Cafe, The Albatross Club

Cafe, The Albatross Club, c.15 Marina Arcade, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, 2009 • Part of a superb Chinese gothic seaside complex. The cafe has since gone, The Albatross Club remains.

Cyclone

Cyclone, 6-8 Whitchurch Lane, Edgware, Borough of Barnet, London HA8, 2004 • Not entirely convincing attempt at replicating a Greek temple. Later became a sports bar called Trilogy.

Royal Airforces Club, Mr Wolf

Royal Airforces Club, Mr Wolf, 2 Market Street, Hexham, Northumberland, 2016 • Fancy woodwork with contrasting paint jobs for an oldfangled airforce club adjoined to a newfangled toy shop.

Kat-Man-Do

Kat-Man-Do, 2 South Street, Folkestone, Kent, 2008 • Weirdly-named ex-pub/club which has since been knocked down and replaced with flats.

The Commons

The Commons, 59 Plumstead Common Road, Borough of Greenwich, London SE18, 2004 • Grim-looking club whose name is a play on its politics and position – the local Conservative association and Plumstead Common, […]

Edwin Davis

Ex-Edwin Davis department store, Bond Street, Hull, 2013 • When I came across this I guessed it was a derelict 1930s telecoms or waterworks building. In fact it’s a post-war rebuild […]

Chichi

Chichi, 1 Witham, Kingston upon Hull, 2013 • Defunct nightclub with ridiculously incongruous name in the former National Provincial Bank, which was swallowed up by National Westminster in 1970. It says […]

Cecil (Mecca, Diva’s)

Cecil (Mecca, Diva’s), Cecil House, 1 Anlaby Road, Kingston upon Hull, 2013 • Still on the downbeat 1960s vibe, the clean-lined and rather fine (apart from all the tacky contemporary signage) Cecil […]

Albert Hall (The Fair & Square Club)

Albert Hall (The Fair & Square Club), 12 Midland Road, Kingston upon Hull, 2013 • Practically opposite yesterday’s stunning Tower, another fun palace in far worse condition – a Victorian music […]

Tower

Tower (Tokyo Hull), 52 Anlaby Road, Kingston upon Hull, 2013 • A rather grubby topless lady keeps vigil over this magnificent 1914 cinema designed by H Percival Binks, which has been […]

Casa Italiana S. Vincenzo Pallotti

Casa Italiana S. Vincenzo Pallotti, 136 Clerkenwell Road, Borough of Camden, London EC1, 2011 • An Italian community centre, whose tiny tinselled sign says “Buon natale e felice anno nuovo”. It’s […]

Ex-Franklin Barnes

Ex-Franklin Barnes, 12 Bridge Street, Hereford, Herefordshire, 2008 • 1930s “streamline moderne” facade that looks like an ex-cinema, but was originally Franklin Barnes & Co Ltd, a farm and garden supplies emporium. […]

Abcat Cine Club

Abcat Cine Club, 72 Caledonian Road, Kings Cross, Borough of Islington, London N1, 2003 & 2010 • Still extant “adult” venue from decreasingly seedy Kings Cross: note net curtain update between […]

Continental Blue Film & Video Club

Continental Blue Film & Video Club, Soho, City of Westminster, London W1, 1983 • Old enough to look quaint, despite the subject matter. I’d like to know which road this was […]

Club Gear

Club Gear, 40 East Street, Borough of Southwark, London SE17, 2002 • Aaaw, he’s gone there looking for his club gear and it’s closed down!

Legs ‘n’ Co

Legs ‘n’ Co, 86 Maxwell Street, Glasgow G1, Scotland, 2012 • Defunct lap dancing joint named after dodgy 1970s Top of the Pops dance troupe, with suitably retro sign.

Bojacs Club

Bojacs Club, 38 Goodge Street, Borough of Camden, London W1, 2002 • Watneys Red Barrel! Cobwebs! An old members’ club sign on – bizarrely – a doormat, revealed by a refurb.

Mazzini Garbaldi Club

Mazzini Garbaldi Club, 51 Red Lion Street, Borough of Camden, London WC1, 2003 • Founded 1864, sold 2008, now an expanse of plate glass, with no trace of these Italian flag-coloured […]