With a capacity of barely 200, the vibe, somehow, always kept its intimate, non-exclusive air. It had its licence revoked after a "serious incident of disorder" in 2014 and its closure left many Londoners with heavy hearts. 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. or one of his friends in the first arch of muscle-alley. There was no place to hide. But at least theres still Visions Video Bar. We forgive all this because nightclubs in our fair city also provide some of the most euphorically happy moments of collective felicity and joy that well experience in the course of our lives. Much better than the cross! 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. London nightclubs facing 'perfect storm' of threats . So sad to see it all boarded up. Cans of beer Read more: Has Covid-19 ended Sohos indie spirit for good? Turnmills, Clerkenwell1990-2008Another one of Londons fossilised superclubs, Turnmills was the first venue in the UK to get a 24-hour dance licence. In the 90s, it was all about wild weekly party Love Muscle, one of the capitals most renowned gay nights. The brand name is constantly evolving and the club continues to survive despite numerous threats of closure. Today the building is, quite fittingly, home to an arts organisation with new plans afoot to take the arts venue into the future. It most certainly is me. But the magic was gone weve since seen the end for the Den, too. 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. But the party was brought to an abrupt end after a stabbing there led it to lose its licence and subsequent closure. Hey Janine, I remember you well! When Limelight fell out of favour as a celebrated nightspot it was sold and in 2003 became a Walkabout bar. Cables enraged founder Euan Johnston, who also founded nearby SeOne, said: We were assured when we moved in that we would not be affected by the redevelopment and Network Rail have simply changed their minds We have been brushed aside at every level.. 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. Peter Gatien is mentioned in the lyrics of three songs: 17. Jimi Hendrix played his first UK gig here, Paul McCartney, The Who, The Kinks, Rod Stewart and various members of the Stones all partied in this subterranean spot secreted down a cobbled mews behind Fortnum and Mason. Thanks Tom sad to read but glad youve documented. 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. In one fell swoop, however, the Cross, Canvas and the Key were culled in favour of the regeneration of Kings Cross. I walked into the toilet and my brother was stood at the urinal. We took a nostalgic look back at some of the capital's notorious nightclubs which have all closed since 2000. Doesnt seem that long now. Getting lost Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 9. 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! The music, the mixing, the vibe. The likes of Oasis and Nirvana played there and it hosted regular LGBT club nights. 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. Hilarious times. It was the image I had in my head before we got there of what Heaven might be like and then this guy walked in. I DJed at the Cross 13th birthday and was given a copy of the book on my way out. In the 90s, it was all about wild weekly. Turnmills chutney still so much messy fun. LuvDup were djing (one of them fell over on the stage), Princess Julia was stood by the decks dancing. Have to confess my favorites were Frantic at the Academy, and The Fridge. Cheers Mike. My favourite break-time activity was to go up to the rafters and watch everybody raving. Im rambling anyway. 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. (1989) " London Nights " is British Europop duo London Boys ' biggest hit single, released in 1989 from their debut album, The Twelve Commandments of Dance. I played at the cross several times .. 4 me one of best uk clubs where i played great memories , I have the Cross book. Enjoyed the trip into nostalgia very much.. 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. You had, in all probability, just left Turnmills, the first club in the UK to receive a 24 hour license. (Photo by Carl Allen) 7 Sir George Robey/Powerhaus, Seven Sisters Road The sad fact of the matter is that there aren't the same options there used to be. Gaz ran a weekly night there from. Heads of whistling into the sunset. I remember me and my brother went up to Soundshaft one night (I was about 22), with, erm, a couple of associates.. Every club claims that its all about the music but in Plastic Peoples case, the ideology really did manifest. Pre-club beers in the Backpacker, I was never really that keen on Turmills as I felt the space was a little awkward. But its about the memories though, for me. 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. It hosted huge weekend parties that were at hit with House music fans. A perfectly acceptable thing to do at the time. 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. Big small club! Losing those places feels like losing a family member never to return. 4. Now the industrial area, which was once a high-density party hotspot, is the site of one of the capitals biggest modern developments. 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. 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. So blessed to have lived through that experience and a special mention to my ex Alan and DJ Chris McKoy. Reliving my 20s again still with a younger GF (cliche alert) and the new wave of EDM. Saw Joey Negro play there a few times. I lived in London back in the late 90s early 00s and went to all of these clubs. 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? By the 90s, everyone from Desmond Dekker to the Prodigy had played there. I used to do the guest list at Freedom! Bagleys moody security also trying to half in your gak. Sorry the plaque should be pale blue with a Dove on it. He was about 50 years old and massive. Egg Sando, Panadera: Londons best 4.50 sandwich? 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. 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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Oasis performed their debut London show at The . As always you can unsubscribe at any time. I had some of the best days of my life there! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The Walkabout bar closed after its parent company went into administration in October 2009. Special times in special places all round though. The club on the corner of Mount Pleasant and Brownlow Hill was one of the city's most famous venues in the 90s. Luxury London is not responsible for the content of external sites. Heaven is a Gay superclub in Charing Cross, London, England.It has played a central role and had a major influence in the development of London's LGBT scene for the last 40 years and is home to long-running gay night G-A-Y.The club is known for Paul Oakenfold's acid house events in the 1980s, the underground nightclub festival Megatripolis, and for being the birthplace of ambient house. Great article, had some great and messy nights at most of them. And its not true that they are being lost despite fans interestfans lost interest, or they would all still be milking it! Wednesday 10 June 2015. I lost my marbles in all of these places in the 90s. The MyLondon team tells London stories for Londoners. Our journalists cover all the news you need - from City Hall to your local streets, so you'll never miss a moment. But things turned sour after after a double stabbing took place in the club, leading to its licence being revoked. The sound shaft and heaven where legendary , as was the London Astoria, Fascinating to read about the origins and teams behind such monumental moments in Londons clubbing history. Nobody came to Plastic People for the glamour or dcor. Remaining stock was given away free at the apocalyptically hedonistic farewell party so they do crop up online occasionally. Its flagship night was Trade the original afterparty. 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. But it was torn down in 2009 to make way for the new Elizabeth Line. We then went our seperate ways. First there was Matter and then there was Proud2. 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. Killjoy councils, student debt and stolen phones: the slow death of British clubs, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Nick, the big bald black guy who always had a smile on his face, pretty much the master of ceremonies at Turnmills. A great article , and so sad that many of these truly iconic places may be but a memory in the minds of millions . 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. Hope youre healthy and happy 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. Hope you are too. George Michael often arrived at the nightclub accompanied by a woman before he came out as gay. Salmon and Compass in Angel. 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. Great article. Isnt that, now, the Apple shop? I wouldnt even know where to go nowadays for a night out. It always felt like it was on borrowed time after that. For a year or so, this was an explosion of androgyny, increasingly bizarre and fabulous homemade fashion and lashings of clunky, proto synths. http://www.moviemakersguide.com/data/c/cross0630/cross0630a.htm. This week, Boris Johnson has been considering a decision that will affect the future of Londons most famous nightclub. One for you beer and one for the otherThat place was magic. 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. 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. I worked at AKA for many years. Do you want to stay up to date with the latest news, views, features and opinion from across the city? The West End establishment started out as a burlesque club but later became a staple for Central London's "fringe-culture" community. I will never forget it. Madonna, Bjork and Kate Moss all turned up over the years and versions of Trade popped up in Ibiza, New York and LA. 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. 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. According to its owners, the time felt right to move on. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. It was the venues teen parties that got it into hot water, however, when police found evidence of underage drinking there in 2009. Zen's Dartford First Flicks in the 1980s and later Zen's, the nightclub on Essex Road was more recently known as Air & Breathe. Or many others, would not stop writing and remembering about them. The five-storey building is rather wonderfully detailed inside and out. Stir some memories with these photographs from the '90s Birmingham club and rave scene. Many thanks We WERE there, we DID live it, and now were sentimental old bastards. 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. It was around 2000 and I remember those times as probably the best of my life. I used to be the membership girl at Freedom. Now can you expand on one for the rest of London please, would love to see Club UK brought back to life if only in words! A former Goth club with 2/3 rooms over 2 floors. have always wondered where he is now and what hes up to. The triple-bowed frontage of the Ace Cinema viewed from the south-west. Sat 30 May 2020 17.00BST Im amazed u didnt mention that John Newman was the father of both Danny and Paul Newman. 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. Thanks Liam. The works. Since June 15, non-essential shops have been able to reopen and now leisure attractions are starting to open as well. The Astor Club was a nightclub which operated in Mayfair, London from the 1930s to the late 1970s. I have one precious copy, sadly. Regulars over the years have included Michael Caine, Keith Moon and Jack Nicholson. A string of London's best-loved night clubs have closed since 2000. I found some of the pictures a couple of weeks ago including some rather x-rated ones. Turnmills building being totally destroyed is the ultimate, inexcusable vandalism though. Darling, Fantastic article how about expanding the idea to the rest of the country. 18. Gilles Petterson on Monday, Kenny Hawkes and Luke Solomon on Wednesday, Bryan Gee on Thursday, Garage City on Saturday. surprised Heaven isnt in thereas well as SoundshaftGood article though! The historic venue, which hosted game-changing concerts from the likes of Oasis, Manic Street Preachers and Nirvana, was bulldozed in 2009 to make room for a bigger ticket hall at Tottenham Court Road tube station. Boy George was a regular at this New Romantics haunt which hosted some of the capital's biggest gay nights. 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. 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. We list 18 things you might not know about the Limelight club, the building it was in and its links to the US. Peter Gatien produced the 1993 film A Bronx Tale after having produced it as a one-man play. 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. 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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Even more so for you, of course! 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. 14. The immovable object of the London clubbing scene. Will come back around and write more. The small room was great. Sign up to our weekly email. Between 1987 and 1990, when police pressure forced its closure, Shoom was where the London dance club as we know it today was born. Plus I think Friction was there for a bit to. Stealth on a Thursday night, marvellous http://wharferj.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/stealth-the-blue-note/ Nuff Said. 10. I think great venues have heritage. Pretty sure the very last ones got dished out at the end of that rather special final bash, Xmas 07. 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. It didnt last long though. The regulars often spent hours preparing for the night, and the morning the night morphed into. Constant disagreements on how to regenerate the land behind Kings Cross Station went on for years. It had to close due to Network Rail redevelopment in 2013. Located in the west lodge outside Euston Station, it ran from 1995 to 2008. Ruby Violet: NW5s pioneering ice cream parlour to close, Let It Roll Records closes. Great article. 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. 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. Kids going out today wont realise its a tragedy, but it is. I half remember a night at Bagleys sitting in an ice cream fridge next to the dancefloor. 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 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. These days? Hi Martyn! Ultimate . 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. It was like a small amphitheatre with the DJ the absolute centre of attraction, he says. The Shim Sham Club, which opened on Wardour Street in the mid-1930s, was described as 'London's miniature Harlem'. 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. The plan was to go up there, see someone and come back. "Harlem Desire '89". hope youre well? Despite a big campaign to save it, the club fell victim to a compulsory purchase order from Hackney council to build a new cinema. 15. 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. 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. Didnt boy george have a residency there? Turning around and seeing floor fountains and Mail on Sunday readers sipping lattes and eating Danish pastries made my heart sink. The licence was subsequently restored, but the business was unable to avoid going into administration. But many of the places that clubbers flocked to every weekend in their thousands in the post-Criminal Justice Act heyday are being erased from todays landscape. 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. What I would say is be glad we are the ages we are. 5. 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 do remember my first time in Trade and deemed it like the descent into Soddom and Gomorrah .. and there were many happy times there after!! 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. London Boys singles chronology. All rights reserved. Ah. We will provide guestlist and table booking services absolutely free, and on top of these we can give you great benefits so you can surely enjoy your nightout. Copyright 2023 London Belongs To Me Ltd|All Rights Reserved|More info: With your agreement, we and our partners (click on 'Find Out More' below for a list) use cookies or similar technologies to store, access, and process personal data like your visit on this website, IP addresses and cookie identifiers. 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. Great memories of perhaps the greatest clubbing/club music period history has known! 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/. At the fulcrum of the acid house scene, it became absurdly popular, partly thanks to its strawberry scented smoke machines and strobe lights. 12. Nights spent on the VIP/guestlist gate were also quite entertaining as was the office at 5am in the morning when I went to pick up my wage before driving home to my university campus in Watford. By the mid-1990s the venue was no longer used as a cinema, instead functioning as a music venue, nightclub and snooker hall. Its also a shame to lose 93 Feet East recently too. They also gave these out at the closing party in a goodie bag with a poster and a sleeping mask! No sensible drinking cautions, no smoking bans, and generally less moderation of everything. Central to the Black jazz scene at the time, and closely linked with African. My walk to work takes me past what used to to be the entrance to Turnmills every morning it never fails to bring a smile to my face when I think of the good times I had there. 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. 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