“Hello Manchester…it’s been a while”
Inside the former Sankeys club(Image: Nathan Cox)
It was 1994 when Sankeys burst onto the Manchester nightlife scene and became a much-loved institution. And now, more than 30 years on, the club could be looking to make a return.
The famous nightlife spot first opened its doors as Sankeys Soap in June 1994 – named in a nod to its home Beehive Mill which once manufactured soap – by promoters Andy Spiro and Rupert Campbell.
Over two decades, and in numerous guises, it became known across the world, entering the big leagues of the clubbing world and franchises which transported the Sankeys’ brand to places like Ibiza and New York.
After many twists, turns and revivals, in 2017 loyal clubbers and fans of Sankeys were left devastated when it shut its doors as Beehive Mill was sold and subsequently redeveloped as offices and co-working.
Sankeys in full swing
In a post shared on social media last night (June 3) though, a post appeared on the official Sankeys’ Instagram page teasing a return.
It simply stated: “Hello Manchester…it’s been a while”, followed by a heart emoji and #SankeysMCR.
This month, it will be 31 years since the legendary club first opened its doors, and some followers in the comments suggested it could be another anniversary event.
Meanwhile, others questioned what it all meant and tagged friends in the post, while another added: “Now that’s more like it”.
No other statement has been issued by Sankeys about a possible return but a revival of some form would be a welcome change from the depressing picture painted by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).
In a recent report, the body revealed that the UK has lost 37% of its nightclubs since March 2020, with factors including rising costs, changing consumer habits and the aftershocks of the pandemic all contributing to the downturn.
Beehive Mill, Ancoats(Image: Manchester Evening News)
That said, high profile openings in Manchester in recent years, including Ambers, the Oxford Road haunt with a strict no-phones policy, have been received well and show the demand for clubbing to make a strong comeback.
From the old school beginnings of a 1994 club night in a mill in derelict and deserted Ancoats under the guise of Sankeys Soap to the big leagues of international clubbing, the Sankeys story is one that’s looked back on fondly.
Two years after first opening its doors, the Jersey Street venue closed, but it was revived in 2000 by David Vincent and music promoter Sacha Lord.
Their partnership ended in 2006 with the club closing again, but later that year Vincent and Andy Spiro reopened the club with the shorter name of Sankeys instead.
Sankeys, Manchester, 2011
During its closure the club underwent a major refit involving a brand new LED lighting system and the main DJ booth was also replaced by a new circular box.
Further upgrades were made to the club in 2009 to mark its 15th anniversary including dynamic ceiling lighting and a beach constructed with 50 tonnes of Bahamas Sand and the introduction of a state-of-the-art barcoded entry system.
With its continued success, Vincent announced plans to expand the brand globally but the Manchester site shut in 2013 before reopening in 2014 again. However, it was in January 2017 that it was closed as Beehive Mill was sold.
However, Manchester wasn’t missing the legendary Sankeys nights for long, as in 2018, the former Manchester club said it would be returning to its spiritual for a special event at Victoria Warehouse in Trafford. In 2019, Sankeys also announced it was bringing a huge festival to Manchester to celebrate its 25th anniversary.