoters. The likes of Oasis and Nirvana played there and it hosted regular LGBT club nights. A great club pre-2001. Mike Nolan from Bucks Fizz appeared at the club in 1997, and boy band D.V.S and singing star Caprice also made memorable appearances. At the fulcrum of the acid house scene, it became absurdly popular, partly thanks to its strawberry scented smoke machines and strobe lights. House night Freedom ran at the club for years and Philip Sallons Mud Club also took place there, as well as the Pussy Posse Party, which included mud-wrestling. Best London Club and Rave Venues that are now closed This week, Boris Johnson has been considering a decision that will affect the future of London's most famous nightclub. For drum and bass legend Fabio, who hosted Swerve, the clubs midweek blowout, every Wednesday, it was one of the first clubs in London built by DJs for DJs. Its also a shame to lose 93 Feet East recently too. . Jon Cook. It was around 2000 and I remember those times as probably the best of my life. The importance of the issue has been recognised in the Mayor of London's decision to appoint a Night Tsar with responsibility for the night-time economy and the debate surrounding the 2016 closure, and subsequent reopening, of Fabric one of London's most famous clubs. Ironically, the development never happened and the club was eventually reopened as the Den and Centro. Excellent piece Tom. The demise of so many iconic spaces, proper clubs, remains a tragedy for a city that still considers itself a capital of European partying. RIP Turnmills, Im glad I was there to experience it. However, a thumping set and fab laser show by the master PVD at the re-invented Fridge aka Electric Brixton a while ago demonstrated, with the right amount of desire, opportunity and application it can still be done. London nightclubs facing 'perfect storm' of threats . 15. Pretty sure the very last ones got dished out at the end of that rather special final bash, Xmas 07. Stir some memories with these photographs from the '90s Birmingham club and rave scene. No 6 - Bagleys - London Bagleys was one of London's largest venues throughout the Nineties. Regulars over the years have included Michael Caine, Keith Moon and Jack Nicholson. The clubs licence was suddenly revoked after a serious incident of disorder outside the venue, in which, according to the police report, bouncers used baseball bats to fight off a customer who had been throwing bottles at them. I took a diversion myself up York Way a while back and took similar snaps of Bagleys and The Cross. Its sad though, as these were truly iconic clubs I am not from UK, but had a chance to party in Turnmills and The Fridge at their best times I felt everyone is equal kind of things there. It is quite sad seeing a place that holds so many memories for whatever reasons e.g. Ive had experiences at all of these nightclub venues and brought back many memories reading your article. Taking Ecstasy for the first time and experiencing the euphoria of the blissed out Balearic beats at Space nightclub, Oakenfold and his wife Jenni came home and tried to re-create it in a 300 capacity basement gym on Southwark Street. It drew in big name DJs and its club night FWD>> was a rite of passage for many Londoners going out in the early 2000s. The reality of the Swinging Sixties was that about 45 people were having an incredible time around Carnaby Street while the rest of the country continued drinking stout in working mens clubs and listening to Val Doonican. RM 2HTCTTN - Ace Cinema, Alexandra Avenue, Rayners Lane, Harrow, London, 1983. Renowned for their sexy vibes, pumping playlists and heaving dancefloors, we've been out to track down the very best places for music in London. I was a fresh of the boat straight laced Kiwi lad who was let loose in London in the mid nineties , I was lucky to become a promoter of Fevah and Fahrenhite ,I was blessed with bring able to run events in most of the iconic venues , experience the glamour and the seedy side of all , to me the cream was either the sound shaft or the London Astoria , but have so many sensational memories and adventures from most . Do you want to stay up to date with the latest news, views, features and opinion from across the city? I had some of the best days of my life there! Great article. Remaining stock was given away free at the apocalyptically hedonistic farewell party so they do crop up online occasionally. It didnt last long though. how about PLEASED on a wednesday at the Velvet underground !!! Madonna, Bjork and Kate Moss all turned up over the years and versions of Trade popped up in Ibiza, New York and LA. 3. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. And since the turn of the Millennium some of our city's best party establishments have had to close. Its flagship night was Trade the original afterparty. A dominant hair design was de rigueur. The venue reopened as Electric Brixton the following year, but as owner Andrew Czezowski told the South London Press when it was put up for sale: Whoever buys it, if they buy it, they are only getting bricks and mortar., Cable, London Bridge2009-2013This cavernous 1,300-capacity club, located beneath the railway arches of London Bridge station, was as renowned among clubbers for its airport-style security as for its bass-heavy parties and rapid rise as a significant dance music brand. The club was also hugely important for the capitals LGBT scene, hosting sellout weekly bonanza G-A-Y, known for getting stars as bright as Kylie and Britney on stage, as well as for dropping balloons on everyone at regular intervals. By the 1990s gay venues across the country started to transform. 8. 3. next. Whats in the new July issue of Kentishtowner? Seems quite a few people would like to get their hands on The Cross book dont suppose youve got a lockup full of a last, forgotten batch? Surely he must be out by now. The End just had to be #1 I will never stop thinking it was incredible. No sensible drinking cautions, no smoking bans, and generally less moderation of everything. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Breaks my heart to see whats happened. The demise of seminal clubs like Shelleys In Stoke, Quadrant Park in Liverpool and Coventrys Eclipse should also be documented. After all, it did have a capacity pushing 4,000 people and a 24-hour drinking licence. Was often at Bagley's but it was never my first choice. I (just about) have wonderful memories of all 5 of those venues. Wow. The five-storey building is rather wonderfully detailed inside and out. Pete.. Great article. I think the last great night I had in a bigger club was Shelter at Egg in 2005. Even if we cant and possibly shouldnt prevent their almost inevitably fleeting existence. Would have kept going there for anniversary, shame its closed but glad weve done it all at the best times, Im an Aussie that worked the doors at imperial garden, car wash gigs, sunny side up, cafe de Paris (wanky but fun). We then went our seperate ways. Real friendships were made, some that lasted a few hours and some, decades. Andy Warhol, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Grace Jones, Debbie Harry, Village People's Randy Jones and Tom Cruise were all names seen at the Atlanta club, which closed in 1985. Want the best food, film, music, arts and culture news in London sent straight to your inbox? 12. Lead singer of the pop group Visage Steve Strange (left) pictured with Boy George at London's Limelight. The place has many special memories for many people. It was like a small amphitheatre with the DJ the absolute centre of attraction, he says. 1. From the weekly FWD>> nights, where the UK bass scene emerged, to the broken beat nights Co-op, this was a club that managed to evolve and change while somehow remaining the same for over 20 years, a run that ended only when long-standing manager Charlotte Kepel felt the time was right to pull the plug in 2015. Arts charity Stone Nest began to restore and redevelop the former chapel into flexible performance space for theatre, dance, music, video and performance art in 2012. And good to see you the other night (I was in the ridiculous blue jacket). Astoria in Charing Cross Road was London's largest live music club for years. And there are also some intriguing facts about the nightclub's sister venues across the pond. With a capacity of barely 200, the vibe, somehow, always kept its intimate, non-exclusive air. Heads of whistling into the sunset. Bagleys/Canvas, Kings Cross1991-2007Like a legal rave, Bagleys was a huge multi-room warehouse club that held some of Londons biggest Saturday night parties. A former Goth club with 2/3 rooms over 2 floors. People from across the capital will flock to Herbal, an exposed brick warehouse which regularly hosted big name DJs. Hailed as Kilburn's "last late night venue", The Good Ship announced its closure to the dismay of comedy and live music lovers across London in September 2017. Herbal, Shoreditch2000-2009It was small (and sweaty) but Herbal consistently pounded out some of the best drum and bass in the capital, filling out every Sunday for Grooveriders seminal night, Grace, as well as regularly hosting the likes of Goldie and the Metalheadz crew. You'll get 12 stories straight to your inbox at around 12pm. I played at the cross several times .. 4 me one of best uk clubs where i played great memories , I have the Cross book. In the 1980s some clubs opened up in Earls Court, where the rent was cheaper. In the past 15 years, some of best-loved venues of the London club scene have shut their doors, for reasons ranging from crime to gentrification and Crossrail. However, its worth taking a moment to remember that nightclubs, by their very essence, shouldnt outstay their welcome. The Moonstone, St John's Precinct, 1974, from The Lost Pubs and Clubs of Liverpool City Centre DVD by John Harrison Barry Fairfield said: "Great memories, my favourite club was The Beachcomber." 53. Velvet Rooms on Mondays was one of the only places to continue getting even more spangled Wicked. I was there solidly for several years and partook in all you have mentioned above (and more). 11. It always felt like it was on borrowed time after that. This labryinth of a club was under the arches of London Bridge station and got packed out with sweaty 20-somethings without fail every weekend. In Berlin you can rave for days at the Berghain without ever having to leave and in Madrid no one hits the "discoteca" before 4am. Constant disagreements on how to regenerate the land behind Kings Cross Station went on for years. Its really not surprising nobody has any sense of ownership or love for these places, because both promoters and punters are using them on such an ad hoc basis. Never crossed my mind that even the buildings would be gone. Fictional clubs. The place declined to the point that, by the 1980s, it was a strip club but was bought out and re-styled as a members only A-list speakeasy in 2012, now attracting Noel Gallagher, Mark Ronson, Harry Styles et al.