I would like to propose a question to the fun-loving party people of Sheffield...

Following a shooting at Club Element on Friday 3rd September, the police temporarily closed down both Club Element and the adjoining Fez Club until a licensing hearing next week. Given that the dodgy R&B night in question will no longer be running and only the trouble free nights such as Scuba, Phonetics, Pin-Up Club and Coalition will remain, would you like to see the venues re-open?

we are very keen to hear public opinion on this matter...

Pin Up is an excellent night run by good lads who don't promote violence or a bad atmosphere.
Never been to Scuba or the others so can't comment on them.

I reckon Fez should re-open for sure, maybe Element too but completely change the night.

You could open up both and run one BIG club for the likes of Pin-Up and Scuba.
Hey why not have both running at the same time? Scuba in one room, Pin Up the other. What a winning combo!!!

Been going to Scuba for years and never seen any trouble.. why should trouble free nights suffer cos some idiots think they're gangsters..

We're short enough on decent club nights as it is. Closing Fez/Element would really spell the end of decent dance nights in Sheffield.

Surely it's only possible to open both or neither since they operate under the same license?

It's pretty obvious that everyone wants the clubs to re-open. With Scuba gone the options for house music lovers such as myself are pretty pitiful, Phonetics and Pin-Up are both top quality nights too.
I don't really understand why they felt it necessary to close the club(s) in the first place, rather than just get rid of the night that was causing the trouble.

the only circumstances where the fez would open by itself is if the license was granted but the police recommended that downstairs remained shut for a while, or if a separate license was applied for.

to be honest tho, the question is very hypothetical rather than being genuine options.

Dont know about you but I am well ****** with the state of play as regards venues in this city...Hallam Uni robbed the NCPM, Brown street taken over by sleazy naf, Casbah gone, Arches closed,Leadmill dont care... and now this mess.....The council here have let the city down big time and if it carries on like this...well.....
Musicians, artists, Dj's,Promoters, video and filmmakers, photographers security staff bar staff, small business's that rely on this trade, printers. designers, fashion shops, music shops...local journalists and magazines, radio.Tv.Studios and rehearsal rooms..Ranting on...you know what I am saying...................Well disgusted...At a time when Sheff is going through "great" change..

We want our venue back.....We want an exciting and vibrant music scene that represents our city proudly, we want to be heard.........

And then we want to be left alone in peace to do it...

Anyone who knows anything about the clubs or the venue knows that the problems that there were were limited to the Friday night in Element.

It is terrible news for Sheffield that some of the best underground nights in the city are being punished for something that had nothing to do with them.

Hopefully both venues will be back open soon and Phon-etics, Scuba, Pin-Up, Coalition et al will all be back.

I've partied in both spaces for 22 years and Im gutted that, what I regard as rooms in my house, have been shut down. Despite being far from ideal both are gold dust in a city that has few intimate spaces remaining. The situation for underground promoters was dire before, now its virtually impossible.

I would like to add my support for the promoters of the non-violent nights and echo the views of Tron. Sheffield council needs to wake up and realise that the underground music scene is one of the strongest elements of our local culture and needs supporting. Instead all they give us are more sterile, greedy, corporate bars and clubs.

Perhaps local promoters, dj's, musicians etc could make a joint presentation to the council to make them more aware of the situation and demand they support us more. I'll sign.

Raif

Lights Down Low

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Pin Up is an excellent night run by good lads who don't promote violence or a bad atmosphere.


I got my mobile phone and cash taken off me by a punter and a doorman double act in pin up

Most doorman are spot on but there's some dodgy ones about...and one's working at Pin Up

I havnt been back.

So why did you not report this to the police or management...If you ignored this then you aint helping anyone deal with it...In that case responsibility falls on your shoulders and thats why we get problems such as what we are faced with now....shame...

oh I realise these are isolated incidents, and I voted for the club to stay open in the pole

I did attampt to go back and report it, but hey, the guys who took my items and threw me out were the ones on the door, and although my face aint amazing, I kinda like it the way it is.

For the record, Im all for the club re-opening a.s.a.p.

fez/element are 2 of the best club venues in sheffield, to see them go would be a disaster for the Sheffield clubbing scene as there really is very little alternative venues for promoters to use, especially at weekends.

The council really needs to fix up on their licensing otherwise there will be no decent clubs left and the city will be over-run by beer swilling thugs wrapping bottles round each other's heads. Why is so easy to open a bar, and yet to get a late license is nigh on bloody impossible.

you really should report things like that to the club management, ie. the promoter, general manager, licensee or someone who knows one of the above.

security is always a difficult situation, 9 x out of 10 they are fine and do a good job but it is the hired security firm that bring them in rather than them all being vetted by the club. naturally if you get a bad one then they are sacked but until things like that happen you dont really know.

believe me, the promoters and management want all customers to feel relaxed and unthreatened... we want people to continue coming back!

by the way, if anyone want updates on the situation contact me on info@scubamusic.com

cheers :)

Open them both. I've been going since the punk days and I've never had any trouble nor have I ever seen any. Sheffield needs place like this to offer up different nights.

We need more venues and these are two of the best.

Good luck Jamie and shout if anyone at Dust can help.

Whilst they are not clubs I would choose to visit, I think it is important for the city that we do have a good choice of venues representing a cross section of music, styles and atmosphere. We do seem to be losing a lot of nightclubs - the Bed building is still standing abandoned! I also believe that any venue that is open should be safe, not attract criminals and be serving quality drinks.

For that reason, I believe the venue should re-open, however the promotor involved with the offending event no longer connected to the club and with a complete fresh start on the security side, and possibly a new manager.

Also of course, the police would have to approve a new licence, so they should be involved in developing venue security policy ideally.

I have only just found out that they ran an indie night on a monday at element ? IS that true if so what was it like ect ect

I also think it should re open , theres been so much trouble at niche and a bit at zero and they werent closed down so why should element and fez ? Plus Fez have some decent small bands that i was planning to start going to so thats another reason to open it!

good luck jamie.

we've had some good times and there'll be many more wherever they happen.

joel

it's great to see that everyone's rallying behind us... i think we're in with a decent chance.

the club have put forward a genuine proposal to the police, basically inviting them to suggest what needs to be done on every level...

we should find out on friday as to the outcome.

Originally posted by boyface
I got my mobile phone and cash taken off me by a punter and a doorman double act in pin up

Most doorman are spot on but there's some dodgy ones about...and one's working at Pin Up

I havnt been back.

Im really disappointed and suprised to hear this boyface - I really wish you had reported this on the night. The door staff used at Pinup are usally really friendly and make people feel welcome.

Good work on creating this poll Jamie

Dean

I don't think the police will revoke the closure order. The other venue that the owners are already being watched firmly. If anyhting I reckon Element will be the first of many forced closures in the sheffield scene.

The first of many?? Didn’t think we had "many" to close

I hope your wrong

D

I would love it to reopen as it is one of the only clubs in Sheffield that puts on good nights (such as Scuba, Phenetics, pin-up club etc.)

Unfortunately I have heard rumers that the police are not wanting them to reopen at all so I have my doubts. If there is anything we can do to help it reopen I am all for it!

We need more clubs in Sheffield, not less!!

I am guesing that the police would not want element to re-open in its current format - with the right changes and everyone working in the right direction - things should be cool

i just hope the police see the venue for what it is rather than the impression that the dodgy friday night has given them.

providing they can be shown how decent most of the people are who work there/go there, and that there is a serious ambition from the club management to do the right thing, we are in with a good chance of re-opening... .

i believe that the police have to listen to public opinion and be unbiased, as do the magistrates, and that is why this poll and other petitions etc are so important.

Both clubs definately need to be re-opened. There is already a severe lack of venues as it is let alone losing these 2 clubs. I personally think new management/owners would be the best way forward and people who are prepared to work with the police to avoid any incidents like those a few weeks back.

Anyway good luck to all those involved with getting the venues back up and running.

Sheffield needs every underground club it can get. if fez and element go, it will be a huge blow to an already diminished scene

Is there another petition? I will definately sign it and know lots of others who will too!

there is a petition in the store record shop, division street if anyone wants to sign up.

cheers for your support.
:help:

I'll pop in after work today, nice one

I've had some wicked nights at both clubs, and if they go they'll be sorely missed. Both clubs have wicked layouts and some brilliant nights. If they close sheffield wont just lose two good clubs, we'll probably lose the nights there as well - where else is there to go?

Clubbing in sheffield is a bit of a state at the moment - unless you like the leadmill, et al.

We need clubs like fez and element or the underground scene in sheffield will die.

basshedz2

I think the so called underground scene is stronger than it has been in the last 10 years. It's a subjective issue I know but the free party scene this year has been fantastic.

I think if all the Police's concerns are met it would be damaging to the city for the venue to close. Being involved with Phonetics obviously I have a vested interest but even if I wasn't I would want it to re-open.

Free parties are all well and good but I remember from the rave scene of the early 90's when it got too big and dangerous. People were being mugged left right and centre and there was no security no organisation to deal with it. At one rave they even taxed the soundsystem !

Call me a bore but yer better off within the system and councils etc need to recognise the kind of benefits that tron outlined earlier there are both culturally and economically to venues that can be places for alternative music.

Plus at the moment there seems to be many people into good music but venue wise the city is dying on its arse.

Should it re-open - we will all be working together to make sure the venue has the best programme on offer.

I couldn't agree with you more.
I used to go to Phonetics once in a while and I've always had a good time. I know just how much work goes into trying to put a clubnight on and to have carried on as long as you have is a great achievement. Same goes for scuba.
The only problem I ever had with element/fez was the security. Not sure if it's the same team as they had earlier this year as I haven't been back but they were savages.
Anyway goodluck for the 28th.

I always thought musically there were some good nights in there, but some of the clientell in there were to be desired. But nice venue all the same. Not to keen on that small bit though. Went to SEE a band once and couldnt see a damn thing.

So then, does anyone know if/when element will re-open? Or is this the end for phonetics?

The hearing for the decision to withdraw the liquor license has been delayed for 2 weeks so says the gazette.

According to the same article the owners were previously given the chance to voluntarily close the club for a 'cooling off' period on the advice of the police in response to previous incidents, but repeatedly refused to do so resulting in the club being forcibly closed.

It sounds as though there is little chance of the club re-opening under the current management, hopefully someone who knows how to run a club and put on nights with decent music will take it over...

does anyone know if Pinnup or Scuba will relocate.....coz this wait is agonising. Surely we need to get this party started.

P S -That Bar matrix thing don't work, and for goodness sakes not republic.

Aint nothing to it, but to do it!!!

I would not like it to reopen...no.

Why is that then? Surely if you don't like it and it did reopen, you would just choose the option not got and let people who want to go have the choice?

Hmmm. Sounds like one of those people who writes to "points of view" to say a t.v. programme is rubbish, well, just turn the bloody thing off.

Anyway, Scuba is full go this Saturday night.

Originally posted by Donn&Kenn
I would not like it to reopen...no.
would be nice to hear your reasons why... this does not give your opinion much weight it has to be said.

:|

ok peeps, finally some good news for you...

S C U B A
5 T H B I R T H D A Y ! ! !

SAT 16TH OCTOBER
T H E I D J U T B O Y S
F R A N G U I T O N
N I G E L F I S C H E R

STARS SUITE, THE ICE RINK, QUEENS RD, SHEFFIELD
INFO@SCUBAMUSIC.COM / 07966 471824 FOR INFO.

THAT'S RIGHT, THEY CANT KEEP US DOWN... DESPITE THE GREATEST EFFORTS OF THE POWERS THAT BE TO PUT A SPANNER IN THE WORKS OF SHEFFIELD'S UNDERGROUND, HERE WE ARE CELEBRATING THE MILE-STONE (MILLSTONE?) THAT IS HALF A DECADE. THIS LAST YEAR HAS BEEN AWESOME WITH VINTAGE SELL OUT EVENTS FROM THE LIKES OF LANCE DISARDI, AMP FIDDLER, STEVE KOTEY, GREG WILSON, CHRIS DUCKENFIELD & PIPES, AND THE TOP NOTCH LOWLIFE DIGITAL PARTIES... SO GET BUSY, GET YOUR CONKERS, GET YOUR TICKET AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY.

CONKERS BONKERS!!!
BRING A CONKER AND A BOOTLACE, IT COULD BE FRESH OF THE TREE, A TRUSTY OLD LAGGY OR THE LATEST SILICONE INJECTED SPORTS EDITION. EITHER WAY, THAT LITTLE FELLA IS WORTH IT'S WEIGHT IN GOLD. WIN THE COMPETITION AND 2 £100 FLIGHT VOUCHERS ARE YOURS!!! BATTLE COMMENCES AT 11PM SHARP...

TICKETS £5 FROM LOWLIFE/THE STORE/DULO/FOREVER CHANGES.
MORE ON THE DOOR.

I'd like Fez club to reopen, as I was looking forward to going to a gig or two there...

Why is it "underground" ?

Originally posted by Scuba
ok peeps, finally some good news for you...

S C U B A
5 T H B I R T H D A Y ! ! !

SAT 16TH OCTOBER
T H E I D J U T B O Y S
F R A N G U I T O N
N I G E L F I S C H E R

STARS SUITE, THE ICE RINK, QUEENS RD, SHEFFIELD
INFO@SCUBAMUSIC.COM / 07966 471824 FOR INFO.

THAT'S RIGHT, THEY CANT KEEP US DOWN... DESPITE THE GREATEST EFFORTS OF THE POWERS THAT BE TO PUT A SPANNER IN THE WORKS OF SHEFFIELD'S UNDERGROUND, HERE WE ARE CELEBRATING THE MILE-STONE (MILLSTONE?) THAT IS HALF A DECADE. THIS LAST YEAR HAS BEEN AWESOME WITH VINTAGE SELL OUT EVENTS FROM THE LIKES OF LANCE DISARDI, AMP FIDDLER, STEVE KOTEY, GREG WILSON, CHRIS DUCKENFIELD & PIPES, AND THE TOP NOTCH LOWLIFE DIGITAL PARTIES... SO GET BUSY, GET YOUR CONKERS, GET YOUR TICKET AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY.

CONKERS BONKERS!!!
BRING A CONKER AND A BOOTLACE, IT COULD BE FRESH OF THE TREE, A TRUSTY OLD LAGGY OR THE LATEST SILICONE INJECTED SPORTS EDITION. EITHER WAY, THAT LITTLE FELLA IS WORTH IT'S WEIGHT IN GOLD. WIN THE COMPETITION AND 2 £100 FLIGHT VOUCHERS ARE YOURS!!! BATTLE COMMENCES AT 11PM SHARP...

TICKETS £5 FROM LOWLIFE/THE STORE/DULO/FOREVER CHANGES.
MORE ON THE DOOR.

Good on you Mister Scuba. Despite the dwindling clubbing scene in Sheffield and the councils attempts to stop anything veering from the mainsteam, it's good to see you still pulling thru'.

I hear from people at LDL at the ice rink that it's a 70's decor mecca. Whooop.

I heard today on the radio that Element is not opening. Anyone else heard as I only briefly heard so don't know any details!!

Glad you got a place for Scuba though!!!

Can't nobody hold us down....The Party continues


VIVA LASCUBA!!!!!!!

http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=868989

A link from The Star regarding Club Element/Fez

Originally posted by nick2
Why is it "underground" ?
underground defines the sector of the local music industry that represents that which is not mainstream and have niche cult followings. this can be applied to music/djs/events/clubs...

would that stand up in the pocket oxford?

i thought underground meant that nobody every gets to know about it... ;) to cool for advertising and all that...

The Fez club on a Friday night was the only decent place to go in Sheffield. Bit stuck now. Either go home early or pay £3!!!!! to get into the bloody forum, which is over-packed and over-priced.

Try Urban Gorilla :)

Originally posted by mullers
The Fez club on a Friday night was the only decent place to go in Sheffield. Bit stuck now. Either go home early or pay £3!!!!! to get into the bloody forum, which is over-packed and over-priced.

£3 for the forum is a rip off, not like it's even any good these days either, not like it used to be before they got the extension and added pretentiousness chucked in free.