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
5. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - The Tricorn Club
Coming in at number 11 is the Tricorn Club. Dubbed 'the club on stilts', it opened in the 1960s. The whole Tricorn Centre was demolished in 2004. Photo: Pete Cross Collection
6. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - Zoom (10) and Peggy Sue's (9)
Back to South Parade, in Southsea, which was home to our readers' 10th and 9th favourite Portsmouth nightclubs. Zoom, at number 10 and Peggy Sue's, at number 9, which operated during the 1980s and 1990s. The site looks much different now and is home to the modern Tudor Rose Court retirement complex. Photo: Google Street View
7. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - Martine's
While The Astoria is now housed in this building, it was one Martine's - a club fondly remembered by our readers which makes the eighth spot in our list. Photo: Ian Hargreaves
8. Portsmouth's 15 best ever nightclubs - Scandals
The fondly-remembered Scandals, in Landport Terrace, makes it to number seven on our readers' list. It's now an estate agent. Photo: Malcolm Wells