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Cameo Ashford to play host to Liquid and Hustle nostalgia music night for over 30s

By: Joe Harbert jharbert@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 12:01, 18 August 2024

Partygoers will have the chance to revel in some nostalgia when two of a town's former nightclubs make a one-night return.

Liquid and Hustle are coming back to Ashford for a party with both sites' original DJs, staff and music reuniting on Saturday, August 31.

Clubbers at Liquid nightclub pictured in 2014. Picture: Alvin Mulindwa

Revellers will be able to enjoy some of their favourite tunes from the 1990s and 2000s, played by original Liquid and Hustle DJs like Paul Nash and Christian K.

The party, which is for those aged 30 and over, will run from 4pm until 10pm at Ashford's only-remaining club, Cameo, at The Old Warehouse in Station Approach.

Manager Dan Harding believes the experience will be "a trip down memory lane".

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"We’re bringing back two of Ashford’s much-loved venues under one roof,” he said.

"Expect classics, singalongs and non-stop bangers as well as familiar faces on the decks and the dancefloor, but with the bonus of being home at a reasonable time.

The former Liquid nightclub site in Ashford
People faced long queues trying to get into the last event at Liquid and Envy nightclub. Picture: Alvin Mulindwa

"We want the over 30s to celebrate the memories they’ve made in the iconic venues, so this really is a ticket to a trip down memory lane."

Liquid was based at Ashford's now-derelict H.S Pledge and Sons flour mill in East Hill, which stopped trading in 1972.

It was transformed into the town’s first nightclub in the early 1980s. It was then known as Dusty's and The Jolly Miller, with a nightclub on the top floor and a restaurant situated below.

However, the club closed in 1990 when the owner of the mill reportedly abandoned the business owing thousands of pounds.

Kingfisher Leisure took on the premises following Dusty's departure and transformed the building into a popular nightclub and pub known as Cales and Flatfoot Sam's.

The opening night of Liquid and Life in 2002. Picture: Dave Downey
The inferno at the East Hill mill in 1974

Famous singers Rick Astley and La Toya Jackson are said to have performed at the club, which served the town for more than a decade until it closed in 2001.

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A year later, Luminar Leisure brought the legendary Liquid nightclub to Ashford.

Open five nights a week, it featured DJs, podium dancers, stilt walkers and fire eaters, alongside laser and lighting effects.

In 2007, the club underwent a £500,000 facelift and was rebranded as Liquid and Envy.

Liquid played a mix of dance, R&B and chart anthems, while the Envy bar played party tracks, disco and retro favourites.

The former Liquid nightclub site in Ashford

Famous faces including radio DJ Tim Westwood, Joey Essex, Alex Arnold and the cast of the fifth series of Skins and stars of MTV's Dirty Sanchez made an appearance at the club over the years.

In 2011, Ashford School bought the freehold to the building but Liquid continued to operate from the site.

Club bosses shut Liquid in 2014 - marking the end of an era as the flour mill had played a huge part in the town’s social life since 1981.

Luminar bosses later decided to transfer the club to The Old Warehouse in Station Approach, and rebranded it as Cameo, meaning clubbers were left without a late-night venue for more than two months as bosses worked on the transition.

The landmark building in East Hill though is now a mere shadow of its former self, with fire crews twice visiting the property last year following reports of anti-social behaviour.

The signs coming down on Liquid and Envy Nightclub in East Hill after it closed. Picture: Paul Amos

It is now set to be turned into 53 flats after plans were approved by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) in 2022.

Meanwhile, the site of Cameo today in Station Approach was previously known as Hustle.

It was first converted into a nightclub, restaurant and bar in 1998, and operated under several names such as NV, Kudos, Elusive, Remix and Glisten.

Its final chapter was Hustle following its opening in the summer of 2010.

The club brought a number of big-name stars to the town, including Danny Dyer, Professor Green and Tinchy Stryder.

Inside Hustle nightclub in 2011. Picture: Jay Sinclair

Television presenter DJ Pat Sharp, best known for hosting TV show Fun House, opened a 1980s retro bar on the bottom floor of the club in 2011.

But the club closed after three years trading in the town.

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