Liverpool's first legal "all-nighter" dance saw hundreds of clubbers attend and event police initially objected to.
It's now been over 30 years since clubbers across Merseyside and beyond headed to 051 Club on Mount Pleasant to experience the first event of its kind in the summer of 1992. The site had once been home to Bunters nightclub, but in later years 051 quickly established itself as one of the city's most famous venues through the 90s and early 00s.
With a capacity for 2,000 people, for years clubbers would tackle the club's rite-of-passage stairway descent to the basement expanse and dance the night away in baggy jeans, oversized t-shirts, crop tops, bucket hats and more. But in August 1992, a last minute decision meant the club made history, when it was given the go-ahead to host the city's first all night dance - despite fierce opposition from the police
Read More:
- Can you name Liverpool's long-lost nightclubs and bars?
- Bootle Strand in years gone by after £1.5m investment announced
At the time, 051 Club organisers persuaded councillors that the event could go off smoothly. But chief superintendent Patrick Carragher said he had "grave misgivings".
At the time, he said: "We sternly object to the decision for the license extension. It is a police to oppose these type of applications because of the difficulty of controlling the event."
In August 1992, the ECHO reported how strict conditions were attached to the all-nighter - including videoing the whole event. At the time, Cllr Frances Kidd, chairwoman of the council’s licensing committee said. "The decision took four hours to make because the police made a number of objections.
"I think times are changing and we have to go with the times. Every other city has all night dances and I think we should give it a chance and see how successful it is."
Did you attend this event? Let us know in the comments section below.
On Saturday, August 22, the event went ahead and saw more than 1,200 people try to get into the club. Security at the venue doubled and the event lasted around nine hours.
051 Club stopped serving alcohol at 2am, but that didn't stop the 800 dancers allowed in, who paid £12 each, from the filling the massive dancefloor until well past dawn. These images, courtesy of our archives Mirrorpix, capture clubbers outside after the all-nighter concluded.
Organiser John Smith said: "We have shown we can do it and control it. Just look around you, it can be done. A well-run all night dance club in Liverpool.
"This is the biggest purpose-built dance complex in Merseyside and we have filled it. The police were around but they were not needed."
At the event, it was reported that 15 drug dealers were thrown out by bouncers, but Mr Smith said the situation was dealt with and did not reflect what the club was about.
John Whitworth, 25, had come with a car load of friends from Leeds for the event, called "Keep Yer Shirt On" which was in aid of Earthbeat, a music festival in Sefton Park. He said: "Liverpool is now the place to be for clubs. It has really taken off and is a happening place. Manchester is dead."
Above the huge site, clubbers will remember seeing the bold lettering of '0 five one' elsewhere in the city. But in 2005, the venue closed.
Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here.
For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.
Since then, the site has been home to a cinema, paintball arena, bar - people have even abseiled off the building for charity, but it’s the weathered yellow sign which reminds of its former glory. The venue became other clubs, including Aura from September 2013, but was stripped out by 2016.
In 2020, clubbers reminisced about their days at the famous 051 club following claims the site was to be demolished. At the time, Radio City DJ Lee Butler posted on Twitter claiming he had received an email from the owners saying the 051 would soon fall to the bulldozers.
On August 2 last year, the site was devastated by a fire with people questioning why it hasn't been redeveloped. Today, all that remains of 051 are fond memories of events like the city's first all-nighter and photographs of great nights there
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Read Next:
- Rise and fall of Liverpool's famous 'treasure trove' bookshop lost to the 80s
- Where S Club 7 are now as bandmates announce 25th anniversary tour
- 19 brilliant photos show 60 and 70s Anfield in the stands and from the sky
- 19 fascinating photos of Goodison Park and Everton fans of the 60s and 70s
- Former Liverpool four star hotel stored booze in vaults and handed guests 'a verdict'
