The regeneration of the Bigg Market has been a hot topic over the past few years and we’re turning the clock back to a time before Filthy’s, Passing Clouds and The Points took up residence at the top of the street and a certain club called Blu Bambu ruled the roost.
Along with also no longer with us nightspots like Destiny, Idols and the Pig & Whistle, the long since closed club holds a special place in the heart of many Geordies, for many of whom it was the first 'proper' one they went in at the turn of the millennium.
While Baja Beach Club pulled in plenty of punters on the Gateshead side of the water, Blu Bambu, or Bambu as it was known in later years, was one of the biggest draws in Newcastle city centre.
READ MORE: A tale of two floors - remembering Newcastle club Mood in The Gate
While, not a million miles away from its Gateshead peer, and doused in that familiar mix of Cool Water and Charlie Red, Bambu wasn’t quite as cheesy as Baja.
Yes, you could strut your stuff to some early Girls Aloud and Holly Valance (Kiss Kiss anyone?) but, for many, it will be a place they associate with four particular songs - 50 Cent’s In Da Club, Justin Timberlake - Like I Love You, Ice-T’s You Can Do It and finally, a song that still gets people going today - Fatman Scoop’s Be Faithful.
The latter is a song whose title probably means little to anyone but if I was to say, or rather shout “if ya got long hair put your hands up, if you got short hair...make nooooise!” you’d definitely catch my drift and can probably remember dancing to it thinking you were in the film Save The Last Dance!
Unlike Baja, Bambu wasn’t home to its own beach shack cafe and you probably wouldn’t catch dancers going hell for leather in habits to songs from Sister Act, but with it also being a popular haunt for stag and hens, fancy dress definitely wasn’t a rare site.
It was no stranger to a PA with acts like N-Dubz and Ultrabeat performing to revellers and, as well as attracting famous faces, also attracted its own fair share of attention when a fingerprint ID entry system was introduced to crack down on underage drinking, fake IDs and criminal activity.
On a lighter note its drinks menu was home to some rather interesting concoctions which could play havoc with having to negotiate the club's rather treacherous spiral staircase!
In an era when fishbowls weren’t just reserved for bars on Magaluf strip, Bambu invited friends to dip their straws into some very potent punches and then there was the cocktail menu.
Many of you might have found yourself giving it the 'big I am' choosing a Bullshock - it was basically a can of Red Bull mixed with a hearty but not recommended dose of Red Aftershock. Let’s just say - Bullshock 1 - Simon 0!
Other than its music, one of the best things about Bambu, with its club nights included Sweet and Hangar 13, was its location.
Yes, the Bigg Market is known for its fair share of scuffles but for late night munchies, Blu Bambu couldn’t be better placed.
With such high end eateries as Ameens, Bigg Market Chippy and Toon Takeaway on its doorstep and KFC right next door, exiting the club in search of a late night snack before the taxi, you were short of choice.
There’s no doubt that Filthy’s, Passing Cloud and The Points are fitting successors to Bambu and are deservedly popular but, at the risk of sounding dead old, they don’t make clubs like they used to!
See the latest news in your area by receiving email updates
