international news _ JONTY SKRUFFF _ 25th October, 2005
Police Shut Britain's Biggest Superclub
Magistrates in Blackpool removed the late licence of the Northern resort's 3,000 capacity club the Syndicate this week, after police compiled a dossier of 61 alleged 'incidents', forcing the club to close its doors for at least the next five weeks.
The massive superclub, which in recent weeks has hosted DJs including Judge Jules, Fergie and Felix da Housecat, accused local cops of operating 'a hidden agenda' and promised to re-open on November 26.
"The majority of the incidents referred to were over 12 months ago and since that time the new doormen have behaved exemplary," said the Syndicate in a statement posted on their website.
"Since opening its doors in December 2002 we have had over 1.5 million customers through the premises and the percentage of trouble makers has been infinitesimal. We intend to re-open on the 26th November as we can do by law."
Union chiefs warned that the police action could have implications for clubs throughout the UK while Mixmag news editor Nick Stevenson suggested the club's closure could seriously tarnish Blackpool's image.
"By removing its late licence, the police have effectively destroyed any kind of accessible credible nightlife associated with Blackpool (and have) effectively told clubbers across the country that Blackpool is a sleepy seaside town which is tucked in bed before Cinderella," he told local newspaper The Blackpool Gazette.
"What credibility Blackpool had regained through The Syndicate has now been flushed into the sea," he said.
Blackpool historically served as a traditional British seaside resort catering to working people from North West towns like Manchester and Liverpool and as Blackpool native Chris Lowe from the Pet Shop Boys told Skrufff last year has always deserved its rough and ready reputation.
"I used to go to a club called Man Fridays during the disco era which had plastic palm trees and a plastic dance floor, and I also did odd jobs as a glass collector," Chris recalled of his time as a teenager growing up in the town in the late 70s.
"And Blackpool could certainly be quite a violent place. I remember seeing a horrible fight on Central Pier once, when this lad was getting his head kicked in by about a dozen other lads, it was such a horrible sight."
"And people forget that before acid house the only time that men ever went on the dance floor was at the end of an evening to chat up a girl," he added, "Men would never dance, they'd stand round the edge while the girls danced around their handbags."
(Jonty Skrufff)
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