Legendary Manchester nightclub South is to close after one final party this weekend after 27 years entertaining the city's masses. The shock closure was announced on Twitter by one of the club's most famous resident DJs - Manc music icon Clint Boon.
Clint has played on Saturday nights at the South King Street venue for over 20 years with his famous Boon Army following, Disco Rescue and Forever club nights. Inspiral Carpets star Clint broke the news of the closure on his Twitter on Thursday afternoon to the dismay of fans.
He said: "A message that I never hoped I’d have to post. My night this Saturday at South will be the club’s closing night. Due to issues beyond our control, (myself, the management and the owners), Manchester will lose one of its greatest nightclubs of all time."
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He went on to say: "South has been my second home for well over 20 years and it’s been a massive part of the Boon family’s journey. Please join us on Saturday for our closing night.
"Needless to say, it’ll be a big send off and probably an emotional one! Lotsa love."
Clint's messages were met with a huge outpouring from gutted fans who spoke of their own "legendary" nights spent in the basement club. The venue was well known for its indie nights, but also celebrated an eclectic mix of musical styles including the Murkage garage night.
It was first opened as South back in 1995 by former Hacienda promoter Paul Cons, as an "antidote" to the superclub trend. In 2001 it was taken over by Oldham club entrepreneur Aaron Mellor's Tokyo Industries and redesigned by renowned Hacienda designer Ben Kelly in 2010.
The site also has a long history as a nightclub, stretching back to the 1970s when it first opened up as one of Manchester's first gay clubs. But there are now signs on the door of the South King Street unit saying that the landlord had "forfeited the lease" to South.
Tokyo Industries have explained in a statement that the closure is down to the lease coming to an end during Covid and the "landlord wanting to redevelop the space". It's not known yet what the plans are next for the famous club site.
Commenting about the closure, club MD Aaron Mellor said: "During the last few years more and more residential apartments have surrounded us on South King Street, which led to Noise Abatement notices and adaptation after adaptation to try and box out the sound issues. Most recently the demolition and redevelopment of the former Pizza Express building into a hotel has closed off our adjacent street moving our smoking area back onto South King Street, returning more noise issues from the residents overlooking that street. We’ve become landlocked by residential development”.
He added: "All good things must come to an end - we’ve had some amazing times in this building but it feels like the right time to close the chapter on this story. All staff, club nights, promoters and of course Mr Boon, will be safely moved to our Deaf Institute, Gorilla and Factory venues. All you need is SOUTH… x."
Inspiral Carpets keyboardist Clint first started DJing at South’s Friday night slot The Rock+Roll Bar in 1997, and by June 2001 he'd taken over the club's Saturday night residency that will come to a final end as Manchester's longest running clubnight, ironically 21 years to the day this weekend.
DJ Clint told the MEN that he hoped people would be able to focus on the positives of what the nightclub has brought to the city over the past 30 years.
He said: "Things do come to an end, I've had an amazing time working 20 years there but it's the end of an era for me.
"I remember some of the big names who played in there - I remember standing next to Anthony Wilson as he DJed, and Alan McGee, he said it was the greatest nightclub he'd ever been in in the world. It made a massive impression on a lot of people.
"We've all seen people who met in South, who end up getting married and then came back with their kids when they turn 18. I'm more gutted for the city than myself, it has been a big part of my life, and a big party of the Boon family, but I want to celebrate what we've achieved really for such a long time in Manchester."
Clint added: "It's the end of an era but there's a lot to celebrate. We've had some brilliant times and created a lot of love in that room."
Clint also paid tribute to the history of the venue. He said: "It's amazing that since the 1970s it's never stopped being a club through all those decades.
"I will remember many great nights there. As well as the club nights, there were also the massive after-show parties, it really has had a colourful history."
Club-goers sent their own memories to Clint after he made the announcement on Thursday afternoon. The operators of fellow Manc nightclub 42s sent a message of support with a broken heart emoji saying: "Another staple of the Manchester scene gone. Hope you all have a great last night gutted for you all!"
Guy Hodgkiss-Cook added: "Gutted! Man I have had some great times in there and Red Stripe never quite tastes the same anywhere else. Have a cracking time and send off on Saturday. Big Love to everyone involved over the years. PS- If you remember any of the nights too well- you were doing it wrong."
Helen Wilson said: "Gutted!! Spent most of my 20s in there!! Got some cracking memories and I always drunkenly staggered up and asked you to play Voodoo Ray, you always did. Happy days!"
Tickets for Clint's last set on Saturday can be purchased online at www.SOUTHnightclub.com, and there are also plans to stream the event live on BeatStream, with more details to be announced on Clint's official Twitter account @therealboon.
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