Great article Tom. Enjoyed the trip into nostalgia very much.. Electric benefits from the amazing history of the Fridge. 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). Electroworks (I think this was the name?). It was where world-famous artists like Adele and The XX cut their teeth, and was a gem of the North London nightlife scene. Ironically, the development never happened and the club was eventually reopened as the Den and Centro. Peter Gatien produced the 1993 film A Bronx Tale after having produced it as a one-man play. A most excellent post Tom.. I walked into the toilet and my brother was stood at the urinal. Glad you like it Phil. I played at the cross several times .. 4 me one of best uk clubs where i played great memories , I have the Cross book. They also gave these out at the closing party in a goodie bag with a poster and a sleeping mask! 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. Ultimate . Its really sad that the times have achanged and in a reflection of this, all these fantastic places are being bulldozed. A real eye opener, that night. Those that were there will never forget and those that werent would wish they were if they knew. Darling, Fantastic article how about expanding the idea to the rest of the country. Redferns/Getty Images . Now, as then, this is still the party spot for the rich and privileged, with a fair smattering of showbiz excess included. During the 1990s, photographer Steve Eichner documented the rowdy, over-the-top debauchery that was New York City's club scene and nightlife. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Former DJ Magazine Deputy Editor Tom Kihl investigates what happened to the clubs that once dominated London's nightlife. Thats brought back some memories. Visibility. The club on the corner of Mount Pleasant and Brownlow Hill was one of the city's most famous venues in the 90s. For me it was just a little bit over a year that I lived in London. Its a hardback coffee table monster, full of lovely photos and quotes. Madame JoJo's closure was a massive blow to Soho 's nightlife scene. Slightly off topic but I fear for the Camden Brewery bars license once the new posh flats open at Talacre. The Fridge, Brixton1981-2010When 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. Pretty sure the very last ones got dished out at the end of that rather special final bash, Xmas 07. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 051. 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. These might have often been dank, crumbling, smelly old places, but they are where countless people enjoyed some of the most intense and vital moments of their lives. It became louder and louder. I half remember a night at Bagleys sitting in an ice cream fridge next to the dancefloor. Boy George was a regular at this New Romantics haunt which hosted some of the capital's biggest gay nights. Stir some memories with these photographs from the '90s Birmingham club and rave scene. Even more so for you, of course! It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. how about PLEASED on a wednesday at the Velvet underground !!! Today the building is, quite fittingly, home to an arts organisation with new plans afoot to take the arts venue into the future. 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. Would love to have a peek! A former Goth club with 2/3 rooms over 2 floors. Limelight in Atlanta was also a place to see and spot celebrities over the years. but it went wrong after the terrible stabbing on a bank holiday sunday night. The Whirlitzer seating in The Cross Garden A bare room with the most rudimentary of bars at one end (cans of Red Stripe or nothing) in a Hoxton basement, the place came to prominence in the Nineties and Noughties as an incubator for dubstep and for possessing one of the greatest sound systems ever owned by a nightclub. I remember them all so well!! Or many others, would not stop writing and remembering about them. The Astor Club was a nightclub which operated in Mayfair, London from the 1930s to the late 1970s. Read more: Has Covid-19 ended Sohos indie spirit for good? Magic was created on those dancefloors and longstanding relationships and friends. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. Hes right. These cookies do not store any personal information. I remember me and my brother went up to Soundshaft one night (I was about 22), with, erm, a couple of associates.. Bring your dancing shoes and prepare for a night packed with tunes from the likes of Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Beyonce and Jay-Z as we introduce the best R&B events . In the 1950s and 1960s, especially with the growing popularity of the Gateways nightclub in Chelsea, . Great article. A perfectly acceptable thing to do at the time. Wednesday 10 June 2015. I have one precious copy, sadly. There was no place to hide. Thanks Tom sad to read but glad youve documented. The Walkabout bar closed after its parent company went into administration in October 2009. It was the trend-setting precursor to London's super clubs, and transformed the terrain of LGBTQ clubbing in the capital. 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. Dirty, worn, in your face, street cred with banging, hard but funky beats. 9/10 you lose 1 point for making me feel old! In one fell swoop, however, the Cross, Canvas and the Key were culled in favour of the regeneration of Kings Cross. Unfortunately, I cant say I experienced all of them. 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 . Im amazed u didnt mention that John Newman was the father of both Danny and Paul Newman. Keep us up to date with how your inspiration is getting on. By the mid-1990s the venue was no longer used as a cinema, instead functioning as a music venue, nightclub and snooker hall. Anyone have a time machine so I can attend the all night Cox party or a Laurent Garnier night. best dominic madden, Sundays @ The End with The A corner crew slapping the walls to Malcom Duffy. The demise of so many iconic spaces, proper clubs, remains a tragedy for a city that still considers itself a capital of European partying. Sir Bob Geldof had his stag do at Limelight before he married Paula Yates in 1986. I would also like to add The Blue Note to this list of sadly missed. I DJed at the Cross 13th birthday and was given a copy of the book on my way out. There were a couple of years I was there 8 nights out of the Christmas/ New Year season. In the 90s, it was all about wild weekly party Love Muscle, one of the capitals most renowned gay nights. Ah. It closed after an issue with underage drinking was reported in 2009, before re-opening as Electric Brixton. London's night-time economy is estimated to contribute 17-26.bn in . The single was written and produced by Ralf Ren Mau, and its cover artwork features . 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:). 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. 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. 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I think the last great night I had in a bigger club was Shelter at Egg in 2005. 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. Have some great memories from that place when the people from Hooj used to celebrate their parties there. The End & AKA were a true second home. Many thanks In the 90s, it was all about wild weekly. 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. In its 80s heyday, Limelight was one of London's top nightclubs and a hangout for the decade's biggest celebrities. 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. Whats in the new July issue of Kentishtowner? Ok, its technically a pub and Im not sure if we were going there in 90s. 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.