But its about the memories though, for me. Its a shame that the ones boarded up or abandoned arent brought back to life. The End was the brainchild of DJs Mr C and Layo. The demise of seminal clubs like Shelleys In Stoke, Quadrant Park in Liverpool and Coventrys Eclipse should also be documented. Today the building is, quite fittingly, home to an arts organisation with new plans afoot to take the arts venue into the future. From the Kinolibrary archive film collections. This article was amended on 11 September 2016. An earlier version said incorrectly that the Turnmills site was developed into flats. LuvDup were djing (one of them fell over on the stage), Princess Julia was stood by the decks dancing. 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. Even more so for you, of course! Redferns/Getty Images . With increasing interest in the 'pink pound', gay pubs and clubs proliferated in London and other cities and towns across the country. At the Astoria I met a bloke who ended up being my significant other for a decade. 18. These days? "Harlem Desire '89". 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. Losing those places feels like losing a family member never to return. At that time the venue was owned by Terry (cant rememember his surname) and hed made his money from jiffy condoms and then for some reason he got involved with starting up bagleys as a 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! Back then, the huge 2,000 capacity venue was a Saturday night lockout and one . All rights reserved. Great article. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Fantastic to look through it every so often and remember what wasa very much loved and much missed club . I walked into the toilet and my brother was stood at the urinal. Its a members only club but the present owners are open to granting membership to those who arent necessarily currently gracing the cover of Hello! Read more: Has Covid-19 ended Sohos indie spirit for good? 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. He then says, whilst his tash does this little dance/shuffle thing, in the deepest booming, bass-like voice Awighht, Lads, you havin yerselves a good night, then? Me and my brother just cracked up. 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. Its loyal following of drum and bass fans would flock there every Wednesday for Swerve, the legendary midweek session. It later became the Cat's Whiskers club, the Ritzy then Caesars Nightclub. 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. 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?! -d(-L-)b-. And since the turn of the Millennium some of our city's best party establishments have had to close. We went to the opening night of Fabric. Nobody came to Plastic People for the glamour or dcor. Wow, it was a long time ago. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Sold out, obviously, although there might be a ticket on the door for 30. how about PLEASED on a wednesday at the Velvet underground !!! 7. I also have a book given out on The Ends 10th birthday which is a coffee table book but still good. 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. Lead singer of the pop group Visage Steve Strange (left) pictured with Boy George at London's Limelight. If the Mayor grants planning permission for a huge development of flats opposite Ministry of Sound, club bosses know their days at the Elephant & Castle bus depot cum internationally renowned temple of DJ culture will be numbered. What I would say is be glad we are the ages we are. Something went wrong, please try again later. RIP Turnmills, Im glad I was there to experience it. But sadly it never recovered from the initial closure and was put up for sale in 2010. The article was well written and for a change the comments are a nice read as well. Hey Janine, I remember you well! 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. Behind the clubs infamous pitch-black curtains, the dance floor was like the vortex that drew you bodily and consciously into a completely free space. 14. Glad to have been part of that London dance scene. Happy days. Great article. Thanks for the article, brought back awesome memories! Sign up to our weekly email. Sad to see the blandification of London continues. ; Beargarden Club - A St James's club in Trollope's Palliser novels; Bellona Club - Lord Peter Wimsey's club and location of a murder in Dorothy L. Sayers novel The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club Billiards Club - Setting for the improbably tall . The place was a really important hub for the fledgling dubstep family, says 6Music DJ Mary Anne Hobbs, who went to FWD>> religiously in the mid-2000s. 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 immovable object of the London clubbing scene. People may rave about London's nightlife, but compared to other big cities, clubs and bars shut early and are expensive. Regulars over the years have included Michael Caine, Keith Moon and Jack Nicholson. The smell of leather was unmistakeable! Simon brought the three nights that were being run at Sublime, Beatfix, Cargo and Voodoo and moved its DJs (including Peewee Ferris, Nik Fish, Craig Obey, Bexta and Kate Monroe) into Home's Friday night. In 1987, Rachel Macmillan, granddaughter of the Conservative prime minister Howard Macmillan, died aged 31 after a night at the Limelight. MoS is an institution, still respected by much of the dance music cognoscenti but derided in many quarters for having long since become the Bluewater of nightclubs; mostly now populated by coach parties from Essex. Founded in an old bus garage in 1991, its far from salubrious location deep in pre-gentrification Elephant and Castle gave it genuine edge. A string of London's best-loved night clubs have closed since 2000. Remember one night trying to adjust the needles for them not to jump on the vinyls. 16. Its the perfect lunchtime read. 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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. The Whirlitzer seating in The Cross Garden 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. I DJed at the Cross 13th birthday and was given a copy of the book on my way out. You can head back to a mate's house and lounge with a cold one until your party mood completely fades, but what if you still have itchy feet and the urge to dance? I remember them all so well!! There are new plans to take the building into the future - but we really miss how it used to be. The arcade room downstairs The best til last- no one did it like The End. Remind trade on sat nite dj smokin joe the paradise at angel station the lazerodrome in peckam carl cox at m.o.sound crazy nite misss you. You'll get 12 stories straight to your inbox at around 12pm. 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. Oh, the most impressive handlebar tash I have ever seen on a Man. We do have to move on though and surely there are opportunities for a new generation of people who want to create new nightclub venues, with fresh ideas. 6. Much better than the cross! Great article Tom. Great article, had some great and messy nights at most of them. Then Dane Bowers went and ruined it all. (Photo by Carl Allen) 7 Sir George Robey/Powerhaus, Seven Sisters Road All the new secret location parties `I work in these days are usually stuck in cold,dirty and faceless arches. Good to see http://givingupdrugsforlent.tumblr.com/ in full swing again this year. 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. But before it was shut down to make way for King's Cross redevelopment, The Cross Club's six arches would fill with partygoers every weekend. Electric Daisy Carnival in Vegas this year was truly magical and a top clubbing moment, but some periods of your life can never truly be repeated. The End and AKA, West End1995-2009A venue that just seemed to stick in the hearts of all who frequented it, the End was an intimate basement club run by Mr C and Layo, tucked just behind High Holborn. 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). Real friendships were made, some that lasted a few hours and some, decades. Ch N. Katz In Brick Lane was a small string and paper bag supplier until the late 1990's. Rising rents forced out the Owner after 57 years. Anyway, as the corridor joined Soundshaft to Heaven (and Heaven being pretty legendry), I decided to go to the loo. OMG London clubbing in the 90s, was there ever a time in history that was better? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Soul City nights in Covent Garden were also really good. It was where world-famous artists like Adele and The XX cut their teeth, and was a gem of the North London nightlife scene. Will come back around and write more. So move I did, all the way from Helsinki. Lots of good memories but it was living on borrowed time even back then in the early 00s. Gilles Petterson on Monday, Kenny Hawkes and Luke Solomon on Wednesday, Bryan Gee on Thursday, Garage City on Saturday. (1989) " London Nights ". Keep us up to date with how your inspiration is getting on. Great article, and Ill second and third and fourth what has been said here. Fantastic and long-needed article, thanks for bringing back the memories. 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. Electrowerkz was the name!!! It set the tone for mixed gay clubbing and for techno music especially to become more mainstream. I used to be the membership girl at Freedom. Don't skip a beat and sign up to The 12 newsletter here. It hosted huge weekend parties that were at hit with House music fans. 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. surprised Heaven isnt in thereas well as SoundshaftGood article though! I would work a ten hour shift at a newspaper then drive to Bagleys to spend 5/6 hours talking to ravers, taking photos of people, checking they werent eating their tongues and giving out free condoms (Durex sponsors had given us hundreds of boxes of the things). A great venue 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. So sad to see it all boarded up. All this created the friendliest and most fun crowd on the clubbing scene. We list 18 things you might not know about the Limelight club, the building it was in and its links to the US. musical boundaries being broken, relationships being formed, inspiration etc, is then taken and truned into something else. Ill email you! For more news and featuresabout London directly to your inbox sign up to our newsletter here. Zen's Dartford First Flicks in the 1980s and later Zen's, the nightclub on Essex Road was more recently known as Air & Breathe. People from across the capital will flock to Herbal, an exposed brick warehouse which regularly hosted big name DJs. It has St Martin's Art College in Granary Square and Thomas Heatherwick's upmarket shopping centre Coal Drops Yard. Thanks to this article I have found a local website for local people. 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 . Enjoyed the trip into nostalgia very much.. Still, this wasnt the reason the venues got turfed; the bailiffs were eventually called in as a result of long overdue rent and bills. The huge venue, which filled six arches, brought a Balearic party vibe to a run-down corner of London, with club nights including Glitterati and Cheeky People. Great article. Keeping mine though , Sounds great, have been looking for a fb page for The Cross but cant find anything at all, would be amazing to see pics over the years, Its a hardback book called the cross 1993-2003 by j. cutting. I will be following developments closely. The End, The Cross, Turnmills and Bagleys were all favourites. R&B Clubs And Events In London. 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. Peter Gatien's daughter Jen Gatien made a documentary called Limelight in 2011, about New York City night life in the 1990s and the rise and fall of her father's club empire. Pretty sure the very last ones got dished out at the end of that rather special final bash, Xmas 07. Madame JoJos, Soho1960-2014The legendary nightclub once owned by porn baron Paul Raymond seamlessly mixed the burlesque glamour of Soho with Londons contemporary music scene. 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 sad fact of the matter is that there aren't the same options there used to be. Saw Joey Negro play there a few times. It closed in 2010 to make way for housing, flats and a theatre, in a high street regeneration scheme. Anyone have a time machine so I can attend the all night Cox party or a Laurent Garnier night. Hope you are too. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Thanks Tom sad to read but glad youve documented. 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. Lashana Lynch: Its inspiring to see a young black woman on screen not be perfect, The biggest films coming out in 2023 and when theyll be released, Bulgari to open Serpenti exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery. The End just had to be #1 Hes right. Im surprised The Gardening Club wasnt there. Top 5 Lost London Nightclubs of the 90s Former DJ Magazine Deputy Editor Tom Kihl investigates what happened to the clubs that once dominated London's nightlife By Tom Kihl March 1, 2013 T his week, Boris Johnson has been considering a decision that will affect the future of London's most famous nightclub. First there was Matter and then there was Proud2. Its sudden closure came as a big shock to staff and owners; Network Rail turned up with angle grinders, cut through the metal shutters and took possession of the venue so it could go ahead with its station upgrade plans. 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. thanks for the article, spent many crazy nights/days in all of these places, Velvet Underground aside. Because of the sleazy, druggy, mischievous late night vibe (exactly what makes such haunts so exciting), we tend to reduce their cultural significance. Visibility. 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. Thats brought back some memories. Despite a big campaign to save it, the club fell victim to a compulsory purchase order from Hackney council to build a new cinema. Amen. This week, Boris Johnson has been considering a decision that will affect the future of Londons most famous nightclub. In 2010 a group which was known for squatting in large homes and embassies moved into the the building. Plus I think Friction was there for a bit to. I was there solidly for several years and partook in all you have mentioned above (and more). It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Memories from each venue for sure. The Black Sheep Bar in Croydon High Street (Image: David Cook) This High Street venue in Croydon, which was loved for its alternative club nights and live music, closed in 2013 after 15 years in service. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. By the 1990s gay venues across the country started to transform. According to its owners, the time felt right to move on. 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. It makes me feel quite sad how our communities are being transformed into bland faceless environments in some cases. With alternate Saturdays at Happiness Stan's/Fourplay at Smith's and the Jazz Bistro in Farringdon. Turnmills chutney still so much messy fun. Ultimate . Clip ref DW0126681990s Ministry of Soun. RM 2HTCTTN - Ace Cinema, Alexandra Avenue, Rayners Lane, Harrow, London, 1983. I have one precious copy, sadly. He was about 50 years old and massive. So blessed to have lived through that experience and a special mention to my ex Alan and DJ Chris McKoy. As I looked up from the urinal, there was this dude, about 6foot 6, clad in all leather, not too dissimilar to that of the guys in the Blue Oyster bar in the Police Academy films, peaked cap, studded peak, leather trousers, jacket. Madame JoJo's closure was a massive blow to Soho 's nightlife scene. Its really sad that the times have achanged and in a reflection of this, all these fantastic places are being bulldozed. Sorry the plaque should be pale blue with a Dove on it. It hosted huge weekend parties that were at hit with House music fans. I think the concern is that given the way that redevelopment is happening across town, one day soon there wont be any suitable spaces where clubs can settle. Madonna, Bjork and Kate Moss all turned up over the years and versions of Trade popped up in Ibiza, New York and LA. 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. You had, in all probability, just left Turnmills, the first club in the UK to receive a 24 hour license. The music was smooth and progressive, which moved into a feeling of just less than trance. Stir some memories with these photographs from the '90s Birmingham club and rave scene. Former DJ Magazine Deputy Editor Tom Kihl investigates what happened to the clubs that once dominated London's nightlife. 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. We had amazing nights, including joint parties with labrynth and raindance. Cheers Mike. Pete.. Speaking to the Guardian after its closure, Marcus Harris, who co-ran the venues long-running indie night White Heat, described it as a community of fringe culture. The duo ran the popular basement club in Holborn for years. 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. MyLondon's brilliant newsletter The 12 is absolutely jam packed with all the latest to keep you keep you entertained, informed and uplifted. When a property developer came along offering to buy the End and its sister bar next door, AKA, they decided to accept the offer. The plan was to go up there, see someone and come back. it probably was ha ! Hi Martyn! I remember Bagleys that was a long time ago. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. In the 1990s, the scene reverted back to Soho, revitalised by new style bars like The Village. London Boys singles chronology. Went to all of them, I think Turnmills shades it for me for atmosphere, but I probably had my best nights out at the End. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The Blitz Kids were the gang who unofficially ran the club, with members included Gary and Martin Kemp from Spandau, dance choreographer supremo-to-be Michael Clark and Siobhan Fahey (later of Bananarama). Would love to have a peek! And good to see you the other night (I was in the ridiculous blue jacket). 2021-2023 - Luxury London. Love it, smiling from ear to ear thinking about some of them. 5. It was in King's Cross's golden triangle of night clubs which all shut down in the face of the area's redevelopment. Nice article that has brought back some wonderful memories. Great article and very sad reading. Great 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. Salmon and Compass in Angel. But Crossrail was the final nail in the coffin for the much-loved Soho venue. Nice read Scary thought that Ive actually worked at all of them!!! 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. Many thanks All the London clubs now are appearing and disappearing like mushrooms. End of story.. Ah. The End & AKA were a true second home. Since June 15, non-essential shops have been able to reopen and now leisure attractions are starting to open as well. Bagatelle Card Club - One of Colonel Sebastian Moran's clubs in the Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Empty House. I will never forget it. 9/10 you lose 1 point for making me feel old! Its hours ran from 3am to 1pm on a Sunday afternoon, handily catering to the predominantly gay crowd who wanted to carry on partying after clubs like G-A-Y and Heaven closed. Plus Lion & Unicorn and LGBTQ History Month, Black History Month 2022: 5 picks across Camden, Foodscape: own a vertical plot in Londons first urban farm, Queer Jubilee: Drag at Zabludowicz, Queer Britain and Mighty Hoopla, LGBTQ History Month 2022: top 10 Camden & Islington highlights, My Boy Danny: the acclaimed play tackling LGBTQ hate crime, Where to find the summer special issue and whats in it. The Kingsland Road venue was once "the coolest bar around." No Bar Rumba though? 15. Im rambling anyway. Now, is that the same Tom Kihl I employed in the heady days of Covent Garden based vegetarian restaurants? A most excellent post Tom.. Our journalists cover all the news you need - from City Hall to your local streets, so you'll never miss a moment. Great article. I think the last great night I had in a bigger club was Shelter at Egg in 2005. Four Aces, Dalston1966-1998In what was, ostensibly, a simpler time for Dalston, the Four Aces was the areas flagship club. 3. Its also a shame to lose 93 Feet East recently too. Even if we cant and possibly shouldnt prevent their almost inevitably fleeting existence. A club with really innovative nights and for the hardcore Metalheadz on a Sunday night. Isnt that, now, the Apple shop? Bagleys moody security also trying to half in your gak. A dominant hair design was de rigueur. And its not true that they are being lost despite fans interestfans lost interest, or they would all still be milking it! The venue hosted international DJs as well as some seminal club nights such as broken beat fix Co-op and dubstep-founding FWD>>.
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