The Zap

The Zap is a dance club in Brighton that became famous in the late 1980s and early 1990s, for large "acid house" dance parties that were held there, for example Tonka, with DJ Harvey, Choci and Rev (Mondays), Protechtion (Fridays) with DJ Eric Powell, and Coco Club, with DJ Chris Coco (Saturdays).

Located in the arches on the Kingsway (seafront) in Brighton, many people would party all night at the Zap, and then sleep on the beach during the day. The Zap is mentioned in the book "The Black Album" by author Hanif Kureishi.

A large part of the Zap Club's appeal has undoubtedly been its location. This has allowed visitors to the club, to have a close view, from the balcony windows of the beach, while indulging in a spot of chill out.

Acid House, Rave, and the early Dance Music era

Tonka nights continued, for five 'fantastic' years, ending in the Summer of 1993, and Protechtion finished later the same year. The following year, Chris Coco bought his Saturday nights to an end with a packed, and extended house party. Throughout these years, these three nights had continually played music that had showcased the newest and best sounds of underground dance. While Tonka straddled the Acid House, and early Trance eras, Protechtion went for a more British style of Techno, championed by Eric Powell, that was later more fully developed by DJ's such as Dave Clarke, and Powell's Bush Records label; and a happier, British house sound, played by London DJ Paul Newman (better known as 'Tall Paul'). Additionally, Chris Coco's night showcased a more American style of dance music, at first House music, and then US Garage.

The Zap Club in the 1990s

Having ridden the acid house wave, and added it's own chapters in the story, the Zap continued to showcase emerging DJ's and newer styles of electronic dance music, during the 1990s. While other Acid House clubs like The Haçienda in Manchester hit trouble after the heyday of Acid and early rave, the Zap adapted, and thrived, well into the era of the newer, larger type of dance club - the Superclub. This was despite the fact that the Zap only had a capacity of about 500.

While the club continued the previous policies of harder house, and techno (Red), on Fridays, and house and garage (Pussycat Club) on Saturdays, Monday nights were given over to a range of nights, showcasing everything from Trip hop to Trance music. The Zap was instrumental in bringing Trance, then emerging from the Frankfurt underground, to the UK, with regular Monday night sets from Sven Vath and DJ Dag (of Dance 2 Trance). Popular European DJs such as Laurent Garnier and CJ Bolland also DJed at the Zap around this time.

Nevertheless, the Zap's Monday nights, during the mid 1990s also provided plenty of opportunity for American and British DJ's. US House legends David Morales and Frankie Knuckles played at the Zap's Monday night, while DJ's Sasha and John Digweed, already superstars in the North and Midlands of England, brought their magic to the South Coast, with the launch of their 'Northern Exposure' night, in the autumn of 1993. These parties, and the progressive style that Sasha and Digweed brought to the club's turntables were a huge hit with the Zap crowd, and the atmosphere in the club evoked, and even surpassed the frenzied energy and positivity of the clubs' earlier years. Despite the Zap's sound system often being criticized, Sasha was quoted in a dance music magazine, as saying his two favorite clubs were the Hacienda and the Zap.

In the mid 1990s, Danny Rampling began a monthly residence, called 'South' that showcased his new, trancey, Euro style. Again, this ensured long lines outside the club, and Rampling often gratefully mentioned the positivity and friendliness of the Zap crowd, on his Radio 1 Show. Saturday nights also adapted, bringing a more 'pumped up', Superclub style of House music to the club. Accordingly, superstar DJ's such as Paul Oakenfold and Jeremy Healy often played in the club, during these years.

The Millennium and beyond

The Zap closed in early 2005 and the building has since undergone sale and refurbishment, reopening as The Union. However, three months later, The Zap was reborn. It was closed down yet again and rebranded as Digital.