End of an era for Manchester’s longest running club night as South Club set to close

South Manchester announced a shock closure this afternoon (Thursday, 2 June 2022).

The legendary South King Street club’s lease ended during COVID, and the landlord wants to redevelop the space. So, after 27 years, South Club will end this Saturday.

South club first opened on South King Street in Manchester in 1995 by Haçienda promotions manager Paul Cons. For the last 12 years, it has been operated by hospitality and entertainment company Tokyo Industries, arriving in 2010 with a new design from Haçienda designer Ben Kelly and a subsonic Funktion One sound system.

“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 issue,” said MD of Tokyo Industires Aaron Mellor.

“Unfortunately, the demolition and redevelopment of the former Pizza Express building into a hotel have recently closed off our adjacent street, moving our smoking area back onto South King Street, returning more noise issues from the residents overlooking that street. As a result, we’ve become landlocked by residential development”.

Inspiral Carpets’ Clint Boon first started DJing at South’s Friday night slot ‘The Rock+Roll Bar’ in 1997. By June 2001, he’d taken over the club’s Saturday night residency that would later become one of the most established fixtures in Manchester’s nightlife history and a great night out with big indie tunes alongside club classics and a few surprises too.

After 21 years, Boon’s legendary residency finally ends this Saturday marking over a thousand club nights and the end of Manchester’s longest running club night.

Clint simultaneously announced the closure on Twitter this afternoon.

1/2 A message that I never hoped I’d have to post. My night this Saturday at @South_Club will be the club’s closing night. Due to issues beyond our control, (myself, the management & the owners), Manchester will lose one of it’s greatest nightclubs of all time (cont’d)….

— Clint Boon (@therealboon) June 2, 2022

“South Club has been my second home for well over 20 yrs and it’s been a massive part of the Boon family’s journey,” he said.

“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.”

Aaron continues: “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. So all staff, club nights, promoters, and Mr Boon will be safely moved to our Deaf Institute, Gorilla and Factory venues. All you need is SOUTH.”

South Club will host one last weekend of parties this week, with Clint Boon playing the last set this Saturday (4 June 2022) which is almost 21 years to the day that Boon played the first one…

“So get those cans of Red Stripe in and let’s have one final party,” says Boon.

Tickets for the final night is sold out, but not to worry, it will be streamed online via Beatstream here and pay what you feel.