The UK Rave & Club Venues That Are No More

Following the phenomenal response we got from our original article on this (check it out here) we decided to look at some more of those classic venues we used to rave and go clubbing in that are sadly no more. Escape Club - Swansea Escape will forever be remembered as one of Wales’s greatest clubs. A hub for Trance and Progressive House the club hosted pretty much any big name DJ you could care to mention from the 90’s to the present. The club was almost famous for its low ceiling and massively loud PA system, making it the ultimate sweatbox club. Escape also won Best Trance Night and Best club in the Mixmag awards, something that highlights its quality and respect for the genre. It closed for seemingly unknown reasons in 2015 after 20 years at the top of its game. Tall Trees - Yarm Tall Trees was THE superclub in the North East boasting high end production and a massive 3000 capacity dance floor it hosted some truly legendary nights, including Goodgreef, Retro and Gatecrasher. Regulars often talk about the Tall Trees family and the anthems that will always remind them of the venue, especially anything by Shades of Rhythm. Controversially the venue closed in 2010 to make way for housing, burning down shortly after, leaving clubbers in the North East with a massive void that still hasn’t been filled. The Country Club - Evershot The Country Club was a venue like no other, hosting some of the South West’s biggest nights and specializing in Hard Trance, Acid Techno and Hard House sounds. The venue was infamous for its insane parties and being set in the middle of nowhere helped it to keep off the radar to some extent. Playing host to regular Tracid Traxx night’s as well as being a regular haunt for DJ’s such as Mark EG, M-Zone and Ben-Eye to name but a few. The venue closed its doors in 2002 following numerous scrapes with the licensing and Police. The spirit still lives on however as Country Club Reunion events are still taking place in Bournemouth. Shelley’s Laserdome – Stoke-on-Trent Shelley’s is perhaps best remembered these days as the club that helped launch the careers of House legends Sasha and Dave Seaman but the club was much more than that. Famous for its friendly atmosphere and diverse crowds it took over as the place to be once The Hacienda closed its doors. Unfortunately the good times had to come to an end and after the gangs took over the police closed it down. Quadrant Park – Liverpool Quadrant Park was originally a snooker hall and mainstream cheese club in the 1980’s but that would all change with the advent of Acid House after the promoters realised they could stay open all night become the UK’s first legal rave venue as they didn’t serve alcohol. Specialising in Acid House, Italo House and Hardcore the venue would host some of the world’s top acts despite closing down in 1991. It is rightfully remember for its pioneering spirit and as one of the founders of the rave scene. Turnmills – London Many House and Hard House fans will tell you that Turnmills was the greatest club the UK that ever was. Whether that’s true or not is debatable but you cannot deny its importance to the UK club scene. A former warehouse in Clerkenwell it was bought and converted to a club in 1985. The club was the first in the UK to obtain a 24 hour dance license, something that was highly controversial at the time but made the club essential to the early dance scene. Hosting regular nights such as The Gallery, Heavenly Social and Trade the club would eventually shut its doors in 2008 after council officials refused to renew its lease. The building was demolished , making way for an office block. Venue 44 – Mansfield Venue 44 holds a special place in the hearts of clubbers, especially those in the midlands, as the home of many legendary nights over the years. The venue catered for a wide range of Dance genre’s including House legends Renaissance, Happy Hardcore night Vibealite, Hard House night Hot to Trot and Rave legends Fantasia. As well as the amazing DJ’s and nights there regulars will tell tales of the unique studded walls around the venue, allowing you to climb them to get a top notch view of the club. Venue 44 was demolished in 2010. The Opera House – Bournemouth The Opera House in Bournemouth became a pilgrimage to many Trance and Hard House fans in the South thanks to the legendary Slinky nights. The venue was a stunning 19th Century Theatre and it maintained the original look up until it closed for refurbishment in 2013, changing to the O2 Academy. The Opera House also hosted nights such as Fantasia, Wild Turkey and Parhelion in its time and will be fondly remembered. Most clubbers will agree that whilst it technically still hosts dance events as the O2 Academy it just isn’t the same and is very much seen as a lost venue. What are your memories of these fantastic venues? Share your crazy moments in the comments below and let us know if we missed any other venues too. Up Next: The classic Happy Hardcore Anthems of 1996 we all adored