Sankeys

Infobox_Company
company_name = Sankeys
company_
company_type = Private company
foundation = Manchester (1994)
location = Radium Street, Manchester
industry = Nightclub
homepage = http://www.sankeys.info

Sankeys is a nightclub located in the two-hundred year old Beehive Mill, on Jersey Street, Manchester, England. It is made up of four separate spaces: the Bar, the Basement, Boutique and the Terrace.

The Bar

The main entrance to Sankeys leads directly into 'the Bar'. This space offers a fully equipped DJ booth, a large serviced bar and a seating area with low level lighting. although drinks are on the whole expensive, with a double vodka and coke costing £5, Carlsberg, and Carlsberg Export costing £3.50 and £3.70 respectively.

The Basement

'The Basement' is the largest space within Sankeys and the exposed brickwork gives an insight into the building's past. The basement has a capacity of 500 and contains a Phazon sound system which was originally installed at the now defunct Home nightclub in central London.

The Boutique

'The Boutique' is a spacious upper level room offering musical options and alternatives of a second room but with seating areas and a fully serviced bar.

The Terrace

The Terrace is an outside facility for clubbers to go outside and relax. This is located through 'The Basement' doors at the back where the old entrance to 'Sankeys Soap' used to be. It has lots of seating and a big screen on the wall showing films and details on upcoming events. The Terrace was opened up in response to the smoking ban in England which came into force on the 1st July 2007. It is designed to keep revellers within the club's grounds but still allowing them to smoke.

History

The night club Sankeys first opened in 1994 as 'Sankeys Soap' at its 'Beehive Mill' venue. [ [http://www.residentadvisor.net/forum_read.asp?id=9008 10 Years of dropping Sankeys Soap] ]

Like many clubs during the Madchester era - for example The Haçienda - it was troubled with gangs and drugs, which led to its closure in 1998. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/general/s/7/7148_club_kings_bring_sankeys_revival_.html Club kings bring Sankeys revival, Manchester Evening News, Saturday, 8th June 2002] ]

The club later reopened in 2000 [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2006/06/14/140606_sankeys_soap_feature.shtml All washed up, BBC News Manchester] ] and has since seen a lot success, with major DJ's and acts including DJ Sasha supported by residents Greg Vickers, Krysko, Bucky and Iain Taylor and winning several nightclub awards including MixMag best small club. The club has also spawned a number of DJ's who have continued their success on to larger and more well known projects, although many have returned to Sankeys

In 2006 the club briefly closed for refurbishment and it was during this time that its name was changed from 'Sankeys Soap' to just Sankeys as it is known today. [ [http://www.whathappenedlastnight.net/manchester/photos/sankeys%20reopening%20weekend/2006-09-22 Sankeys Opening Weekend] ] . The new look Sankeys club struggled with an identity crisis for six months whilst competing against the Manchester Warehouse ProjectFact|date=April 2007. Since this ended in January 2007 the club then returned to more 'underground' DJ's, including the return of Bugged Out and Golden (Club nights which originally began and had their early nights at Sankeys) and joint operations with local promoters such as Naive Melody, Dubstep Gives Me Nightmares and Prostitutes & Policemen.

Sankeys appeared in the top 50 nightclubs in the world voted by DJs in 2008 coming in at 17th, the 3rd best in the UK. International DJ's such as Steve Angello, Booka Shade, Sebastien Leger, Erol Alkan, Boys Noize, Switch, Kissy Sell Out, Eric Prydz and Sebastian Ingrosso have graced the decks over recent months.

Controversies

Sankeys featured in local press for refusing entry to a group of friends on the basis of them being 'Not funky enough' favouring clubbers in 'jog bottoms and trainers'cite news
title = Club rejects 'not funky enough'
author = Angela Kelly
work = Manchester Evening News Media
publisher = Manchester Evening News
date = 6 April, 2007
url = http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1003/1003833_club_rejects_not_funky_enough.html ]

References