Welcome to part one of two of the Echo’s look back at Southampton's best-loved nightlife spots of yesteryear.

These nightclubs and bars will be etched firmly - or more than likely, hazily - into the memories of local clubbers and nightlife lovers of years gone by.

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The Academy

Cheesy music, cheap drinks but very often crowded. Frequented by students and sometimes difficult for non-students to get in. Became 80s themed club Reflex and is now Popworld.

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Avondale House

Daily Echo:

Avondale House in Carlton Place, Southampton.

This bar, situated on the corner of Carlton Crescent and Carlton place, had a slight sporty vibe. They often had football on the TVs and the pool table was a popular feature. A strange shape, it had lots of steps leading to a few different levels.

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Bar Med

Back when the High Street was a buzzing place to be, this sunshine-themed bar was a popular choice. The brightly coloured chain pub opened in 1998, changed to Below Bar in 2002 and closed in 2005 before becoming For Your Eyes Only.

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READ MORE: 19 pictures of Rhino Club through the years >>>

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The Beach

Tucked away at the far end of Ocean Village, The Beach was themed around none other than, well, a beach.

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Boiler House

Frequented mostly by students, Boiler House had cheap drinks which came in plastic glasses that glowed under UV lighting.

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Brannigan’s

Brannigans on Southampton High Street.

Brannigans on Southampton High Street.

Brannigan’s came and went pretty quickly. It was known for its strict dress code and its plentiful drink deals. The best seats were right in front of the window on the High Street so you could show strangers how much fun you were having. The venue closed in 2003 and is now Lidl supermarket.

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Burbanks

It sprawled out over several floors and had a sports theme. It closed to become a strip club, which then became Junk, changed to Tripp and then reverted back to Junk. Junk closed in 2020.

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C’s

Famed for its brightly coloured plastic chairs and screens into the toilets to see the opposite sex – which was weird! Closed to become Bambuubar and then became a strip bar.

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Cargo

This swanky Oxford Street bar/restaurant/hotel was great for food, cocktails and a night out. The mood was always calm and relaxed, and the lighting on low.

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Celebration Plaza

Goblets Pub of the Week

Celebration Plaza.

A joint venture between Matt Le Tissier and Mike Osman, on Terminus Terrace. Le God is on record saying he lost a few quid on this place. It’s now flats.

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Chambers

Chambers Bar, London Road, Southampton, for Watering Hole feature, exterior

Chambers on London Road.

The London Road pub made you want pizza – even if you weren’t hungry! The smell of the pizzas coming from the dedicated pizza ovens on show was often too much to take. Aside from the Italian favourite food, the pool tables were a major draw. Chambers shut in 2009 and is currently Sadler’s Bar & Smokehouse.

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Chicago Rock

Chicago Rock was another well-known chain that opened up in Southampton only to vanish (like Walkabout and Brannigans). At one time it offered £12-all-you-can-drink deal - but the bar was so packed it was often difficult to get your money's worth. Closed to become Ocean & Collins, then Bliss and finally The Voodoo Lounge. The building was torn down and is now commercial space.

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City of Sound

Tucked away beside York Gate, behind Hanover Buildings, the club became Stars later on. The building lay empty for years and remained a garish purple colour for a long time.

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Dorchester Arms

16 April 2012 - The Dorchester Arms pub in Southampton which has been saved from closure

Dorchester Arms in Onslow Road.

Often referred to simply as the Dorch, this pub on Onslow Road was refurbished shortly before it closed in 2014 and included a pool table dart boards and a stage for live music. The building has been used as a board games café since 2016.

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The Dungeon

Friday, September 7, 2012 Dungeon on Bevois Valley Road, Southampton. Exterior picture of the Dungeon.

The Dungeon on Bevois Valley Road, Southampton.

The Dungeon was a part of Southampton's nightlife for a staggering 27 years! It first opened in 1989 and offered an alternative night out to the usual club with dance music. Known to regulars as the Dinge, the club shut to much disappointment in 2016. It is now 5 Rivers Sports Bar & Grill.

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Flares

Flares bar and nightclub on Above Bar Southampton.

Flares on Above Bar.

A 1970s themed bar/nightclub in Above Bar and consequently not frequented by the younger generations too often. You could always expect to hear disco music there – lots of it! Now The Spitfire.

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Goblets

A bar in a cellar, Goblets was full of music memorabilia and a free jukebox. The booths were cosy and there was a little section upstairs where you could look out on the street. It changed to Belgium and Blues in 2017.

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Greenhouse

This pub on the corner of Carlton Crescent and Bedford Place was called so because of the massive amount of windows it had. It later became The Wine Bar before changing to Yuzu Lounge Bar. The building was then split into two to house Shrimp and Burger restaurant and Rumba bar. The building became one again a few years back when it was taken over by restaurant chain XOXO.

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Ikon and Diva

Foam party at Ikon.

Foam party at Ikon.

Two separate clubs (kind of) but with a door leading from one to the other. Ikon, which became popular for its Ibiza-style foam parties, was for over 18s while Diva was for the slightly more mature over 25s. Based in Leisure World, the clubs were replaced by the enormous multi-themed venue Oceana in 2008. Oceana shut in 2021.