It’s no secret that clubs and live music venues are struggling. As the Music Venue Trust scrabbles to sustain grassroot venues, 2023 saw a sharp decline in venues, with 125 independent venues shutting shop. While last year only saw 25 venues closing, including Bath’s iconic Moles, The Guardian considered 2024 to be the year of the “precipitous decline of UK nightclubs”, with 17 clubs shutting within the first quarter of the year.
However, 2025 may be the year of the nightclub renaissance. East London clubbers will be treated to two new dance venues, with Unlocked and No90 Hideout set to open within the coming months. In fact, both venues are even kicking off celebrations before their official launch, with a slew of warm-up parties taking place this weekend.
The pair of new venues will satisfy a wide range of dance lovers. Unlocked will be taking over a 1,500 capacity warehouse in Shoreditch. According to the launch video, the Unlocked will be occupying “a once illegal rave venue [that has been] abandoned for a decade” to revive the “fading culture” of East London and raving.
Unlocked has made every effort to retain the heart and soul of the venue. While it’s no longer an illegal rave hot-spot, the multi-level ravers paradise still wears its graffiti-spattered walls with pride. Only a few of the vast concrete rooms have been given a facelift, offering some fresh, quirky light displays.
Unlocked’s first warm-up party took place last weekend, with Australian DJ Tobiahs hosting a set. More Unlocked Origins nights will take place this weekend, too; celebrations will be hosted by Jyoty, Nooriyah and Mason Collective and more.
On the other hand, No90 Hideout will offer a more intimate clubbing experience than Unlocked, with a 450 capacity. The venue is a newly renovated room in Hackney Wick’s No90. According to a MixMag, No90 Hideout has also had a facelift. No90 regulars will be able to enjoy brand new “bespoke lighting, a new DJ booth and 360 projection mapping”.
The renovations to No90 will also include new wooden panelling and “acoustic treatments” throughout. The new look will mark No90’s 11th birthday celebrations, which will take place over the weekend.
“We didn’t just renovate a venue, we built an experience,” No90’s co-founder Bruno Cabral told MixMag. “Every panel, every angle, every speaker was positioned for optimal sound. Whether you’re a DJ, a performer, or just here for the atmosphere, Hideout will change the way you hear music and experience events.”
MixMag also hosted an exclusive evening with Barry Can’t Swim in the No90 Hideout. The entire set is up on YouTube, if you want a peek at the club’s new look.
So… club, anyone? Grab tickets for Unlocked Origins and No90’s 11th birthday now.
