If you could turn back time and step into your favourite Gloucestershire nightclub once more, which venue would you choose? Picture those unforgettable nights filled with laughter, friends, dancing until dawn, a few too many drinks, and perhaps even meeting someone special.
Several legendary venues have risen to the top of the “most-missed” list, each carrying cherished memories of vibrant nights and lively crowds. Let’s take a nostalgic trip through Gloucestershire’s clubbing past and revisit the hotspots that defined a generation.
Cheltenham’s ‘90s and 2000s club scene was dominated by Subtone on The Promenade. More than just a nightclub, Subtone spanned three floors, boasting a piano bar, café, and club area. It grew from a specialist music venue to a nightlife cornerstone, hosting iconic British acts like Massive Attack and Chase & Status. One patron fondly remembers “dancing on the coffee table in the piano bar with a packed room and the best nights ever.” Another former drum ‘n’ bass DJ called it a “distant gem” and treasured part of their past. Sadly, Subtone closed its doors permanently on New Year’s Eve 2016, and the building has since been repurposed.
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Over in Gloucester, KC’s on Quay Street was a beloved nightlife staple throughout the 1980s and ’90s. Famous for its gloriously sticky carpets, cheesy chips, and cheesy tunes, the two-story venue featured the latest music downstairs and classics upstairs. It was the backdrop for hundreds of first dances, many of which blossomed into lasting relationships. Hanging out on the stairs, playing pool, or dancing the night away—KC’s was a social hub where a pint cost just £1 in 1998. The club later became Envy and Lansons before closing for good in 2009. Years later, authorities discovered an illegal cannabis farm in the abandoned building.
Rewind to the Swinging Sixties, and the Blue Moon on Cheltenham High Street was the place for cutting-edge live music. Known as the “coolest place,” it hosted legendary acts like Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Mott The Hoople, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, and The Who on its intimate corner stage. The Four Tops even played their first UK show here. Later renamed Night Owl in the early ’80s, it maintained its rock roots, becoming a biker hotspot with an unpolished charm—sticky floors, no toilet doors, but unforgettable nights. Eventually evolving into Mistys, The Attic, and now retail stores, the venue’s spirit lives on in the memories of longtime patrons. One devoted fan called it “the best goth club in Cheltenham” and described the unique sense of being “alive in that corner of time and the world.”
In the ’80s and ’90s, Gas (later Chemistry) was a favorite for Cheltenham’s night owls. This four-level venue in St James’s Square attracted thousands, featuring live bands and special guest appearances, including BBC’s Steve Wright and EastEnders’ Paul Bradley. Long queues were common during its mid-1990s heyday. A nostalgic visitor recalled the club as the first Cheltenham nightclub they experienced, recalling “Heaven and Hell… drinking Mad Dog 20/20… pound-a-pint nights.” Gas closed its doors in 2005, leaving a lasting legacy.
Cheltenham’s High Street and Albion Street corner has seen clubs come and go under many names—Time, Moda, Charles, V2, Lace, and Buskers. This iconic building, which also housed the George and Pilgrim pub, was a constant party destination through the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s before closing to make way for flats known as Buskers Court.
Gloucester’s Crackers, near the station on Bruton Way, was a diverse venue hosting live gigs, reggae nights, and even adult entertainment. Its popular gay nights on Mondays and Saturdays, free-entry rock, punk, and goth nights remain fondly remembered. One patron reminisced about a Kurt Cobain lookalike spotted at the club. Today, the site shines anew as the Forum project.
Tracy’s, also on Bruton Way, flourished in the 1970s as Gloucester’s “first proper nightclub.” Managed by Pat Loughton and his large dog, it welcomed guests with free champagne on opening night—moments that remain close to many hearts.
In Cheltenham’s 1990s scene, a laid-back venue on High Street fostered friendships and memorable nights under laser lights and projections. Known for its resident DJ “Sheik Yerbuti” and familiar, friendly crowd, it was the place for cans of Red Stripe and dancing until late. That venue is now The Strand pub.
Finally, clubs like Eves, Lorraine’s/Fez Club, the foam parties at The Maltings in Stroud, The Hub, Cafe Continental, Enigma, Arabella’s, Cinderella’s in Gloucester, as well as Thirteen, Prom Club, George and Pilgrim, The Green Room, Spa Lounge, and X-S hold a special place in the hearts of many who reveled in Gloucestershire’s dynamic nightlife past.
These venues may no longer welcome dancefloor devotees, but their legacy lives on—etched in memories, photographs, and the stories that light up the night.