Hacienda, Manchester

[Andy008]

What was so special about this club?

[ericabond]

It is not my favourite type of club (it did enjoy a rather bad reputation some 10 or so years ago) and it used to be owned by a "television celebrity" who was, in my opinion very undeserving of the title but maybe that has changed and it is now in the realms of a "top" night club but somehow i don't think so

[nicola_red]

I can't explain it really.  I always thought the atmosphere was different to other places i went at the time.  It's very bound up in the recent history and popular culture of Manchester so I think it had a special meaning to Mancunians.  I don't think the fact that Tony Wilson owned it had any bearing on that - I don't like him as a personality either - but the fact that it was a Factory records venture did.  I'd be interested to know if ericabond was a regular there as she talks of it as if it still exists!  I wouldn't say it had a bad reputation here - no more than any other club anyway.  I never had any bad experiences there.  I pass the building every day and still get a pang of nostalgia when I look over.

[andy hughes]

At the time, this was one of the first 'hip' clubs outside London - achance for a provincial city to gain a reputation for cutting edge music and atmosphere.

You have to remember that the Hacienca was ahead of its time - this was the height of the 'disco' era, but the Hacienda was playing left-field alternative music that very few, if any, other clubs were playing at the time. It attracted a crowd who wouldn't patronise a normal disco because they played cheesy pop and soul sounds, and the Hacienda was playing euro-sounds and indie music, way ahead of its time, ehich gives it, I think, a deserved iconic status.

[ericabond]

Nicola - just to clarify my point - i used to visit NW clubs (Peppermint Place, Henry Africa's Embassy, Quaffers and Hacienda included) every fortnight in the mid 80s to early 90s but i have to admit that since 1993 i have moved away from the area to the relative tranquility of the West Country and therefore was unaware of the fate of the H club.  What i do know is that of all the clubs i visited during those years this club had a possibly the worst reputation although i will concede that it was "cutting edge" like i said it was not my favourite by any means. - erica 

[julie dotty]

everything was special. the layout,the djs the tunes,the atmosphere,the people, it was way ahead of its time and it still has people talking about it now.i,m looking for pictures of the crowd if anyone can help me.plus i,m looking for info on the conspiracies night club from around 1989 or 1990 and kitchens afterhours club.