{"id":3667,"date":"2025-04-06T11:31:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-06T11:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/3667\/"},"modified":"2025-04-06T11:31:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-06T11:31:14","slug":"nightclub-entrepreneur-kevin-spencer-reveals-plans-for-reopening-atik-dartford-as-club-poised-for-six-figure-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/3667\/","title":{"rendered":"Nightclub entrepreneur Kevin Spencer reveals plans for reopening ATIK Dartford as club poised for six-figure upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The new operator of a \u201cbeloved\u201d clubbing hotspot has revealed plans to reopen it and restore nightlife in the town.<\/p>\n<p>Experienced nightclub entrepreneur Kevin Spencer has officially accepted the keys for the former ATIK <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kentonline.co.uk\/dartford\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dartford<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"rthmb\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=\" http:=\"\" viewbox=\"0 0 4032 2904\" alt=\"ATIK Dartford is reopening under new management\" data-root=\"\/_media\/img\/\" data-path=\"8PIDODDFN1K98PR6U8WD.jpg\" data-ar=\"1.39\"\/>ATIK Dartford is reopening under new management<\/p>\n<p>He was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kentonline.co.uk\/dartford\/news\/preferred-bidder-picked-for-former-nightclub-site-319250\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">picked as the preferred occupier<\/a> for the venue, in Essex Road, by Dartford council, which owns the building, in January.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to KentOnline, Kevin said: \u201cIt was a well-established club. The good thing about clubs like that is they are very unique as they are very rarely built like that now.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is a purpose-built nightclub in a prime location.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are thrilled to announce it is reopening. We are bringing nightlife back to Dartford.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The premises will be undergoing a massive refurbishment over the next few months which is estimated to cost anything from \u00a3250,000 to \u00a3400,000.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"rthmb\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=\" http:=\"\" viewbox=\"0 0 1078 809\" alt=\"Kevin Spencer has taken on the iconic nightclub in Dartford. Picture: Kevin Spencer\" data-root=\"\/_media\/img\/\" data-path=\"B6LAM2661T9DFFE1UWHY.jpg\" data-ar=\"1.33\"\/>Kevin Spencer has taken on the iconic nightclub in Dartford. Picture: Kevin Spencer<\/p>\n<p>It promises to have a refreshed look, an upgraded sound system and a revamped party atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>Kevin, who has 30 years experience in the nightlife industry and security, added: \u201cWe are creating something special, bringing fresh energy to the space while ensuring we stay true to what made ATIK such a beloved venue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExpect bigger events, incredible guest DJs, and a new focus on offering something for everyone \u2013 from packed Friday and Saturday nights out to daytime clubbing experiences for the over-30s crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said the day clubbing events, which are tailored to a more mature crowd, are already popular across the country and will bring something different to the town.<\/p>\n<p>The exact opening date has yet to be announced for the club.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"rthmb\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=\" http:=\"\" viewbox=\"0 0 1035 743\" alt=\"The nightclub shut in February last year\" data-root=\"\/_media\/img\/\" data-path=\"1V960EZL05ABZ2OP1JEB.jpg\" data-ar=\"1.39\"\/>The nightclub shut in February last year<\/p>\n<p>ATIK Dartford <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kentonline.co.uk\/dartford\/news\/it-s-so-sad-ex-clubbers-react-as-iconic-nightclub-calls-301145\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">closed its doors to clubbers<\/a> for the final time in February last year as Rekom UK, the firm which operated the venue, called in administrators.<\/p>\n<p>It said due to higher bills and the impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis it would be immediately shutting 17 of its sites across the country.<\/p>\n<p>The Kent venue is the second nightclub which Kevin has taken over from Rekom UK as he also reopened Liquid and Envy, in Oldham, Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n<p>Kevin, who is originally from York but now lives in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said: \u201cIt is a really hard time for clubs. They are closing all around the UK as people cannot afford to go out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are in the middle of a recession but we go through these things every 10 years or so. It is the same cycle.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"rthmb\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=\" http:=\"\" viewbox=\"0 0 4032 3024\" alt=\"Starbass UK previously staged a Save Our Nightlife protest\" data-root=\"\/_media\/img\/\" data-path=\"EDP343JXDOY2T95BVYXP.jpg\" data-ar=\"1.33\"\/>Starbass UK previously staged a Save Our Nightlife protest<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut if we get through it, people will start going back out again. Nightclubs are popular and are still around. It is making sure they survive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Days after ATIK Dartford shut, a group, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kentonline.co.uk\/dartford\/news\/protest-group-stages-race-uprising-at-closed-nightclub-301297\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">known as Starbass UK<\/a>, announced it had entered the empty premises as part of a \u201cSave Our Nightlife\u201d campaign and \u201crave uprising\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In videos plastered across their social media platforms, it said it was highlighting the plight of young creatives in the music and entertainment industry.<\/p>\n<p>The former two-storey club went through several name changes over its four-decade history and has been known to generations of clubbers as Scala, Flicks, Air and Breathe and Zens and Library.<\/p>\n<p>At the time KentOnline spoke to generations of different clubbers who found love or friends for life on the dance floor.<\/p>\n<p>One ex-clubber, who met her future husband there and now have a daughter together, said at the time: \u201cIt was always a busy hive of activity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEveryone flocked there after hours to carry on with their Friday or Saturday nights out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI remember good music, laughter, Sambuca shots, and lots of dancing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The new operator of a \u201cbeloved\u201d clubbing hotspot has revealed plans to reopen it and restore nightlife in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3668,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[51,2097,77,609,495,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-3667","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-dartford","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-human-interest","12":"tag-kent","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114290798266371058","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3667"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3667\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}