There were a couple of years I was there 8 nights out of the Christmas/ New Year season. Bagley's, King's Cross (1990-2008) Instagram The massive warehouse club in King's Cross was a close as you could get to a legal rave. Ruby Violet: NW5s pioneering ice cream parlour to close, Let It Roll Records closes. The single was written and produced by Ralf Ren Mau, and its cover artwork features . There is no place for this kind of establishment in Hackney. 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. 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. And its not true that they are being lost despite fans interestfans lost interest, or they would all still be milking it! Then of course there was The Fridge, Studio 33, and some fantastic railway arch clubs buried away around London (Imperial Rooms in Camberwell New Road a particular memory). Those that were there will never forget and those that werent would wish they were if they knew. So sad to see it all boarded up. 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. 3. Fabric is the Only venue to stick to its principles avoiding putting in any old rubbish that draws a crowd. 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. Great article, and Ill second and third and fourth what has been said here. Electrowerkz was the name!!! 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. 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.. The triple-bowed frontage of the Ace Cinema viewed from the south-west. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Im amazed u didnt mention that John Newman was the father of both Danny and Paul Newman. 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. 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. 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! Jon Cook. It wasnt always such a corporate machine, however. 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. 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 !! Its industrial settings and position in the centre of London made it a unique offering. RM 2HTCTTN - Ace Cinema, Alexandra Avenue, Rayners Lane, Harrow, London, 1983. Before the Millenium Dome became the O2 Arena we know today it was home to a couple of nightclub's. 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. The Shim Sham Club, which opened on Wardour Street in the mid-1930s, was described as 'London's miniature Harlem'. Its really sad that the times have achanged and in a reflection of this, all these fantastic places are being bulldozed. Its flagship night was Trade the original afterparty. 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. In the middle years of the 60s this was the place to be seen. 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. It hosted huge weekend parties that were at hit with House music fans. Wednesday 10 June 2015. The West End establishment started out as a burlesque club but later became a staple for Central London's "fringe-culture" community. 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. Top 5 Lost London Nightclubs of the 90s - The pace of progress eh? In one fell swoop, however, the Cross, Canvas and the Key were culled in favour of the regeneration of Kings Cross. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 2021-2023 - Luxury London. 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. so much fun should be illegal. So goooood memories!!!! 9/10 you lose 1 point for making me feel old! 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. 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. Reminded me of my mis-spent but highly pleasurable youth on the dance floors of a London. All rights reserved. Between 1987 and 1990, when police pressure forced its closure, Shoom was where the London dance club as we know it today was born. After all, it did have a capacity pushing 4,000 people and a 24-hour drinking licence. Gaz ran a weekly night there from. Darling, Fantastic article how about expanding the idea to the rest of the country. 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 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. Excellent piece Tom. The Soul City nights in Covent Garden were also really good. 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. Stars from the world of the music who were regulars at the nightclub included Boy George, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Steve Strange. 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. When Limelight fell out of favour as a celebrated nightspot it was sold and in 2003 became a Walkabout bar. After all they shaped todays society in one way or another. Hilarious times. I completely agree would be a fitting tribute to see them all immortalised appropriately in some way. 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. Find out what is now open where you live by putting your postcode into our handy widget below. London nightclubs facing 'perfect storm' of threats . The music was smooth and progressive, which moved into a feeling of just less than trance. Do you want to stay up to date with the latest news, views, features and opinion from across the city? Isnt that, now, the Apple shop? Clubs in Mayfair London are the most prestigious nightclubs in town. Rather than join the party, Hackney council revoked the clubs licence following an undercover operation into drug dealing at the venue. Must be sat looking pretty on a fair few coffee tables to this day, The cross & turnmills, nothing did or has come close. But its about the memories though, for me. Because of the sleazy, druggy, mischievous late night vibe (exactly what makes such haunts so exciting), we tend to reduce their cultural significance. A great article , and so sad that many of these truly iconic places may be but a memory in the minds of millions . 14. Best crowd ever! Great article. Hope youre healthy and happy 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. 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. The arcade room downstairs . No Bar Rumba though? 10. Thanks Tom sad to read but glad youve documented. We put a swimming pool onthe terrace one night, fairground rides another. 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. 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. Losing those places feels like losing a family member never to return. Im rambling anyway. Were you a Crank? I frequented all of these bar Velvet and had many a great night in all. Great article, had some great and messy nights at most of them. 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. Magic was created on those dancefloors and longstanding relationships and friends. The End & AKA were a true second home. 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. Limelight in London was one of a string of Limelight clubs owned by Canadian Peter Gatien - other Limelight clubs in the chain were in Hallandale in Florida, Atlanta, Chicago and New York City. Limelight in Atlanta was also a place to see and spot celebrities over the years. In 1987, Rachel Macmillan, granddaughter of the Conservative prime minister Howard Macmillan, died aged 31 after a night at the Limelight. Madonna, Bjork and Kate Moss all turned up over the years and versions of Trade popped up in Ibiza, New York and LA. Great article. . There are new plans to take the building into the future - but we really miss how it used to be. Stir some memories with these photographs from the '90s Birmingham club and rave scene. http://www.amazon.co.uk/CROSS-1993-2003-Jonathan-CUTTING/dp/B0010786KI. London's lost nightclubs in pictures A new book by DJ and writer Dave Haslam offers a fascinating glimpse into London's clubbing history. but it went wrong after the terrible stabbing on a bank holiday sunday night. Wonderful write up of some of the clubs that paved the way for the scene today. 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. Great article. The Cross, bouncers nicking you gear *unts. However, its worth taking a moment to remember that nightclubs, by their very essence, shouldnt outstay their welcome. It closed in 2010 to make way for housing, flats and a theatre, in a high street regeneration scheme. Nice article Tom, brought back some great memories. 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. Punters at The Bubble Club, The Que Club, 1996. One for you beer and one for the otherThat place was magic. Saw Joey Negro play there a few times. 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). Something went wrong, please try again later. R&B Clubs And Events In London. I couldnt do it now, but I so glad I did it all then. Getting lost It most certainly is me. I think the last great night I had in a bigger club was Shelter at Egg in 2005. magazine. A dominant hair design was de rigueur. 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. From sweaty rave spots to Soho institutions, these are the iconic nightlife haunts we most miss. The five-storey building is rather wonderfully detailed inside and out. The demise of so many iconic spaces, proper clubs, remains a tragedy for a city that still considers itself a capital of European partying. Read more: Has Covid-19 ended Sohos indie spirit for good? Turnmills chutney still so much messy fun. Gilles Petterson on Monday, Kenny Hawkes and Luke Solomon on Wednesday, Bryan Gee on Thursday, Garage City on Saturday.