Back in the 80s and 90s, before licensing laws changed, most pubs shut at 11am. That meant heading to a nightclub if you wanted to carry on drinking. And such was the demand there were usually huge queues to get in, often snaking around the block.placeholder image
Back in the 80s and 90s, before licensing laws changed, most pubs shut at 11am. That meant heading to a nightclub if you wanted to carry on drinking. And such was the demand there were usually huge queues to get in, often snaking around the block. | National World

9 things you'll only remember if you went to nightclubs in the 80s and 90s - and photos to take you back

Robert Cumber
By Robert Cumber

Property and retro writer

Published 10th Aug 2025, 07:00 BST

It was a golden age for nightclubs in the UK, with unforgettable venues, amazing music and fantastic fashion.

Clubbing during the 80s and 90s was very different to how it is now, and there are some things you’ll only remember if you were a regular on the dance floor back then.

We’ve put together a list of things that defined the clubbing scene back then, from the sounds to the styles and even the smells.

How well do you remember the drinks 80s and 90s clubbers chugged, the cords they donned and the hairstyles they sported?

These fabulous retro photos will hopefully help jog your memory.

What are your favourite memories of nightclubs in the 80s and 90s? Let us know in the comments section.

The popular Hitman and Her TV show was an attempt to capture the buzz of clubbing during the late 80s and early 90s. Presented by the unlikely duo of Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan it ran from 1988 until 1992 on ITV's Night Network. It was filmed at nightclubs around the UK and showed clubbers dancing to the biggest hits. There were also party games, including 'Clothes Swap' and 'Pass the Mic!' in which clubbers would be chosen to compete.

5. The Hitman and Her

The popular Hitman and Her TV show was an attempt to capture the buzz of clubbing during the late 80s and early 90s. Presented by the unlikely duo of Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan it ran from 1988 until 1992 on ITV's Night Network. It was filmed at nightclubs around the UK and showed clubbers dancing to the biggest hits. There were also party games, including 'Clothes Swap' and 'Pass the Mic!' in which clubbers would be chosen to compete. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images

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There are still nightclubs with strict dress codes, but not nearly as many, it would seem, as in the 90s. If you wanted to get in to most venues back then, smart shoes, trousers (no jeans) and a shirt (no T-shirts) were a must.

6. No jeans, no trainers

There are still nightclubs with strict dress codes, but not nearly as many, it would seem, as in the 90s. If you wanted to get in to most venues back then, smart shoes, trousers (no jeans) and a shirt (no T-shirts) were a must. | Avalon via Getty Images Photo: Peter J Walsh/PYMCA

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The 80s and 90s were a golden age for superclubs in the UK, with some of the biggest including Manchester's Hacienda, the Ministry of Sound, in London, Gatecrasher One, in Sheffield, and Cream at Nation, in Liverpool. These huge venues pulled in thousands of punters and attracted the best DJs from across the country and beyond.

7. Getting lost in the crowd at a superclub

The 80s and 90s were a golden age for superclubs in the UK, with some of the biggest including Manchester's Hacienda, the Ministry of Sound, in London, Gatecrasher One, in Sheffield, and Cream at Nation, in Liverpool. These huge venues pulled in thousands of punters and attracted the best DJs from across the country and beyond. | National World Photo: National World

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Before the smoking ban came into effect in the noughties, you were enveloped by the haze as you entered nightclubs across the UK and you would emerge reeking of cigarettes, whether you lit up or not

8. The smoke

Before the smoking ban came into effect in the noughties, you were enveloped by the haze as you entered nightclubs across the UK and you would emerge reeking of cigarettes, whether you lit up or not | Getty Images Photo: Glyn Howells/Hulton Archive

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