Latest news with #clubbing
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I went inside abandoned Ibiza ‘superclub' with graffiti-covered dance floors… a hidden detail surprised me
IBIZA is the undisputed clubbing capital of the world, with dozens of industrial-scale dancefloors that are packed with revellers every night of the season. But the party paradise didn't always exist as we know it today - as I found out when I stepped inside the ruins of an abandoned "superclub". 17 17 17 17 It took a wave of dreamers in the 1970s with visions of a utopia, soundtracked by Balearic beats, to begin attracting dancers to the island. One of their most important early creations was Festival Club - touted as Ibiza's first superclub - a term still used today to describe sweeping, high-profile clubbing venues. The vast hillside space pioneered the scene and paved the way for the likes of iconic party destinations such as Space, Pacha and Amnesia. It was only in business for two years - 1972 to 1974 - but in that time served as a haven for hedonism and excess. Relatively little is known about its heyday, but rumours say that Bob Marley even played there once. The building in the hills above San José has been abandoned for over half a century, and is now a dystopian playground for curious tourists and Instagrammers. Its crumbling walls are also a canvas for graffiti artists - with fantasy beings and bold slogans covering every inch. Stepping into the site is a surreal experience. After driving up into the scrubland, an old painted wall is all that's visible from the road - but when you cross the threshold, a sprawling concrete complex unfolds down the hill. At the top of the site is a large covered building with many rooms, harbouring a network of corridors and dark corners. Inside the abandoned wreck of Ibiza's first super club Outside that stretches an open patio, with a wall of in-built arches presiding over the brow of the hill. Down to the left, a massive, semi-circular amphitheatre is carved into the slope, complete with row upon row of concentric seats. Most surprisingly, this open-air ring hosted actual bullfights for guests' entertainment - though only with young bulls and without any of the bloodshed. On the main slope, around 20 staggered terraces lead down to the primary dance floor. 17 17 17 Squatting right at the bottom is a huge stage area - from where the DJs and performers commanded the show. Eerie modern additions like fridge doors and wrecked-out cars can be found arranged randomly around the site. While much of the club has turned to rubble, some details remain that transport you back to those hazy days. The odd square of mirror-wall can be found on the dusty walls, and many of the bathroom tiles remain in place. And standing inside the arches at the top to survey the ruins, you can just imagine looking down on hundreds of people dancing beneath the moon. Coach tours were king in the early 70s, so most who visited the club were international tourists carted up into the hills by buses. 17 17 17 17 17 Sadly, Festival Club was forced to close its doors after the oil crisis of 1973 stifled tourism. Air travel became more expensive, and this gutted the club of its main lifeblood. Festival Club always had aspirations of reopening, but it never quite happened. In the 80s and 90s, the newly abandoned spot served as an ideal setting for unofficial raves - meaning thousands more were able to enjoy the party palace. But as the years ticked by, nature slowly reclaimed the site. Pine trees have pushed up between cracks in the concrete, and time has bitten chunks from the walls and floors. Subsequent decades of explorers visiting the club are evident in the broken bottles and empty spray canisters that lie strewn across the ground. But as the ruins slowly melt into the hillside, they continue to serve as a monument to those original visionaries. Festival Club's instigators could scarcely imagine what would eventually become of the little White Island in the Med. 17 17 17 17
The Sun
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I partied at UK's biggest nightclubs in 80s & 90s…but, at 57, can I keep up with the ‘Gravers' at Gen-Z Ibiza hotspot?
THE last easyJet flight of the night from Luton touched down in Ibiza to a round of applause and shouts of 'Oi Oi!' It was 11.40pm, I was ready for a nice cup of chamomile tea and bed, but the two Essex ravers, who looked barely out of their teens, in the seats ahead had other ideas. 5 5 5 'We're going to Amnesia, mate' one gurned — that's a nightclub, not the condition experienced by some middle-aged folk like me. While I was with the young clubbers in spirit, my 57-year-old dad bod said a firm no. I was saving myself for the big one — UNVRS, the world's first hyperclub, later in the week. Pronounced 'universe,' it is the recently opened king of clubs on an island that helped launch acid house, which morphed into the rave phenomenon that swept Britain in the late 1980s. UNVRS may not have many vowels but it has a lot of punters — 10,000 can cram into its labyrinth of bars and dance floors. Its superstar DJs including David Guetta, Carl Cox and Fisher attract clubbers from all over the planet. Footie ace Jude Bellingham was at the opening night last month. So, staring down the barrel of 60, would I be able to cut it at clubland's hottest ticket? And would I be the only relic from the halcyon days of Eighties and Nineties clubbing still trying to throw shapes? Known as Gravers, I was interested to talk to survivors from the rave era for whom the party won't stop until the Grim Reaper calls. I'm the UK's oldest clubber - I still wear a bikini at 86 & spent my summer partying with my granddaughter, I'm the last one standing at 3am I haven't been to a nightclub for decades, but back in the day I graced London clubs Ministry Of Sound, Heaven, Sin and Bagleys. With Cardiff -born superstar DJ Jamie Jones on the UNVRS decks on Wednesday, I headed to this pinnacle of modern clubbing, hoping to rekindle the rave era spirit. I bought an early-bird ticket for 55 euros, which means you must arrive at UNVRS before midnight. VIP tickets go for £425-plus. As you journey inland towards San Rafael de la Cruz, the club's mammoth, red-glowing dome dominates the skyline like St Paul's Cathedral in London. I joined the queue with thousands of women in barely there skirts and boob tubes and well-honed guys in shorts and tees. Most looked young enough to be my grandchildren. Security thoroughly patted me down, then I entered another world. Intense white light cascaded from a mirror ball into my eyes as the unrelenting bass seemed to rattle my chest bone. This being Gen Z clubbing, there was an immediate opportunity to update your socials at the transparent selfie booth. A sweeping staircase leads to a huge dance floor with a raised DJ booth at the far end, and it was soon a swarming mass. Just like the old days, the hands are in the air when the music reaches a crescendo, but now thousands of phones are held aloft, recording every beep and thud for posterity . . . and Instagram. UNVRS began life as Club San Rafael in the 1970s, later changing its name to KU Club and then Privilege. 'DON'T EVER CHANGE DAD' Celebs who once partied there include Bowie, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Tina Turner. In the 1990s, it hosted the infamous Manumission night, which featured live sex acts on stage. UNVRS is less decadent for a different age, drawing a very glam and British — crowd. With my back aching from too much standing, it was time for a beer and a sit down at the cavernous Dome Bar. I wince at the price list. A 33cl bottle of Heinken? That's £15, guv. A bottle of water is nearly £13 and a vodka- redbull around £23. Also catching some air were clubbers approaching my own age. Department store manager Jose Antonio, 55, his wife Maria, 56, and their son Alonso, 21, were on holiday from Marbella in Spain. Asking Jose what brought them to the hyper club, he revealed: 'We like electronic music and know Jamie Jones and, of course, we are going to dance and will stay for two or three hours.' Student Alonso, meanwhile, points out a decent advantage to going clubbing with your parents, revealing: 'They paid!' But Andrew Killin, 56, from North London, who has been to Ibiza ten times over the years, said he wasn't impressed by the sprawling size of the club, finding it a little 'soulless'. 5 5 In the main room I spot a greying figure with large specs nodding his head as if entranced by the beat. Skegness dad-of-four Matthew O'Connor, 57, tells me he's been 'havin' it' since 1988. I'd found a bone-fide Graver. 'I couldn't be on the island, in light of all the hype, and not come to UNVRS,' he told me. 'I wanted to see it and I'm quite wowed.' So are his kids embarrassed that he is still raving as he approaches his seventh decade? 'Quite the opposite,' he insists. 'They tell me, 'Don't ever f***ing change, Dad'.' Matthew — aka DJ Chinny — turns out to be a great raconteur who still 'loves' this party island. 'I came out here in 1988 raving then in 1989 went to Tenerife where things also f***ing exploded,' he revealed. ' Since then I haven't been to Ibiza every year, but it's a love affair that's lasted.' 'IF IT'S IN YOU, IT'S IN YOU' He's still DJ-ing while running a decorating business, and I ask if his clubbing was ever fuelled by drugs? 'I've experimented over the years,' he added. 'It was all about ecstasy and LSD. 'That's back in the day. 'I'm proud now that my weapon of choice is alcohol. 'I'm of the age now where I really need to slow down!' Finally, I asked this fellow 57-year-old if we are too old to rave? 'I'm the same age as the parents of some of the guys I travelled out here with. I'm like the old fossil,' he reveals. 'If it's in you, it's in you.' With Matthew's assurance ringing in my ears I head back to the dance floor and throw my arms in the air to the pumping music.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Exhibition to explore demise of clubbing in Essex
Two former 1990s ravers are laying on a series of events exploring the rise and fall of the clubbing scene in Essex and across the UK. Artist Emma Edmondson and writer Tim Burrows, both 41, grew up on opposite sides of the Thames Estuary but enjoyed mirroring experiences of the nightclub scene. The pair are hosting an exhibition at the Westgate Shopping Centre in Basildon on Saturday as part of the 2025 Estuary Festival. "The dance floor was the Tinder of the late 90s," said Emma. The duo told BBC Essex that "before acid house, before Ibiza, there was Essex". But in the last five years, about 400 clubs have closed in Britain – more than a third of the total number. Emma grew up in Herne Bay over the water in Kent, but is familiar with the once iconic Essex clubs of Raquel's in Basildon, Talk of the South in Southend-on-Sea and Goldmine on Canvey Island. Legislation was brought in by government in the 1990s criminalising unlicensed raves and large gatherings, and some of the county's best known venues started to close. The rave that changed the law "Looking at the Southend strip and how all of those nightclubs have turned into bowling allies or are just laying empty... me and Tim wanted to interrogate what has actually happened to Southend, Basildon [and] south Essex's nightlife," Emma continued. "There are very few places where we can commune with strangers unless we're commuting." She said their project aimed to "reaffirm the social importance of the dance floor." Emma and Tim's events will start with an exhibition at 17:00 BST on Saturday in Unit 10 at Westgate in Basildon, which will include a video installation housed in a deconstructed frame of a noughties Ford Fiesta a series of sculptural paintings, and a panel discussion hosted by Tim. The day will conclude with a Raquel's reunion event at the Owl and Pussycat pub in the town. On Tuesday, Tim will talk again at Unit 10 about some of the themes in his new book - a collection of essays called "Clubbing and commune-ing in Essex" - joined by fellow Guardian writer Dan Hancox. Tim, from Southend-on-Sea, said the Covid-19 pandemic had played its part in the decline of clubbing. A recent Night Time Industries Association study of more than 2,000 people aged between 18 and 30 found that nearly two thirds were going out less frequently than the year before. A separate YouGov survey of 18 to 24-year-olds showed Gen Z continued to be the most sober age group, with 39% of them not drinking alcohol at all. "It's all of the usual things like rising rent, it's tuition fees being higher than they have been before - so students can't afford to go out as much," said Tim. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. End of hedonism? Why Britain turned its back on clubbing 'If downturn continues it'll be RIP for nightclubs' How much do you spend on a night out?
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Clubbing in Essex to be explored by new exhibition
Two former 1990s ravers are laying on a series of events exploring the rise and fall of the clubbing scene in Essex and across the Emma Edmondson and writer Tim Burrows, both 41, grew up on opposite sides of the Thames Estuary but enjoyed mirroring experiences of the nightclub pair are hosting an exhibition at the Westgate Shopping Centre in Basildon on Saturday as part of the 2025 Estuary Festival."The dance floor was the Tinder of the late 90s," said Emma. The duo told BBC Essex that "before acid house, before Ibiza, there was Essex".But in the last five years, about 400 clubs have closed in Britain – more than a third of the total number. Emma grew up in Herne Bay over the water in Kent, but is familiar with the once iconic Essex clubs of Raquel's in Basildon, Talk of the South in Southend-on-Sea and Goldmine on Canvey was brought in by government in the 1990s criminalising unlicensed raves and large gatherings, and some of the county's best known venues started to close. "Looking at the Southend strip and how all of those nightclubs have turned into bowling allies or are just laying empty... me and Tim wanted to interrogate what has actually happened to Southend, Basildon [and] south Essex's nightlife," Emma continued."There are very few places where we can commune with strangers unless we're commuting."She said their project aimed to "reaffirm the social importance of the dance floor." Emma and Tim's events will start with an exhibition at 17:00 BST on Saturday in Unit 10 at Westgate in Basildon, which will include a video installation housed in a deconstructed frame of a noughties Ford Fiesta a series of sculptural paintings, and a panel discussion hosted by day will conclude with a Raquel's reunion event at the Owl and Pussycat pub in the Tuesday, Tim will talk again at Unit 10 about some of the themes in his new book - a collection of essays called "Clubbing and commune-ing in Essex" - joined by fellow Guardian writer Dan Hancox. Tim, from Southend-on-Sea, said the Covid-19 pandemic had played its part in the decline of clubbing.A recent Night Time Industries Association study of more than 2,000 people aged between 18 and 30 found that nearly two thirds were going out less frequently than the year before.A separate YouGov survey of 18 to 24-year-olds showed Gen Z continued to be the most sober age group, with 39% of them not drinking alcohol at all."It's all of the usual things like rising rent, it's tuition fees being higher than they have been before - so students can't afford to go out as much," said Tim. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
My younger wife wants to go clubbing and have sex every night but I'm no longer up for that… is our marriage doomed?
DEAR DEIDRE: MY wife wants to go out clubbing with her pals, while I just want to stay in and cosy up on the sofa watching TV. It's driving a wedge between us, and I'm beginning to realise that our 12-year age gap is a bigger problem than I initially anticipated. She's 28 and I'm 40. We met at a party five years ago. At first, I didn't think our age difference was an issue. I didn't look substantially older than her, and we had lots to talk about. She liked the fact I was more mature than the men her age, and that I was stable, solvent and ready for a commitment. But, lately, a gulf has been growing between us. She has more energy than me after work, and doesn't want to stay in. Her friends are mostly single and living a party lifestyle. Most of my peers have young children and lots of responsibility. I've started feeling I want to have kids before I get too old — but I know she's not nearly ready for that. She also wants sex every night, sometimes several times a night, but I'm no longer up for that — or always capable of it. Things came to a head last weekend when we had a big row over the fact she wanted to go to a new club. I wanted to stay in with a bottle of wine and a takeaway. She told me I was turning into an old bore. I told her she was behaving like a teenager. She ended up going out without me, then rolling in drunk at 5am. Now, we're not really talking. I love her to bits, but I'm starting to wonder if our marriage is doomed to fail. Dear Deidre on relationships, jealousy and envy DEIDRE SAYS: All couples go through difficult periods, when they don't see eye to eye, even when age isn't a factor. If you love each other, you can overcome this – but you need to talk about it. Perhaps, you need to accept you have some different interests now, and compromise. That means, letting her go clubbing occasionally, and not getting annoyed. And she needs to cuddle up on the sofa with you some evenings, without moaning it's boring. And it's actually healthy for couples to have their own friends and interests. Wanting children when she's not ready is a bit trickier to solve. But avoiding the subject won't bring a resolution either. My support pack, Looking After Your Relationship, may be helpful. You could also think about having couples counselling, so you can talk in a safe space. Contact Tavistock Relationships ( to set up an appointment. Also see my support pack, Age Gaps – Do They Matter? THANK YOU FOR... HELPING ME OVER MY ESCORT SHAME DEAR DEIDRE: WHEN loneliness drove me into the arms of an escort, I realised I needed help to change my life. At 30, I'd never had a girlfriend. I was stuck in a dead-end job, still living with my mum and couldn't afford to move out. All I wanted was a partner to share things with, but I felt I had nothing to offer them. I couldn't even date because how could I bring a girl home to my mum's house? One night, I felt so lonely that I ended up paying a woman for sex. It was so nice to have female attention, to kiss and to cuddle. But afterwards, I felt even more depressed because I knew she'd only been nice to me for money. You were so understanding and didn't judge me for living at home or never having had a girlfriend. You suggested that I talk to an organisation called CALM — The Campaign Against Living Miserably ( 0800 585858) and sent me your support packs on Feeling Lonely and Finding The Love Of Your Life. I took your advice and started seeing a counsellor. I've since stopped seeing escorts and joined a dating app. I've also started going out with some work friends, so I feel less lonely. I feel so much more optimistic. Thank you, Deidre. DEIDRE SAYS: It's so easy to get into a rut when you feel lonely and loveless. Well done on making such positive changes, which will make your life much fuller and happier. TEENAGE TROUBLES DEAR DEIDRE: WHENEVER my new boyfriend is busy or doesn't message me straight back, it sets off my anxiety. Our first date was magical, but since then he seems to have cooled off. I'm 19 and he's 20. We've been dating three months. I asked him why he's not as keen as at first, and he says he likes me but isn't sure he's ready for a serious commitment. The more insecure I feel, the more I message him. I'm worried my behaviour is pushing him away. DEIDRE SAYS: New relationships are tricky, as you're getting to know each other and your feelings don't always develop at the same rate. If he doesn't message straight back, it doesn't mean he doesn't like you. Try to distract yourself while you wait. My pack, Living With Anxiety, should help with this. I'M LEFT SCARED IN OWN HOME BY ABUSIVE LODGER DEAR DEIDRE: I GOT a lodger to help pay my mortgage, but he's often nasty to me – and he's even been violent. Sometimes, I feel scared to be in my own home. I'm a 40-year-old man. I've had some health problems, which meant I had to leave my job. As a result, I found it really hard to pay my mortgage and bills. Someone suggested I take in a lodger, as I have spare bedrooms. I advertised online and quickly found someone – a guy in his late 20s. He had a decent job, looked presentable and was charming. But over the past few months, he's started to show his true colours. He has an anger problem, and he drinks. When he gets drunk, he screams obscenities at me and he throws things. He has also violently shoved me. My stress levels are so high that I can't sleep, and I find myself hiding in my bedroom, even though it's my house. What should I do? DEIDRE SAYS: Nobody should be made to feel scared to be in their own home. If you ever feel in danger, please call 999. It's important that you get support to deal with this, so people know what's going on and can help you. Please make contact with Mankind ( 0808 800 1170) which helps men suffering domestic abuse. Also get in touch with the Citizens Advice ( which has information on its website about how to get a lodger out of your house legally. If possible, please ask a friend or relative to come over so that you're not alone with him. Also try talking to him very calmly, but when he's sober. My support pack, Standing Up For Yourself, should help you have this conversation. THIRD WHEELING IN MY RELATIONSHIP DEAR DEIDRE: EVEN though I've been with my partner for five years, his ex makes me feel like a third wheel in my own relationship. They have a son. She's at every family wedding and birthday, and she turns up at our house uninvited! I'm 38 and my partner is 42. We have a daughter. While I'm glad they're on good terms, for his son's sake, it feels like they're too close for comfort. I'll admit I sometimes feel jealous. The rest of his family are friends with her and I often get the impression they wish he'd get back with her. They make me feel second best. It's got to the point where I've had enough. I've told my partner I don't want his ex at family events. He says it doesn't bother him whether she comes or not, but his parents want her there. I think he's worried she'll stop him seeing their son if he stands up to her. I love him but it's time he put me first. Am I unreasonable? DEIDRE SAYS: It's not unreasonable of you to want to feel like you and your daughter are the most important people in your partner's life. But his son is also important, and he doesn't want to antagonise his ex. Make it clear to him how much this is upsetting you. It may be that he needs to show you more love and attention so you feel more secure around her. You could try setting some boundaries. Ask him to tell her she can't turn up to your house without warning. You could ask if his parents could only invite her to some things, too. For more advice, contact Family Lives (
