Low ceilings, sticky floors and sunglasses indoors – Sankeys nightclub was described by its visitors as Manchester’s clubbing haven.
Founded post-Madchester in 1994 and based in a disused Victorian soap factory in a dilapidated Ancoats, Sankeys was a sort of grizzlier younger brother to the Hacienda, hosting feral dance music nights that featured iconic acts such as The Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk.
However, in true modern Manchester style, it closed in 2017 to become a swanky co-working space.
Last Friday it reopened doors to eager ravers after almost 10 years – except in a completely new venue.
It’s not the first time the superclub has attempted a reopening.
After being founded by Andy Spiro and Rupert Campbell in 1994, it closed in 1998 due to low attendance.
Manchester-based businessmen and nightlife figures Sacha Lord and David Vincent then sought to revive it in 2000, but eventually it had to close due to management conflicts.
After coming back for a third try, it closed in 2017 when the building was sold to a property developer. Beehive Mill is now a private co-working and office space.
But can a nightclub that was in its heyday decades ago truly have the same success now, in a world inseparable from social media – and therefore surveillance?
Clubbers from the original club said in 2010 they enjoyed Sankeys for its ‘friendly,’ ‘poser-free’ and ‘underground’ vibe – but that is something harder to find in our increasingly digital world anyway.
In fact, Manchester nightlife trends are swinging towards a more retro feel.
Ambers nightclub opened in December 2024, and operates a no phones on the dancefloor policy (with no second chances), unannounced lineups and £5 tickets on a Saturday, aiming to make partying more carefree and accessible.
Salford nightclub giant The White Hotel, based in what was previously a garage, also encourages this no phone policy, as do many other independent club nights in Manchester.
The Warehouse Project followed this trend and introduced a no-phones policy for some events in August 2025, perhaps prompted by users mocking videos of the events posted online.
These clips featured hundreds of ravers clutching their phones in their hands recording videos, instead of simply waving them.
Commenters sarcastically joked ‘not a phone in sight’ and criticised the surveillance feel of these clips and nights generally.
So, people are craving a more retro night – surely an iconic 90s club reopening would be well received? Well, not for everyone.
Some argue it feels somewhat disingenuous, and that the same club cannot exist in a venue that is not its iconic birthplace.
On a Sankeys reopening Facebook post, one user commented, “It’s not Sankeys tho is it, it’s not that gaff! It’s not rollin out onto a derelict Ancoats, that resembled the back streets of Gotham, eyes like saucers, freezing in a sweaty t-shirt your ears ringin. Back to someone’s kitchen. Them were the days, leave it there Rkid.”
Another agreed, commenting, “It’s just as cringe as Hacienda playing off a club that shut 30 years ago.”
Despite a level of controversy, multiple commenters said they were ‘excited’ and the opening weekend did sell out.
On Friday, the new, intimate, 500 capacity venue reopened on Sidney Street.
Attendees of the weekend took to Facebook to share their thoughts on the event.
One visitor said, “Us guys went Friday, bearing in mind we used to go back in the day every weekend to the original Sankeys, it will never be replicated, so we’re all age range of 45-50’s.
“It was a massive younger crowd so don’t expect nostalgia, but we were all in our 20’s when we first went so it’s a new generation now enjoying what we enjoyed.
“The music was great and the drink prices were too, was hoping for the opening night to see so many of our old crowd but we didn’t, just don’t expect what you remembered years ago.”
Another echoed this: “The crowd was mixed, but we were younger when we first went, so it’s their turn now, I guess. I loved it, though. I had an excellent night.
“The club was set out great, but the music was just ok, because whoever the DJ was for the last hour or so needs sacking, he played the same loop for the whole set.
“I will definitely be going back again to Sankey’s in the near future.”
One raver said: “It was unreal, not had a good night like that in ages.”
Another agreed: “Such a good night, the sound was awesome.”
More users agreed that it was an ‘amazing night’,’ with ‘great vibes,’ that ‘everyone was super nice and it felt like it used to be.’
However, there was some disagreement, and one raver argued it was “nothing like the original”
Sankeys is open every Friday and Saturday 11pm-5am for weekends to come, so with more nights out to come, could the retro rave scene really be back?