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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:
DrDre · 14/08/2015 11:11

I'm a rocker so I prefer metal clubs. Edwards in Birmingham and The Planet in Wolverhampton were fun. I don't know if they're still going.

Birdsgottafly · 14/08/2015 11:19

The problem is that the "nobhead" crowd that would normally go to scatty/shady clubs, will show up in ok pubs and change the whole atmosphere.

Were I used to drink, in an area of Liverpool, we had two pubs (with pool tables) close. A "nightclub" type pub also closed. So those who wanted to get off their faces and fight etc came into the decent pubs, causing one to close completely.

I don't drink there anymore, the atmosphere completely changed.

We had Garlands lose its licence, which was laughable considering the amount of drug taking and trouble, regularly, in other places in Liverpool.

"The doormen control", has lessened, but it's a shame that some places can't even say that they've got a decent nightlife, anymore.

I've always thought that our licensing laws aren't flexible enough, though. The places that safely used to have Lock-Ins till sunrise, have been clamped down on, even though there was no trouble.

Were I live, there's s massive problem with House "parties", but there's no-where else left to drink until morning.

VelvetGreen · 14/08/2015 11:21

I don't personally miss them - all the goth clubs i used to go to are long gone anyway, but unless pubs start having dance floors i think it is a bit of a shame. Our nearest town only has once club and it's out on an industrial estate, quite a way from the town, and it's a 50 mile round trip to anywhere else.

I've always had a hankering for the sort of establishment they had in 1930s movies, where you could drink cocktails and get dinner whatever the time of night (and sit down!).

Fishboneschokus · 14/08/2015 11:32

Does anyone remember Lately's, on the main road going through West Hampstead?

Jjou · 14/08/2015 11:33

I miss the idea of them - all of my teenage years were spent in the Krazyhouse, the Tropicana or the L2 in Liverpool, or places like Jilly's in Manchester and Snobs in Birmingham. But I'm far too old now (even though the Krazyhouse is still open), so it's more just nostalgia on my part Smile

DiscoDiva70 · 14/08/2015 11:36

I'm another who used to love the 80's nightclubs, where we could dance around our handbags to Whitney, Rick Asthey, Bananarama etc. I probably spent half my dancing time searching for my bag though when it would be accidently kicked by someone's dance moves across the floor! Grin

Them were the days!

DiscoDiva70 · 14/08/2015 11:36

Rick Astley *

bigTillyMint · 14/08/2015 11:37

Sparkling, you're right - 80's clubs were the best!

From the disco/pop clubs I started in at 16, to the more indie clubs like The Lead mill and the Limit in Sheffield, The Hacienda in Mancs and the Warehouse in Leeds, onto The Fridge in Brixton and other lesser - known venues. All brilliant Smile

I'm too old now, but it's sad that they've all closed/are closing down.

Pericombobulations · 14/08/2015 11:40

I used to DJ in a sticky floored dive playing indie/goth/retro and it was some of the happiest days of my life. Dancing the night away with good friends.

I miss those days, but feel too old now to be doing the same (was 15 odd years ago now).

AnnPerkins · 14/08/2015 11:40

I never really liked nightclubs so wouldn't miss them but in the 80s/90s they were the only place to go after the pubs shut. You had to 'join' to pay the lower admission and queue up the stairs for ages to check your coat. Then you'd have to queue for hours and shout at the top of your voice to order an overpriced Pils.

I have fond memories of the local nightclub where DH and I did our 'courting'. When they still did slow dances. The club is still open but with a new name. It's a Lounge Bar now apparently. Just looked at their FB page and the drinks are served in plastic cups...

Nowadays I refuse to go in any pub that makes you wait behind a little, red rope until the bouncers let you in.

Sparklingbrook · 14/08/2015 11:41

DrDre I don't remember the kebab shop. Too many vodka and limes probably. Grin

Anyone remember Hawkins Wine Bar?

Crinkle77 · 14/08/2015 11:42

Why pay to get in to a night club when you can stay in the pub till 2am for free? In my day clubs were usually more expensive for drinks than pubs too so may be another reason.

bigTillyMint · 14/08/2015 11:46

Sparkling, my BF and I used to drink V&Os back in the dayGrin

Belleview · 14/08/2015 11:46

Going to a nightclub was nothing like going to a pub! It was about dancing, music, partying.

I really hope there are nightclubs for cd's to go to. I'd be v Sad indeed if all they had was pubs.

Sparklingbrook · 14/08/2015 11:56

Vair sophisticated Tilly. Grin Unfortunately my V&L days came to an abrupt end after one evening of over indulgence. When it comes back the other way it really burns. Sad

DS1 is now 16. I had been clubbing for a year by that age. I am not sure how i feel about that.

ijustwannadance · 14/08/2015 12:00

Jjou, im still surprised the Krazyhouse is one of the few survivors in town, but everything else now is so bland and generic.
Dancing on a tiny dance floor to chart music in a lloyds bar is not the same as dancing in a club.
The biggest change is that when all us old bastards went clubbing the pubs shut early then we went out to the few nightclubs open late. Now everywhere opens late and has music. And i cant stand all the 70's 80's music places.

Laindons · 14/08/2015 12:43

I'm only young, but the clubbing scene has never made an appeal on me. Although, the 90's clubs looked fabulous, and being a big fan of The Range Rover Murders, I'd have loved to have experienced club life back then.

Perhaps then I wouldn't have settled down so soon ;)

MrsCs · 14/08/2015 12:47

It's a shame that night clubs have shut down for people who enjoyed them. I never did and it pissed me off that there were so few options for young adults who did not want to wear uncomfortable clothes, shout over loud music and pay £60 for the privilege.

I have a brilliant group of friends now and we are creative with the activities we do but for a long time round here it was expected everyone wanted to go out and get pissed every weekend, boring.

AwfulBeryl · 14/08/2015 12:56

I used to go out clubbing loads, not because I wanted to sleep with a stranger or drink late, but because I wanted to dance to the music they played. I used to go to Camden Palace, Turnmils, Fabric - The End.

I can't do it anymore though, it's too loud, too busy and my feet hurt after a few hours.

girliefriend · 14/08/2015 13:00

The town I live in has lost all its night clubs as well, I feel a bit sorry for the younger generation as when I was in my 20s there was quite a good night life round here.

It used to be that you would go to a Wetherspoons pub for the cheap doubles and fall out of there pissed just before the club prices went up Grin them were the days

Sparklingbrook · 14/08/2015 13:00

My routine was

Get home from work
2 hour sleep
Dinner
Get half dressed go into town
Dance til 3am
Taxi Home
Bed
Go to Work

Grin Those were the days.

girliefriend · 14/08/2015 13:03

Was Snobs the one that was a bit further out from the city centre in Birmingham? The one I am thinking of was massive and had a brilliant 80s dance floor Grin

FundamentalistQuaker · 14/08/2015 13:05

I'm ambivalent about clubs. I was never a hardcore or cool clubber but I loved Isobar, Subterrania and Cort's in London and Bobby Brown's in Birmingham. I just wanted to dance-I never did drugs or drank alcohol much.

I liked your link SGB, especially this bit:
It's nightlife aimed at a monied, Silicon Roundabout kind of clientele who enjoy the social posturing of being seen to go out without any of the unsavoury bits (fighting, tough music, the danger of getting your Flyknits ruined). They cater to a post-graduate, first-time buyer sort who doesn't have the time to seek out real culture, so instead has it organised for them – a tasteful environment in which they can be photographed next to some fairy lights while talking about themselves...'

Clubs fostered sub-cultures, a kind of cultural adventurism or cross-pollination and a kind of togetherness that might have been ephemeral but was at least based on something a bit more positive than social class or how much money everyone had. And for some people clubs are culturally important: there was a pretty blatant colour bar in a lot of nightclubs in Brum, and in London to a lesser extent, certainly for men and sometimes for women. Going to a black club and just relaxing because (1) you would get in; and (2) the music would be fabulous; and (3) you would not be the odd one out; was fantastic.

BarbarianMum · 14/08/2015 13:08

I don't see why it is a bad thing. People haven't stopped going out, it is just that the venues they go to have changed. The jobs are still there and the industry is still there only a bit more tailored to what people want.

ravenAK · 14/08/2015 13:16

Then I moved to Leeds, & pretty much moved into the Phono. Loved that place.

I was one of the investors in a goth club in Leeds about 10 years ago (a mate came up with the idea of buying it after it was in danger of closure - there was a syndicate of us) - we all lost our money, for all the reasons in the OP. Had a lot of fun being club owners mind you.