Latest news with #clubbing
Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Times
French nightclubs close as youth stay at home
Clubbing is regarded as a pastime for the young, but 70 per cent of nightclubs in France have shut down since the 1980s and their demise is being mourned mainly by the middle-aged. Generation Z is more likely to stay at home to play video games and watch TikTok videos for fun, unlike Generation X and boomers, many of whom considered dancing until dawn on Saturday night as a badge of honour. 'No one I know goes clubbing,' said 19-year-old Antonin, who declined to be identified by his surname. 'I prefer simple pleasures like chatting with friends or PlayStation. We're a homebody generation,' he told Le Parisien. • Why Gen Z have fallen in love with the house party 'Everywhere in France, disco balls have stopped turning,' according to the newspaper. 'Only 1,400 clubs are still open, compared with the 6,000 we had a few decades ago,' said Thierry Fontaine, the head of the nightclub section of France's UMIH hospitality union. 'Breathalyser tests on the roads, student poverty and higher entrance fees when you've got big name DJs have put an end to the large clubs.' The Covid-19 lockdowns also had a lasting impact and young people became used to staying at home, according to Mathieu Dagneaux, marketing manager of Dune, a well-known club in La Grande Motte, a Mediterranean resort near Montpellier in the south of France. 'Since Covid, consumer habits have changed,' he said. 'The young are more demanding. Before, they used to go out three or four nights a week in the summer, regardless of the kind of music played. Now they only go to a club if there's really something happening that grabs their interest.' Jérémie Peltier, the author of a book on the phenomenon, entitled La Fête est finie (The Party's Over), said young people were still dancing, but not in clubs. 'Since the pandemic, there have been a lot more home parties. It's cheaper, you can control the music, the people you invite and how the night progresses, as going out is viewed as more stressful or even potentially dangerous.' • UK's worst night out? Costly, crime-ridden London In the UK, about 400 clubs have closed in the past five years, more than a third of the total number. The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned that clubbing could be 'extinct' in Britain by the end of the decade. The cost of living crisis, social media and the pandemic have changed the way young people socialise, and an NTIA survey this year found that nearly two-thirds of 18 to 30-year-olds were going out less frequently than last year. Laurence Voyer, editor of Le Parisien, expressed nostalgia for the club nights of her youth, but concluded that the way young people have fun today 'is not better or worse, it's just different'.
Globe and Mail
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Club Sixteen Unveils New Interactive Web App, Taking Pokhara's Nightlife Experience to the Next Level
Nepal - Renowned as the most iconic nightlife destination in Lakeside, Pokhara, Club Sixteen is thrilled to announce the launch of its brand-new interactive web app, bringing the city's top-rated clubbing experience straight to users' fingertips. The new platform enhances how guests engage with the club, whether they're planning a night out, already inside, or reliving unforgettable memories. With this powerful new tool, partygoers can now: Share their live photos directly through the app Request songs from the DJ in real time Chat with Club 16's virtual assistant for instant support Play games and win exciting gifts throughout the night 'Our goal has always been to lead Pokhara's nightlife scene, and with the new web app, we're redefining what a modern clubbing experience looks like,' said the management of Club Sixteen. 'It's not just about great music and ambiance anymore; it's about real-time interaction, personalized vibes, and digital convenience.' Experience the Pulse of Pokhara at Club Sixteen Located on Street 16 in Lakeside, Club Sixteen is known for its custom-built LW sound system, celebrity performances, live DJ nights, and high-energy lounge and VIP areas. Whether you're dancing until dawn or relaxing with a premium cocktail, Club Sixteen is where Pokhara comes alive after dark. Guests enjoy: Customized Events, Private Parties, and VIP Freedom From bachelorette parties and birthday bashes to themed private events in the confidential VIP section, Club Sixteen lets guests design their own unforgettable moments. The lounge area offers a 'make yourself at home' setting, while the club's international crowd, welcoming atmosphere, and high-level security ensure an elite and safe nightlife experience for all. A Club That Cares About Community Club Sixteen's vibrant blog and event calendar keep locals and tourists alike updated on the latest in Pokhara's nightlife, including: DJ training courses Wellness-friendly non-alcoholic drink options Nightlife tips for every budget Coverage of celebrity appearances and club events Download the app at About Club Sixteen Club Sixteen is the premier nightclub in Lakeside, Pokhara, delivering an immersive nightlife experience rooted in music, connection, and creativity. From international DJs and local talent to thematic private parties and world-class mixology, Club Sixteen is more than a venue; it's a cultural movement in Nepal's entertainment scene. Learn more at: Media Contact Company Name: CB Herald Contact Person: Ray Email: Send Email Country: Nepal Website:
The Sun
28-07-2025
- 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?
