But with so many venues setting the benchmark through the decades, we have one question – what is Portsmouth’s best nightclub ever?
In a bid to answer that we took to Facebook to ask the people who know best, our readers, and we got hundreds of responses.
Their votes have been tallied up and before you now is their countdown of the top 15 Portsmouth nightclubs of all time.
Want to know which one they declared the very best? Simply make your way through the gallery until you get to the last page to find out.
A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron
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A collage of four of the venues you voted among Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs. Top row, from left, Time and Envy and SPECs. Bottom row, from left, Ritzy and 5th Avenue. Photo: Contributed
. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - Time and Envy
Coming in at number 15, Time and Envy. The club once occupied the Savoy Building in South Parade, Southsea. Photo: Michael Scaddan
. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - Frisco's
Coming in at number 14 was Frisco's Nightclub, which once occupied the building that houses the Clearwater Apartments in South Parade, Southsea, pictured. Photo: Google Street View
1. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - Time and Envy
Coming in at number 15, Time and Envy. The club once occupied the Savoy Building in South Parade, Southsea. Photo: Michael Scaddan
2. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - Frisco's
Coming in at number 14 was Frisco's Nightclub, which once occupied the building that houses the Clearwater Apartments in South Parade, Southsea, pictured. Photo: Google Street View
3. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - The Birdcage
Unsurprisingly, legendary venue The Birdcage made our readers' list - at number 13. Over the years the Eastney Road venue played host to all-night sessions and some incredible music acts, including The Who, David Bowie, Cream, Pink Floyd and Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. Pictured is one of the venue's posters. Can you spot Rod Stewart? Photo: Contributed
4. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - SPECs (The Some Place Else Club)
Coming in at number 12, the Some Place Else Club. The venue was owned by the Arnett family - also owners of Crown Bingo - and hosted its first Basins gig in 1985. Its old unit is now occupied by the Lord Palmerston Wetherspoon pub. Photo: Allan Hutchings