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Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Six legendary Scottish nightclubs that closed over the years but are still unforgettable
Scotland's legendary nightclubs may be gone, but their memories live on. Here's a look back at six of the most iconic. If there's one thing Scots know how to do, it's enjoy a night out. Whether it's heading through to Glasgow or Edinburgh for a gig, or simply popping down to the local for a pint, everyone has their own way of unwinding. But sometimes, nothing hits quite like a proper night on the dancefloor. Scotland has been home to some iconic venues over the years, from the legendary Sub Club in Glasgow to Sneaky Pete's in the heart of Edinburgh. But while some names remain etched into nightlife history, others have sadly faded into memory as once-beloved nightclubs closed their doors for good. From the underground energy of The Arches in Glasgow to the buzzing crowds of Amadeus in Aberdeen, these venues defined weekends for a generation of revellers. Though they're long gone, the atmosphere, music, and unforgettable nights still live on in stories and nostalgia. Those who danced until dawn at these spots will never forget them. And for those who missed out, consider this your chance to discover what all the fuss was about. Here are the six legendary Scottish nightclubs that may be gone, but are certainly not forgotten. Eros and Elite, Edinburgh Buster Browns, Edinburgh Bonkers, Glasgow
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ewan McVicar: Working classes are being 'priced out' of culture
When Ewan McVicar was a a teenager, he would spend what money he had going to clubs while dreaming of becoming a superstar having realised his ambition, he fears the next generation of working class kids are being priced out of Scottish 31-year-old, who brings his Pavilion festival back to his native Ayr over the first weekend in May, is concerned the rising cost of going to gigs or clubs will stop people being energised by told BBC Scotland News he often felt alienated at industry events because they are dominated by people from affluent backgrounds. McVivar was working in a cold storage warehouse when his cover of Rufus track Tell Me Something Good cracked the Top 20 in the UK went on to be downloaded more than 83m previously spent years training to be a teacher, before deciding to to pursue his passion for DJ traces this back to watching rave documentaries as a teenager and going to nights at Glasgow's legendary Sub Club able to spend a few pounds and take in music is something that is increasingly rare, with major concerts often costing three figures, aided by controversial dynamic pricing systems - where the cost can increase if demand is high. "Going to clubs and gigs changed my life," he says."I ended up working at the Sub Club so I could see my favourites for free, and before that I'd spend a fiver going to see any DJ - that inspired me. "If I couldn't afford to do that, then none of this would ever have happened. "If you look deeper, that's where my story started – going to see a DJ or a band can change your life." McVicar's father died before he was born and, growing up in Ayr, he had to work hard for believes the current state of play will squeeze out people from ever getting into the music industry."Working class people getting priced out of things is getting worse and worse," he says."I know what it is like to be skint. About five years ago I was living off my overdraft. "If you look at football, working class people are being priced out of going to games and that's true in music too. "Look at the Brit Awards, nearly all the winners were privately educated apart from Sam Fender. "I feel quite alienated at these events where you'll ask someone how they got into there to perform and they'll say it's because their dad did this and that."I worked my buns off to get where I am." That attitude is why the Pavilion festival - named after a famed Ayrshire club night in the 90s - is so important to launched the event two years ago, having long wanted to make use of the Low Green area near the beach in the town. More than 7,000 people attended each day of the this year he has expanded it to three days, with the first day on 2 May presenting bands including James and will play the middle day of the festival alongside an array of other DJ's, including Annie Mac and Ben he is excited about the final day when Madchester pioneers the Happy Mondays top the bill. "Pavilion in the 90s was predominantly a rock club, where STREETrave [veteran Ayrshire promoters] happened to do dance events. "So I always kinda wanted to get bands into the festival."It's mental. If you said before the festival started that the Happy Mondays would be playing on the Low Green, then you'd be like 'aye, sure'." McVicar says there was plenty of scepticism surrounding his plans to hold events in Ayr, but also local support as now has the backing of South Ayrshire Council, who previously stated the weekend bash gave a "massive" financial boost to the there is one supporter of the event far more important than anyone else - his baby son Mac, who arrived in December."I've been back on tour the past couple of months and it gives me more of a purpose than ever," he smiles. "I was scared in a way because my whole life has always revolved around music and now I have even more of a reason to do bigger and better things. It's for him. "When I get home from tour the best thing ever is just seeing him smiling."You've done three flights but you see him and exhaustion just goes away." 'It feels crazy to be doing stuff this big' He admits the past year has seen some big changes, like Mac's arrival and buying his first home with fiancée Aimei Melvin. McVicar's life has changed musically too - he broke up with his management last year, having felt they didn't understand what he wanted from his career. Now, having performed in Japan and Korea, he has booked an American tour and also hopes to release new music."I definitely pinch myself," he says."It feels crazy to be doing stuff this big. There's a Scottish thing of being hard on yourself, and sometimes I don't give myself a pat on the back. "You see other artists and they're so confident, it almost verges on arrogance. "Maybe it would be easier to be like that - but I suppose it makes me who I am."
Glasgow Times
21-04-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Scottish Government has 'no interest' in nightlife culture
Mike Grieve, managing director of Glasgow's iconic Sub Club, said the Scottish Government's treatment of the nightlife industry is lagging behind the rest of the UK, and funding is too challenging for many in the sector to access. Mr Grieve, who chairs the Scottish Night Time Industries Association (SNTIA) and is a director of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), added that he is working on a Scottish Manifesto for the Night Time Economy due to be published in the coming weeks. Scotland lost more than 30% of its nightclubs in four years. The number of venues dropped from 125 to 83 between June 2020 and June 2024, according to the latest statistics from CGA Neilson. Speaking at a Save The Scene panel for stakeholders in Scotland's nightlife sector, Mr Grieve said: 'The Scottish Government has no interest in any cutting-edge culture. They see culture as that traditional, high culture. The kilts and shortbread culture. They don't actually see what we do as being cultural in the right way.' He added: 'They certainly don't support it financially compared to the rest of the UK.' (Image: Newsquest) Mr Grieve criticised the Scottish Government for not using UK Treasury funding to provide the same level of rates relief to nightclubs in Scotland as is happening with their English counterparts. In the 2024-25 financial year, eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England were offered 75% rates relief. From April 1 it was reduced to a 40% discount on business rates bills, capped at £110,00 per business. The UK Government described the move as an interim safeguarding measure until a permanent reform of the business rates system is introduced in 2026. A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: 'Scotland's hospitality industry benefits from the most generous small business rates relief in the UK, with around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors continuing to be eligible for 100% Small Business Bonus Scheme relief. 'The Scottish Budget 2025-26 provides 40% non-domestic rates relief for hospitality premises liable for the Basic Property Rate, including grassroots music venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 people, capped at £110,000 per business.' Hospitality businesses with a rateable value up to and including £51,000 are liable for the Basic Property Rate. This excludes around 2,600 hospitality businesses in Scotland, such as larger venues, with a rateable value above the threshold. In 2025-26, the Scottish Government said it plans to freeze the Basic Property Rate and provide a package of reliefs worth an estimated £731 million. Attendees at the event on April 9, including club promoters, DJs, musicians, sound and light technicians and more, suggested they 'hadn't experienced any effects of government funding' on their practices. Mr Grieve said: 'The reality is, sadly, the funding. What funding there is is inaccessible to people. I doubt there are very many people in this room who would know how to access any funding for any kind of cultural activity. And I think that's almost deliberate in our country. 'Sadly, I think you go to other countries in Europe, they make it easy for people to access whatever funding is there.' Creative Scotland distributes Scottish Government and National Lottery funding for the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland. It supports the live music sector via its Open Fund. The Open Fund was temporarily closed last year due to budget uncertainty, which led to a major crisis in the arts sector. Creative Scotland is currently under review. A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: 'We have demonstrated steadfast support for culture and the arts in Scotland, with game-changing increases in funding for the sector. 'The highest ever number of artists and organisations will receive regular funding from Creative Scotland this financial year – including grassroots and community culture as well as the music sector.' Referencing the independent Nightlife Taskforce introduced in London in February and the Dublin City Night-time Economy strategy released in autumn 2024, Mr Grieve said: 'There are other examples around the UK and beyond the UK where nightlife (economic activity that occurs after 6pm) is taken seriously by the government.' There is hope that the forthcoming Scottish version of the NTIA's Darkest Before The Dawn Manifesto could provide a framework that offers key recommendations for policymakers on how best to support Scotland's night-time economy. Mr Grieve said: 'The idea is to produce a strategy for developing nightlife within Scotland, across the board.' He is also working with Glasgow's City Centre Taskforce to produce a nighttime vision for Glasgow city centre.
