The brand name is constantly evolving and the club continues to survive despite numerous threats of closure. Clubbing and raving back in the day | The Voice Online Former DJ Magazine Deputy Editor Tom Kihl investigates what happened to the clubs that once dominated London's nightlife. 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. Ive loved reading ur write up about the old clubs and the memories came flooding back with the pics!! Sign up to our weekly email. Memories of its glamorous showbiz past as one of the places to be seen in London in the 1980s echo around through the wall of this beautiful piece of architecture. After searching for ages Ive just stumbled across an archaic website that still has photos and even videos of all three Kings Cross clubs Canvas, The Cross and The Key. Its a shame that the ones boarded up or abandoned arent brought back to life. Its also a shame to lose 93 Feet East recently too. Heaven (nightclub) - Wikipedia 16. The Soul City nights in Covent Garden were also really good. Same here. I was just chatting away, when I heard this rhythmic, squeaking sound, along with heavy, thundering footsteps. 59 old bars and nightclubs we wish we could bring back for one last So while we salute the nightspots that have weathered the Covid storm, lets now recall the clubs that have fallen, not just during the pandemic but way, way before that, all of whom, in their day, contributed to the aching limbs, sore feet and empty wallets of hedonistic Londoners of yore. The likes of Oasis and Nirvana played there and it hosted regular LGBT club nights. Wednesday 10 June 2015. In 2010 a group which was known for squatting in large homes and embassies moved into the the building. Anyone who is anyone has DJd there over the years (as the endless MoS series of album releases testifies), including Paul Oakenfold, Pete Tong and Armand Van Helden. First there was Matter and then there was Proud2. Despite quality residencies from the likes of Hospitality and a body kinetic dance floor, the club eventually closed due to financial difficulties, blamed on delays with the upgrade to the Jubilee line. Peter Gatien is mentioned in the lyrics of three songs: 17. Ultimate . The End & AKA were a true second home. Bagleys started to go downhill for me after the drugs raid. migrated from the Milk Bar around the corner, Danny Rampling ruled wednesday night, and Jon Pleased took over the tradition.Shoom, Pure, Glam, Pleased the weekends fun used to begin on a wednesday,,,,OMG !! It was 2 for a beer which was great value at the time. But in London most places turf revellers out well before 4am and there's a severe lack of "after hour" options. Great article Tom. 11 legendary London nightclubs that closed in the 2000s which are badly But Crossrail was the final nail in the coffin for the much-loved Soho venue. Hearing those tunes led to me pestering the record shops for a record I didn;t kow the name of, who it was by but it went something like this Mmmm, mmm,mm uh-uh dah-dah! how about PLEASED on a wednesday at the Velvet underground !!! I completely agree would be a fitting tribute to see them all immortalised appropriately in some way. And good to see you the other night (I was in the ridiculous blue jacket). London nightclubs facing 'perfect storm' of threats . He looked down at me, then to my brother, we both leant forward in unison, looked at each other, as if to say Have you seen this, dude? and then back up at him. When record producer and DJ Paul Oakenfold went to Ibiza in 1985 to celebrate his birthday, he hired a villa and invited then-unknown DJs Nicky Holloway, Pete Tong and Danny Rampling. Never crossed my mind that even the buildings would be gone. A great article , and so sad that many of these truly iconic places may be but a memory in the minds of millions . best dominic madden, Sundays @ The End with The A corner crew slapping the walls to Malcom Duffy. 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. Before and during the Second World War, most lesbian bars and clubs were found in central London. It later became the Cat's Whiskers club, the Ritzy then Caesars Nightclub. The exterior of Hammersmith Palais nightclub in 1968 when it was still known as Hammersmith Palais de Danse . Where to find the February issue of Kentishtowner, Where to find the January 2019 issue of Kentishtowner, Where to find the December issue of Kentishtowner, http://www.amazon.co.uk/CROSS-1993-2003-Jonathan-CUTTING/dp/B0010786KI, http://wharferj.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/stealth-the-blue-note/. Councils across London are cracking down on late night licences. Fictional clubs. Had some amazing times in those clubs, never to repeated in TBA East London warehouses. Nowadays the capital's former red light district is swanky. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Lots of good memories but it was living on borrowed time even back then in the early 00s. 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. A History Of Soho's LGBTQ+ Bars | Londonist Here are some of the South London clubs and bars that are sadly no more. Magic was created on those dancefloors and longstanding relationships and friends. Madonna, Bjork and Kate Moss all turned up over the years and versions of Trade popped up in Ibiza, New York and LA. club uk was awesome, so was the complex, leisure lounge, the cross, turnmills, home in leciester square, camden palace, ku club in leicester square.. All gone I was there though so the memories stay ! Hope youre healthy and happy Perhaps its biggest night was FWD>>, which moved there after Velvet Rooms closed, and the club played a significant role for the the whole dubstep scene. The clubbing map: What has happened to London nightlife? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. I walked into the toilet and my brother was stood at the urinal. He was a sound guy actually. #5 Where could you find warehouse raving complete with funfair rides right in the heart of the capital? Every club claims that its all about the music but in Plastic Peoples case, the ideology really did manifest. The Astor Club was a nightclub which operated in Mayfair, London from the 1930s to the late 1970s. Sat 30 May 2020 17.00BST RM 2HTCTTN - Ace Cinema, Alexandra Avenue, Rayners Lane, Harrow, London, 1983. Fantastic to look through it every so often and remember what wasa very much loved and much missed club . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I dont think so. All rights reserved. We had amazing nights, including joint parties with labrynth and raindance. Vauxhall became the locus of gay clubs from 2000. It was made for DJs by DJs and those who fumbled fumbled spinning the decks were quickly called out by the crowd. When Limelight fell out of favour as a celebrated nightspot it was sold and in 2003 became a Walkabout bar. 7. Zen's Dartford First Flicks in the 1980s and later Zen's, the nightclub on Essex Road was more recently known as Air & Breathe. Pretty sure the very last ones got dished out at the end of that rather special final bash, Xmas 07. -d(-L-)b-. The works. The Top 10 Rave venues of the Nineties | Junglist Network It was like a small amphitheatre with the DJ the absolute centre of attraction, he says. Mass was a particularly important south London club, notably as the home of DMZ, which turned the venue into a pilgrimage spot for dubstep fans from way beyond the capital. For more news and featuresabout London directly to your inbox sign up to our newsletter here. Wonderful write up of some of the clubs that paved the way for the scene today. Surely he must be out by now. Now the industrial area, which was once a high-density party hotspot, is the site of one of the capitals biggest modern developments. 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. so much fun should be illegal. The sad fact of the matter is that there aren't the same options there used to be. Glad you like it Phil. (1989) " London Nights ". 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. So many wonderful memories, so many great pills. A string of London's best-loved night clubs have closed since 2000. 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. 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? We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Memorable days and nights. Limelight in New York, which closed in 2001, was in the media in 1996 when Michael Alig was arrested and later convicted for the killing and dismemberment of Angel Melendez, who frequented the New York Limelight - the 2003 biopic Party Monster, starring Macaulay Culkin and Seth Green, was based on this event. 051. The demise of so many iconic spaces, proper clubs, remains a tragedy for a city that still considers itself a capital of European partying. I think great venues have heritage. London's lost venues - in pictures | Music | The Guardian Top 5 Lost London Nightclubs of the 90s - 88to98 Maybe we can campaign to put a blue plaque up on the inevitable bland glass front of its replacement I wonder what on earth it would say?! Memories from each venue for sure. Reliving my 20s again still with a younger GF (cliche alert) and the new wave of EDM. But we've been getting all nostalgic and wishing we could have a final drink at Limelight. I lived in London back in the late 90s early 00s and went to all of these clubs. The End just had to be #1 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. How weve missed it all: the overly zealous bouncers in high vis jackets by the entrance, the larcenously overpriced plastic bottles of water, the sweaty bloke in the gents toilets who rents the watered down cologne and Chupa Chups lollies concession and the DJ whose pretence of being a serious artist is such that he spends his six hour set peering down at his decks in the manner of an A Level geography student cramming for the final exam. Finally closing after 18 years in 2008, Trade never again found a permanent home as Turnmills itself was demolished; the site is now home to the most anonymous possible looking corner office block. Big small club! Read more: Has Covid-19 ended Sohos indie spirit for good? Top 5 London Nightclubs of the 90s - Kentishtowner In 2018 it was bought by chain The Deltic Group and given a. Stealth on a Thursday night, marvellous http://wharferj.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/stealth-the-blue-note/ With the post-lockdown future of so many live music venues in doubt, Paul Tallings new book is a timely reminder of what we have already lost. 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. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section. The clientele these days is more likely to include the sons and daughters of sheiks and potentates quaffing Cristal and dancing to mainstream RnB but the restaurant area (yes, this is one of those kinds of nightclubs) still sees the odd A-lister float by when theyre in town. 2021-2023 - Luxury London. 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. Bob Geldof had his stag do at Limelight before he married Paula Yates, George Michael (pictured here in 1992) was often seen at Limelight with a woman on his arm, Inside the former Welsh chapel which was once home to the Limelight nightclub. I (just about) have wonderful memories of all 5 of those venues. 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. http://www.moviemakersguide.com/data/c/cross0630/cross0630a.htm. Fact is we WERE around when these incredible bastions of modern culture were in their pomp negotiating a route through the tunnel room at Turnmills, walking up that incredibly long slope towards the cab rank at 5am after The Cross and getting hopelessly lost in those pokey rooms at the bottom of Bagleys. The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. Plastic People, Shoreditch2000-2015The new year started with a shock for clubbers, when renowned east London bass-cave Plastic People announced it was closing, pretty much instantly. Boy George worked the cloakrooms, Spandau Ballet played their early gigs here and you simply (for better or worse) would never have heard Ultravox or Visage were it not for the Blitz Club. 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. I used to do the guest list at Freedom! In the middle years of the 60s this was the place to be seen. It is quite sad seeing a place that holds so many memories for whatever reasons e.g. And while theres nothing worse than the club bore going on about how the music and the parties were so much better back in the day, we should give these classic institutions more reverence. The Walkabout bar closed after its parent company went into administration in October 2009. A former Goth club with 2/3 rooms over 2 floors. Its the perfect lunchtime read. Sorry the plaque should be pale blue with a Dove on it. I stood at one and there was one in between us, unmanned. Regulars over the years have included Michael Caine, Keith Moon and Jack Nicholson. By the 90s, everyone from Desmond Dekker to the Prodigy had played there. A great club pre-2001. Don't skip a beat and sign up to The 12 newsletter here. 1. And its not true that they are being lost despite fans interestfans lost interest, or they would all still be milking it! With increasing interest in the 'pink pound', gay pubs and clubs proliferated in London and other cities and towns across the country. Thanks Julian. I used to go to Whoop it Up every Friday during 1998-2002; it was a fantastic place to go. Luxury London is not responsible for the content of external sites. I remember having to take my shoes off for them to be searched. London's lost nightclubs in pictures A new book by DJ and writer Dave Haslam offers a fascinating glimpse into London's clubbing history. It closed in 2010 to make way for housing, flats and a theatre, in a high street regeneration scheme. 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 . It closed after an issue with underage drinking was reported in 2009, before re-opening as Electric Brixton. Something went wrong, please try again later. The smell of leather was unmistakeable! For a year or so, this was an explosion of androgyny, increasingly bizarre and fabulous homemade fashion and lashings of clunky, proto synths. Demonstrators protest against the closure of Madame JoJos, in 2014. mixed the burlesque glamour of Soho with Londons contemporary music scene, Speaking to the Guardian after its closure, Marcus Harris, Hackney council revoked the clubs licence, the capitals biggest modern developments, stand in the way of the Crossrail development, taking the scalp of the Metro with the same swoop of the sword that ended the Astoria. The venue stopped running the events to save its licence, but as a result lost a lot of money through cancelled bookings and by March 2010 was broke. George Michael often arrived at the nightclub accompanied by a woman before he came out as gay. A far cry from the likes of the Nest or Birthdays, the Aces filled an old Victorian theatre on Dalston Lane where it pioneered black music in the UK before becoming a permanent venue for rave promoters Labyrinth in the late 80s. It was in King's Cross's golden triangle of night clubs which all shut down in the face of the area's redevelopment. 11. Because of the sleazy, druggy, mischievous late night vibe (exactly what makes such haunts so exciting), we tend to reduce their cultural significance. Im rambling anyway. Boy George was a regular at this New Romantics haunt which hosted some of the capital's biggest gay nights. Would love to break that story! I was there solidly for several years and partook in all you have mentioned above (and more). Central to the Black jazz scene at the time, and closely linked with African. Great article. The energy and the hedonism of the club gave a new life to the scene and other clubs sprung up trying to emulate Trade, giving more choice to clubbers. A perfect storm of London property economics, redevelopment zones and major transport improvements (rather than any lack of interest from music fans) has seen off an unprecedented number of key venues in the last few years. The best til last- no one did it like The End. The music, the mixing, the vibe. Madame JoJo's closure was a massive blow to Soho 's nightlife scene. Find out what is now open where you live by putting your postcode into our handy widget below. I half remember a night at Bagleys sitting in an ice cream fridge next to the dancefloor. All the London clubs now are appearing and disappearing like mushrooms. Glad to have been part of that London dance scene. I took a diversion myself up York Way a while back and took similar snaps of Bagleys and The Cross. I frequented all of these bar Velvet and had many a great night in all. As you pointed out Fabric is the benchmark for a well organised, respected, profitable club in the modern era but you only have to look at the demise of Pacha to see what a dangerous game financially it is nowadays. 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. Rather than join the party, Hackney council revoked the clubs licence following an undercover operation into drug dealing at the venue. Some of the greatest nights of my life have been at FWD>> at Plastic People.. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Sir Bob Geldof had his stag do at Limelight before he married Paula Yates in 1986. Ask Billy if there are more? Despite a big campaign to save it, the club fell victim to a compulsory purchase order from Hackney council to build a new cinema. The massive venue had a 24 hour drinking licence and a 4,0000 people capacity. Even if we cant and possibly shouldnt prevent their almost inevitably fleeting existence. Remember one night trying to adjust the needles for them not to jump on the vinyls. Stir some memories with these photographs from the '90s Birmingham club and rave scene. Trying to find your mates Best crowd ever! Happy days. Saw Joey Negro play there a few times. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Must be sat looking pretty on a fair few coffee tables to this day, The cross & turnmills, nothing did or has come close. Acts to have played The Scala include Foo Fighters, The Killers and Coldplay. the cross in king cross the best partyever is vertigo italian style, thanks Joel glad you like Electric and the Van Dyk show smashed it. I found some of the pictures a couple of weeks ago including some rather x-rated ones. Great memories though. Believe it or not King's Cross was once the party hub of London. So move I did, all the way from Helsinki. I remember Bagleys that was a long time ago. Turning around and seeing floor fountains and Mail on Sunday readers sipping lattes and eating Danish pastries made my heart sink. 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:). Ministry of Sound. But sadly it never recovered from the initial closure and was put up for sale in 2010. 10. 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. In 1987, Rachel Macmillan, granddaughter of the Conservative prime minister Howard Macmillan, died aged 31 after a night at the Limelight. This former gin distillery was home to one of Londons all time greatest club nights: Trade. Darling, Fantastic article how about expanding the idea to the rest of the country. It didnt last long though. or one of his friends in the first arch of muscle-alley. 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.) In the 1990s, the scene reverted back to Soho, revitalised by new style bars like The Village. The Top 5 Lost London Nightclubs of the 90s : london - reddit This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Eighties London: where to party like it's 1980 | London Evening The MyLondon team tells London stories for Londoners. But the party was brought to an abrupt end after a stabbing there led it to lose its licence and subsequent closure. By the mid-1990s the venue was no longer used as a cinema, instead functioning as a music venue, nightclub and snooker hall. Great article. Will come back around and write more. Do you want to stay up to date with the latest news, views, features and opinion from across the city? Getting lost 15 South London clubs and bars from the 2000s we all really miss I wouldnt even know where to go nowadays for a night out. 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. I used to be the membership girl at Freedom. Ill email you! musical boundaries being broken, relationships being formed, inspiration etc, is then taken and truned into something else. It had to close due to Network Rail redevelopment in 2013. Visibility. The haunt of royals and car dealers, gangsters and landed aristocrats, it was a fixture in London nightlife, with the most famous years of the club being the decades between 1950 and 1970. London's night-time economy is estimated to contribute 17-26.bn in . Velvet Rooms on Mondays was one of the only places to continue getting even more spangled Wicked. 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. London, became a popular lesbian bar at the end of the 1990s. However, its worth taking a moment to remember that nightclubs, by their very essence, shouldnt outstay their welcome. In the 1950s and 1960s, especially with the growing popularity of the Gateways nightclub in Chelsea, . The Whirlitzer seating in The Cross Garden Velvet Rooms, Soho1993-2003Ibiza party man Nicky Holloway kickstarted this central London club originally named Velvet Underground after his previous project, Milk Bar, lost its lease. The End, The Cross, Turnmills and Bagleys were all favourites. Matter, Greenwich2008-2010It was perhaps always a slightly over-optimistic proposition opening a nightclub in Greenwich, let alone one inside the Millennium Dome, but if anyone was going to have a good stab at it, then it would be the pair behind Fabric: Cameron Leslie and Keith Reilly. R&B Clubs And Events In London. I love this article! The End was the brainchild of DJs Mr C and Layo. Many thanks . 18 things that happened at former top West End nightclub - MyLondon 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. From the Kinolibrary archive film collections. The arcade room downstairs As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Fabric is the Only venue to stick to its principles avoiding putting in any old rubbish that draws a crowd. I remember one of their selling points was drinks at pub prices. 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. Historic Brick Lane: Black and white photographs depict the rapid Ive worked in Turnmills from 1996 right to the very last night in 2008. Founded in an old bus garage in 1991, its far from salubrious location deep in pre-gentrification Elephant and Castle gave it genuine edge. Maggie's, 329 Fulham Road, SW10 9QL, maggies-club.com The Jazz Caf 5 Parkway Every Saturday night, the Jazz Caf hosts I Love the 80s v I Love the 90s, a retro night combining all the best bits of. Stars from the world of the music who were regulars at the nightclub included Boy George, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Steve Strange. A linchpin in London's dubstep scene, it was a shock for bass-loving partiers when the Shoreditch venue announced its sudden closure in 2015. Standouts would have to be Logical Progression and Gallery at Turnmills, Buzzin Fly, Ram and Underwater @ The End and Type and the mighty Peace Division @ The Cross happy, happy times. Clip ref DW0126681990s Ministry of Soun. Im surprised The Gardening Club wasnt there. It became louder and louder. Nice article that has brought back some wonderful memories. The End on a Friday and Turnmill on a Saturday were more my thing. Thanks for the article, brought back awesome memories! What happened to the great London nightclubs? - the Guardian 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. Nuff Said. it probably was ha ! Was often at Bagley's but it was never my first choice. Hey Janine, I remember you well! We took a nostalgic look back at some of the capital's notorious nightclubs which have all closed since 2000.