Turnmills, Thrills and Bellyaches
Some time ago I wrote on A Story To Tell about the tragic planned closure of legendary London venue The Astoria. I wish I were writing with an uplifting story of reprieve and restoration, but alas the plans for corporate replacement rumble on inexorably. And if you were hoping for a counter-tale of musical victory, I am afraid that today is not the day for it, as this post is concerned with yet another impending closure on London's after-hours scene, and an equally sad ending of an era. After two decades of unadulterated clubbing, London institution Turnmills is to host it's last-all-nighter at the end of March, and the capital's nighthawks will be robbed of one of the greatest venues in recent club history.
Any visitor to London over the years with a penchant for club-based craziness and simply the love of dancing the night away will surely have taken in a (sometimes very) long night at Turnmills, a club renowned for its lack of pretensions and totally up-for-it crowd. Turnmills has hosted virtually every big dance DJ and act of the post-rave era, and was the first UK club to be given a 24-hour license. In this respect it paved the way for the dance music explosion of the 1990s, and gave rise to a million addled memories of lost nights out and the twisted joy of making your way home across the city at dawn. It's warren of rooms and chill out spaces provided an aural blend unique in clubland, and have hidden a multitude of naughtiness and pure pleasure throughout the years.
The club was host to legendary gay institution Trade, and also famous for flagship all-nighter The Gallery featuring everyone from Paul Oakenfold, Paul an Dyk, and Judge Jules and acting as a mecca for progressive house music. Turnmills was also the launch point of the Chemical Brothers' now mythically revered Heavenly Social. Turnmills is perhaps only rivalled as a London club in terms of its place in dance music history by the Ministry of Sound, and despite the fact that the audience for straight up dance music has dwindled somewhat in recent years, it is still a shock to hear of it's forthcoming demise.
But as with the recent closures of similarly revered clubs Key, The Cross and Canvas earlier this year, it would appear that corporate interests have won through. Turnmill's lease is up, and the landlords (insert your own image of Dickensian style, hand-rubbing land-owners here) feel it will be much better if the building were refurbished, extended and turned into office blocks. Because London doesn't have enough of them already you see. It is a truly great shame, and I for one am planning to attend one of the closing parties, which promise to see the club go out with a bang. I would urge any residents or visitors to this fair city to try to do the same. There will be little fanfare, and little fuss, as is the Turnmills way. Just one of the best nights out of your life so do drop in to say hello. I'll be the one chained to the DJ booth.
Any visitor to London over the years with a penchant for club-based craziness and simply the love of dancing the night away will surely have taken in a (sometimes very) long night at Turnmills, a club renowned for its lack of pretensions and totally up-for-it crowd. Turnmills has hosted virtually every big dance DJ and act of the post-rave era, and was the first UK club to be given a 24-hour license. In this respect it paved the way for the dance music explosion of the 1990s, and gave rise to a million addled memories of lost nights out and the twisted joy of making your way home across the city at dawn. It's warren of rooms and chill out spaces provided an aural blend unique in clubland, and have hidden a multitude of naughtiness and pure pleasure throughout the years.
The club was host to legendary gay institution Trade, and also famous for flagship all-nighter The Gallery featuring everyone from Paul Oakenfold, Paul an Dyk, and Judge Jules and acting as a mecca for progressive house music. Turnmills was also the launch point of the Chemical Brothers' now mythically revered Heavenly Social. Turnmills is perhaps only rivalled as a London club in terms of its place in dance music history by the Ministry of Sound, and despite the fact that the audience for straight up dance music has dwindled somewhat in recent years, it is still a shock to hear of it's forthcoming demise.
But as with the recent closures of similarly revered clubs Key, The Cross and Canvas earlier this year, it would appear that corporate interests have won through. Turnmill's lease is up, and the landlords (insert your own image of Dickensian style, hand-rubbing land-owners here) feel it will be much better if the building were refurbished, extended and turned into office blocks. Because London doesn't have enough of them already you see. It is a truly great shame, and I for one am planning to attend one of the closing parties, which promise to see the club go out with a bang. I would urge any residents or visitors to this fair city to try to do the same. There will be little fanfare, and little fuss, as is the Turnmills way. Just one of the best nights out of your life so do drop in to say hello. I'll be the one chained to the DJ booth.
posted by Twelve Bar at 5:45 AM
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