It’s fair to say we were overwhelmed with the outpouring of emotion after last Friday’s feature on Lost London Nightclubs – not to mention the hundreds of thousands of views. It only confirms the huge significance that these establishments hold to so many people.
And many of you suggested – like Paul Oakenfold a decade earlier – that the buildings’ heritage needs to be celebrated.
So what better way to underline this cultural importance than a blue plaque? The famous ceramic discs that celebrate our most notable playwrights, actors and scientists?
And yup, that’s exactly what we’ve done. We called our mate, the artist Alban Low, and together knocked up five unique Kentishtowner plaques to commemorate these legendary party palaces with the cheeky reverence they deserve. For quotes, we selected the best lines from Tom’s original feature last week.
Said plaques in hand, we flew around town this afternoon armed with a ‘telescopic’ window-cleaning pole to ensure they were posted at the correct height.
This is how we got on…
The End & AKA
First stop, West Central Street, eerily deserted on a grey Wednesday lunchtime. This should have been the easiest plaque to place. In fact, it was possibly the hardest, and kept slipping off. Plus our “work” was at constant risk of disruption by a stream of office smokers, shady characters and backstreet loiterers.
Velvet Rooms
On Charing Cross Road, Superdrug’s security were keeping more than a beady eye on us as we attempted to slap the plaque above the former entrance to the Velvet Rooms. We got it a bit wonky – oops – and drew more than the odd glance from exiting customers. Yikes.
Turnmills
Over in Clerkenwell, nothing now remains of the Turnmills building; hard to believe it’s only a week since our original sad picture. We were left with no option but to paste the pesky plaque onto the boarding, observed by builders, suits and the odd darting creative.
Bagley’s / Canvas
As we arrived at Granary Square, it was abuzz with a hotch potch of Japanese tourists, art students and post-prandial diners leaving hip all day diner Caravan. This allowed us to affix our Bagley’s plaque steathily without the attention of any authority figures. Result!
The Cross
And finally, could we sneak into the restricted area to place our last remaining plaque on the hallowed arches of The Cross? We damn well hoped so, and approached a succession of onsite employees to request access. “Where did this nightclub used to be?” said one, scratching his brow. That’ll be a no, then. Still, it looks mighty fine on the railing.
Want to see the inscriptions on all five plaques up close and personal? Click through to the next page.
Our Five Plaques Close Up
We’re proud of our plaques. So catch them while you can – that is, if they’re still up where they belong. Keep us posted – in fact, why not tweet any pictures with the hashtag #lostclubs?
All content © London Belongs To Me Ltd 2013.
17 thoughts on “London’s Lost Nightclubs Get Blue Plaques”
Superdrug used to be a Waterstones…
Velvet Rooms was on the next block up, the building is not there any more.
Need a club dog plaque outside the sir George robey
This became Megadog who helped get the nascent rave scene out of the studio and out playing live
That’s utterly brilliant Tom.
Love this, but ‘The End’s’ plaque has already been removed. Cycled past this morning 🙁
could do without the kentishtowner.co.uk at the top of the plaques
Great idea, I would like to see one at the old ‘Leisure Lounge’ site in Holborn. Great nights.
Used to regularly go to Bagleys (those yellow bars around the stage could just be seen in your previous article – brought back some memories!) in the early 00’s. Weirdly, when I go to Kings Cross now the area is so different that I can’t even place where Bagleys / The Cross would have been. Only that the Filling Station was where we used to stock up on food for the journey home. I posted this on my FB page the other week, it’s a video of people exploring the inside of Bagleys. Lost is indeed the word. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=334531926646376&set=a.242618522504384.40459.202456749853895&type=1
I agree about leisure lounge!!! Was one of the most legendary clubs I went to… Peach was stand out!!!…..
Kings Cross redevelopment has suggested a competition to name some of the new roads around the area. how about a nod to what once was.. i’ve gone with Cross Street and Bagleys Way http://www.kingscross.co.uk/street-naming-competition
What about Labyrinth or Four Aces in Dalston Lane ??? Now tower blocks.
How about Shenola’s in Hackney (later Belair, i think the last incarnation was Powerhouse). Now makes up part of the Olympic site.
Have to add it was the home to many hazy acid raves between ’87 – ’89 and later evolved into jungle and ended as a deep house club.
Will Hidden get 1?
Watch this space Sian!
I was Peach member number 102.
We had sliver membership cards.
Cafe de Paris was the best venue.
It was a big family, every week the same people would greet me with hugs. B-)
Peas pie pudding superman
These sounds fall into my mind.
Then Bagleys. Brilliant place. Loads of rooms and the big stage where I used to dance.
When you were really “dancing” we’d stand at the edge and hundreds in the room would follow is.
You’d come up like a bitch amd dance til u naerly died.
Also techno night at 414 club brixton.
240bpm :-B
Leisure Lounge, Hanover Grand, Samantha’s Discotheque, Hombre De Bahia, The Gardening Club, I could go on…wicked times..all these sites deserve a wee bit of recognition
Nations, four aces, shenolas, oasis classic venues