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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not give a monkey's about "the death of the nightclub"?

201 replies

FithColumnist · 13/08/2015 21:13

Apparently, more than half of the country’s nightclubs have closed in the past 10 years. Reasons cited so far (sensibly) include extended opening hours in pubs, more rigorous application of noise pollution laws, the smoking ban and differing financial circumstances.

Back in the 90's and early 00's, a nightclub was the only place you could get a drink after 11, so like the rest of them I dutifully went out in suit trousers, "casual" shirt and work shoes every Friday night on the off-chance that my friends and I might fancy another beer after last orders and didn't want to be turned away by skinhead Neanderthals after queueing for an hour because of "no jeans" or "no runners". AIBU to thank the gods that those days are long gone, and I can now sit with my mates in our favourite pub, paying reasonable prices for drinks, not sweating and not having to shout over shit house music until 1 am if we so choose?

OP posts:
Hissette · 13/08/2015 21:58

I think all the superclubs (cream/gatecrasher etc) have shut haven't they? And a lot of small town 'ritzy' type ones. There's still a few clubs where I live been they tend to be smaller and more niche (indie/gay/student).

There's a lot more bars with dancefloors and they're free to get in. I think the crunch is why pay to get in somewhere after 11pm when you can go to a bar for free and still dance if you want? Even the bars round here cater for different music tastes and different crowds.

formerbabe · 13/08/2015 21:59

There was a time when if you wanted to pull, you went clubbing

Yep! Was so easy, get dressed up, get chatted up, exchange numbers, go on a date the following weekend!

Bunbaker · 13/08/2015 21:59

I agree with scatterthenuns. I am no longer interested in clubbing, so from a personal point of view it doesn't affect me. But I agree that the loss of another industry is not something to celebrate - unless it was the porn trade/people or drug trafficking.

I used to love clubbing. I used to go 2 or 3 nights a week during the 70s disco era. When I moved oop north I used to go to The Frontier at Batley whenever it was anyone's birthday at work. I went to a few nightclubs in Leeds as well. When they started playing house "music" I stopped going.

Sparklingbrook · 13/08/2015 21:59

One I used to go to had Ladies' Night on a thursday where we got in for free. Bet that's not allowed now.

Chchchchanging · 13/08/2015 22:02

Since a bouncer murdered a man innocently (by stamping on his head at 11pm) in our local town the club closed and one cared (about the club)given it showed them what the establishment was really like Confused

EatShitDerek · 13/08/2015 22:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/08/2015 22:05

I didn't like nightclubs but I'm old enough to have loved discos

Usually in a late pub with a dance floor or in a hall

Way more fun than clubbing

Pantone363 · 13/08/2015 22:15

OP I guess you don't live in Essex. We've still got loads of them. The youngsters and the soldiers keep them going here.

SolidGoldBrass · 13/08/2015 22:16

I find it a bit sad as well though I always preferred rock/goth/indie clubs (veteran hater of most dance/disco./house music) - all my favourite places are gone now. I had pretty much stopped going before the rot really set in as I don't have the time or the money to go out nearly as much now I have DS, but I found this piece got to me a bit. The bores and the whinyarses and the vacuous poshos are slowly taking over the world.

RainbowFlutterby · 13/08/2015 22:23

to Sparkling - I used to go to Eddie's loads when I was younger. DP was one of those "skinhead Neanderthals" still is on the door. (I didn't know him then though)

DustBunnyFarmer · 13/08/2015 22:25

Oh man, SolidGoldBrass - that article has just reminded of a particularly pi-faced 'Don't Tell the Bride' where a youngish, vaguely hip, fairly posh London couple had their wedding reception party on a rooftop.

DustBunnyFarmer · 13/08/2015 22:26

pi-faced. Effing Apple autocorrect PO-faced, god dammit!

SinisterBunnyMonth · 13/08/2015 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Brummiegirl15 · 13/08/2015 22:32

I live in Birmingham now but was too late for Bobby Browns etc although Snobs has got a new home now! Birmingham clubs are stuff of legends.

I did however grow up in the South East - Kudos in Watford, Ritzys in Dunstable and most Saturdays I would end up either in Bar Med in Beaconsfield or the Orchard "the Chad" in High Wycombe.

So when I went to Manchester Uni, it was the days of the Hacienda, Royales on Peter Street for a cheesy nightclub.

Some of my best Saturday nights and my best memories have been in nightclubs. I love dancing and to be honest there aren't many places left in Birmingham Sad

cocobean2805 · 13/08/2015 22:36

My DH is a bouncer, and although not a skinhead, he does have a touch of Neanderthal about him (but then he's not a steroid abusing philanderer either if we're going for bouncer stereotypes) Grin. But yes, that was rude OP.

I worked in clubs for years, it depends on which kinds of night club you go to as to what you get. Kids will always want to go out and get shitfaced, pull and be loud. Nightclubs will open and close.

Glitteryfrog · 14/08/2015 07:33

Cream closed more than 10 years ago. It wasn't Cream when I was a student. 13 years ago

I love proper clubbing, where you go to see a particular dj or event and don't drink too much because you know you need to last until 3am when they come on and i still have the urge to find dirty dnb nights but no one would come with me.
I have no desire for local Ritzy type local clubbing - I hated it as a teen and went to Goth clubs instead.

GoodbyeToAllOfThat · 14/08/2015 07:41

I am absolutely indifferent to the nightclub's death. I am far too old to step foot in one.

Hobbes8 · 14/08/2015 08:08

Kudos in Watford! It was in EastEnders once. I think one of the Mitchells had their stag do there.

waves at Brummiegirl

muminhants1 · 14/08/2015 08:13

I have to say when I saw the headline I wondered why it was a bad thing (apart from for those losing their jobs).

hibbleddible · 14/08/2015 10:20

I didn't realised so many had closed, but also couldn't care.

Nights in for me. 11pm is my bed time!

FelixFelix · 14/08/2015 10:25

It depends what kind of clubs you're in to. The type OP is talking about are the generic shite places, not the kind of nice hot and sweaty where everyone is there for the music fun kind of clubs. There's a whole different side to clubbing that the majority of the public have never experienced or really know about. If that dies a death then most of club owner, DJ and promoter friends will be right up shit creek.

ijustwannadance · 14/08/2015 10:27

glitteryfrog i went to cream 20 years ago (feeling very old) back in its heyday. The only place i've ever been checked for drugs on the way in! The club is actually called nation but still been doing cream events occasionally. Seemed to go downhill once Ibiza took off. It's apparantly all being knocked down and area redeveloped next year.

Bet you went to the crazyhouse as a student.

DrDre · 14/08/2015 10:54

Sparklingbrook I remember Snobs from my student days. It was funny, there were two dance floors with a kebab shop between them!

FelixFelix · 14/08/2015 10:59

Sinister, dance music hasn't gone downhill! You just need to look harder. There's some incredible electronic music around at the moment.

MrsMook · 14/08/2015 11:00

I loved clubs as a student favouring the indie/ retro end of the market. I was fine with a bit of moshing too.

I last went to one at a hen night, a chain club with cheesy music. As much as I still love to dance, I couldn't cope with the volume and being crushed up, shuffling around between sweaty, drunk, lecherous hoards.

My ideal club would have different rooms of music, a chill out zone, and greasy food counter.