A lost nightclub loved through the noughties saw people have "the best nights of their lives."
It's now been a decade since a popular Ellesmere Port nightclub closed its doors for the final time. Back in the noughties, many from Merseyside will remember venturing to Destiny and Elite to listen to incredible DJs and to dance the night away.
The Coliseum Way venue first opened in 2000, with TV presenters Jenny Powell and John Leslie as the special guests along with Geoff Capes, winner of the World’s Strongest Man title, whose firm was providing security. From there, it had a fond place in the hearts of those who loved a night out there.
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Over the years, a number of big stars graced the stage at the club, which also played host to community events. Not long after opening, Destiny and Elite began attracting crowds from Ellesmere Port and beyond - as well as a number of famous faces.
In 2001, the then Eastenders actor and former Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp visited the club to celebrate its first birthday. The following year, his old soap colleague, the late June Brown, who played Dot Cotton, stunned clubbers by taking to the turntables for an hour-long set, at the age of 75.
In 2003, pop star Dannii Minogue put on a sizzling performance during a recording for ITV music show CD:UK, which was hosted by Cat Deeley. She was joined by popular girlbands Atomic Kitten and Girls Aloud, who were just beginning their journey to pop stardom.
Over its decade in business, the nightspot also saw performances from some of the biggest dance acts, including Ian Van Dahl, The Shapeshifters and more recently Basshunter. A way from the celebs, there was also a kids disco organised by the fire service.
In 2004, Destiny and Elite also opened its doors for an under 18s night. It was also the setting for an official marriage blessing after regulars Janet Williams and Peter Ashbrook tied the knot in a civil ceremony.
But while the business had many good years under its belt, it did have its share of controversy. In 2009, a decision to slash booze prices to just 90p in a bid to attract recession-hit drinkers prompted condemnation from the police and MP Andrew Miller. At the time, the nightclub argued the new weekend offers made it affordable for club-goers affected by the credit crunch and that measures were in place to prevent irresponsible drinking.
By 2012, the dance floors at Destiny and Elite emptied for the last time after hundreds of people had packed the venue for a chance to relive the biggest anthems of the past decade at the club’s closing-down party. At the time, no-one from Destiny and Elite were available to comment, but it was believed to have closed for financial reasons, Cheshire Live previously reported.
Do you remember Destiny and Elite? Let us know in the comments section below.
After 12 years, the nightclub officially closed its doors after that last Sunday night. But in December 2015, the site bursts back into life as a new 13,000ft golfing attraction, Paradise Island Adventure Golf, which it remains today.
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With the news of the former Ellesmere Port nightclub becoming an indoor adventure golf centre, many began leaving their memories of the venue. On the Cheshire Live Facebook page, Stacey Louise Thompson said: "I worked there for a lot of the good years and a few of the bad. I have nothing but happy memories from there and made some good friends. Since it closed, this town has become seriously lacking for night time entertainment."
Kelly Meredith wrote: "I met my amazing husband here and we are still going strong 11 years later definitely some of the best nights out of my life here.!" Viki Maddocks commented: "Had a lot of fab nights there. Loved the fact even if you lost all ya mates in there you could still go and tag along with someone else. Lol. Always new someone no matter what. Used to be fab when it was bouncing."
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Sam Joanne Davies posted: "I went there when it first opened. I also went there a few months before it closed it was a hard-core night I met Darren Styles.." And Vicky Garvey said: "I remember the club being buzzing and meeting lots of new people."
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