Bank holiday weekends often stir the urge to party, and Somerset has plenty of places to go out and enjoy a night on the town. Yet, the landscape of local nightlife has changed drastically over the years, with many beloved venues now just memories.
There was a golden era, especially through the 1990s, when Somerset’s towns like Yeovil, Taunton, Glastonbury, and Bridgwater boasted vibrant club scenes. Night after night, if you grew tired of one club, you could simply head to another nearby, each offering its unique vibe. Today, these hotspots may have closed, but their stories live on.
In Yeovil, The Gardens was the place to be in the early 90s, known for its quirky décor featuring plastic palm trees and notoriously sticky floors. It famously competed with Studios for late-night revellers. Later rebranded as Le Jardin in a bid to attract a more upscale crowd, it ultimately closed and was transformed into residential apartments.
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Taunton’s Night Owls held a special appeal, partly due to its unique location under the imposing Creech Castle. It attracted clubbers from far and wide, but by the late 90s, fashions changed. The club shuttered and was repurposed as an animal medical center.
Studios in Yeovil was once synonymous with the local ‘in-crowd,’ with queues stretching down the street. Renamed Arena in later years, it eventually succumbed to age and was closed, making way for retirement flats that now stand where many unforgettable nights took place.
Glastonbury’s Heroes club was home to legendary Saturday nights full of Future Funk Squad energy. Although it closed some years ago, there are hopeful plans to revive this beloved venue, rekindling the town’s nightlife spirit.
In Street, Envy nightclub, which once operated out of an old cinema and had previously been Maxime’s, closed permanently on New Year’s Eve 2017. Since then, the building has remained empty, with no revival on the horizon.
One of Taunton’s lesser-known clubs suffered from frequent name changes and waning popularity, finally ceasing operations in 2010. It has remained vacant ever since, a ghost of the town’s past nightlife.
Taunton’s once bustling Deller’s Wharf was another hotspot, drawing crowds until tastes shifted in the early 2000s. A brief revival as Okoko lasted until New Year’s Eve 2014, when it closed for good, marking a quieter era for clubbing in the town.
Longleat’s nightclub felt like an exotic adventure, complete with potential foam parties and the thrill of wild surroundings. But issues with drugs and violence led to its closure in 2003, ending its brief but memorable chapter in Somerset’s nightlife history.
Bridgwater’s Remedies was known for transforming from a sports bar to a nightclub past midnight, famous for cheap 50p shots and lively crowds. Kingston’s in Taunton had a fierce reputation in the early 90s and was not the place for the faint-hearted, especially if you were an outsider. The building was demolished to make room for new flats.
Crewkerne’s Madisons was famous for its laser light shows and multi-floor layout, complete with a cocktail bar offering colorful drinks. It was a favorite destination for a memorable night out and the rides on the ‘fun bus’ that brought clubbers together.
Finally, Somerton’s only nightclub was renowned for its disco nights and stood out as a quirky night out option. Though no longer operating as a club, its legacy continues in the local community, even lending its name to a barbershop.
These nightclubs were the heartbeat of Somerset’s social life, places where friendships were forged, and memories made. Though many have vanished, their legends will endure in local folklore for years to come.