Nightlife
The story of World Headquarters, the beating heart of Newcastle’s underground
Refuge & ruckus — Sprouting from free party roots, the nightclub institution has been an inclusive pillar of the North East’s music scene since the early ’90s. Olivia Fee dives into its long history, evolution, and ongoing importance.
Written by: Olivia Fee
In photos: The UK’s first trail-running powered club night
Trail Sonified – Staged in a car park on the edge of the Lake District, Merrell turned data gathered from athletes into a full-blown party at Kendal Mountain Festival, in a collision of underground music and overground sport.
Written by: Ella Glossop
Queer nightlife in crisis: 8 of London’s biggest parties unite to save LGBTQ+ venues
Not a eulogy. A declaration — Over the weekend, INFERNO, Queer House Party, Riposte, RIOT, BUMPAH, Coven, Uhaul Dyke Rescue and PLASTYK came together in a photoshoot to call for collective action, as the landscape for grassroots venues continues to worsen.
Written by: Ella Glossop
Inside Booters: the Hooters-inspired supper club celebrating butch identity
Butchify everything — From a viral performative butch contest, to a packed ButchtoberFest celebration, Booters is taking over London’s dyke nightlife.
Written by: Megan Wallace
Malaysia’s oldest drag club is an oasis for its queer community. Can it survive?
Blue Boy Club — Having been open since the ’80s, the Kuala Lumpur institution has provided a space for the city’s LGBTQ+ folk to express themselves and connect. But faced with ramping conservatism and police raids, its outlook appears increasingly murky.
Written by: Gordon Cole-Schmidt
The abandoned church at the heart of London’s ’80s nightlife
Limelight — Set on Shaftesbury Avenue, the club was a weekend destination for the city’s celebrities and stars, but also folks looking for a good night out. In-house photographer David Koppel’s new book and exhibition revisits its heyday.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Ravers are swapping dancefloors for chessboards
Knight to d-floor — As traditional club spaces come under threat, electronic music lovers are seeking out alternative ways to enjoy rolling grooves and breaks. Now, a new type of club, where chess matches are soundtracked by DJ sets and club beats, appears to be their next move.
Written by: Bella Koopman
On a night out with the cast of Skins, Ewen Spencer captured millennial hedonism in all its unabated, messy glory
One Night in Watford — Commissioned to take promotional pictures for the generation-defining teen drama before it hit screens, the legendary youth culture photographer revisits the fun-fuelled evening, which was equal parts work and play, in his new photobook.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Remembering New York’s ’90s gay scene via its vibrant nightclub flyers
Getting In — After coming out in his 20s, David Kennerley became a fixture on the city’s queer scene, while pocketing invites that he picked up along the way. His latest book dives into his rich archive.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Huck teams up with Eastern Margins for a special SXSW London showcase
From Shibuya to Shoreditch — Taking place at Village Underground on Monday, performances will come from MONO, Nina Utashiro, Ena Mori, Jianbo, LVRA & Soda Plains.
Written by: Isaac Muk
A visual trip through 100 years of New York’s LGBTQ+ spaces
Queer Happened Here — A new book from historian and writer Marc Zinaman maps scores of Manhattan’s queer venues and informal meeting places, documenting the city’s long LGBTQ+ history in the process.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Block9 reveals its Glastonbury Festival 2025 plans
Party and protest — The nightlife hub will feature a bigger-than-ever Saturday daytime block party across The NYC Downlow and Genosys, and a huge collaboration with artist-activist group Led By Donkeys.
Written by: Isaac Muk
