Boardwalk (music club)

53.474°N 2.251°W / 53.474; -2.251

The Boardwalk was a nightclub in Manchester, England, which was open from 1986 to 1999.[1] This medium-sized club, owned by David, Colin and Donald Sinclair, was a popular live music venue and nightclub in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It had multiple floors, with a rehearsal space in the basement.[2]

Colin Sinclair and his father bought the Boardwalk building, located on Little Peter Street, in 1985.[3] Previously, the building's top floor had been used as a rehearsal space for the Hallé Orchestra under John Barbirolli.[4] The Sinclairs founded the venue the following year.[3]

Along with other clubs like the Haçienda, and the International, the Boardwalk provided an important live venue for many bands, from local to national. Sue Langford organized bookings at the Boardwalk.[4] Bands such as Oasis[1] and Northside made their live debuts at the Boardwalk. The Man From Delmonte, the Charlatans, Happy Mondays, Female Brothers and James, who played the opening night in 1986, were amongst the many Manchester bands that appeared frequently at the Boardwalk before acquiring international recognition or disappearing into obscurity. The venue also saw a variety of other acts including The Stone Roses, Hole, Sonic Youth, Chumbawamba, Jayne County, Verve, Bob Mould and Rage Against the Machine. The venue was also known as a focus of Britain's C86 music scene.[5]

The Membranes fronted by John Robb, who wrote the best selling book on Manchester music 'The North Will Rise Again' were the first band to rehearse there. Funkademia was started by DJ and promoter David Payne at The Boardwalk in 1995 and has since gone on to be Manchester's longest running club night, currently at the Mint Lounge. In later years, until the club closed in 1999, former Haçienda DJ Dave Haslam played the regular Yellow night at the Boardwalk on Saturdays.[2]

The nightclub site now has a blue plaque, featuring a smiley face, a symbol associated with acid house.[6] Beneath the symbol is a description of The Boardwalk as a "Madchester Venue Nightclub and Rehearsal Rooms".[7]

References
  1. Moore, Sam (27 October 2015). "What's Become Of 12 Of Britain's Greatest 'Lost' Gig Venues". NME. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  2. Rhind-Tutt, Louise (29 August 2017). "The lasting legacy of Manchester's long-gone nightclubs". iNews. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  3. Haslam, Dave (2000). Manchester, England: The Story of the Pop Cult City. Fourth Estate. ISBN 9781841151465. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  4. Spinoza, Andy (21 February 2023). Manchester Unspun: Pop, Property and Power in the Original Modern City. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9781526168443. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  5. Buckley, Jonathan; Buckley, Peter, eds. (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 119. ISBN 9781858284576. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  6. Farber, Jim (6 July 2014). "Manchester, England, proudly embraces its musical and political heritage to become a world-class destination". New York Daily News. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  7. "All aboard to tour your local Oasis". Manchester Evening News. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2023.


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