For many of us, spending far too much time in nightclubs during our late teens and early 20s is a rite of passage.
It’s fair to say that young people still do enjoy a night out, but those of a certain age will remember a time when eager youngsters spent the whole week looking forward to a Friday or Saturday night.
Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, when you could smoke indoors and pints were actually affordable, nightclubs across the country made a roaring trade.
The 1980s was certainly a brilliant era for clubbing, as was the 90s with its dance scene.
To reminisce, we asked Brummies what nightclubs they miss the most from the 80s and 90s. Here are the most popular answers:
1. Locarno, Hurst Street
Locarno Dance Hall opened in 1961 and remained one of the popular clubs in the 60s and 70s and 80s. The club was closed permanently in 2015 and is adorned with graffiti. One person wrote: “Lacarno loved it there.” | YouTube
2. West End Bar, Snow Hill
The West End bar was situated on Snow Hill and closed in the 1990s. It’s been described as the ‘first real afterhours club in Brum’ and the ‘birthplace of the real Birmingham underground sound’. | google
3. Rum Runner Club, 1964 - 1987
Located on Broad Street, this plaque marks the site of the iconic nightclub that played a pivotal role in Birmingham’s music scene. The Rum Runner was the birthplace of the band Duran Duran and hosted many other famous acts in the 1980s | Google Maps
4. The Elbow Rooms, Aston
Another iconic venue, the old Elbow Rooms nightclub was also frequented by Sabbath back in the day with footballer George Best. It was very popular in the 80s, and was located here: next to the Legacy Centre of Excellence | Google