York has one of the best pub scenes in the U.K., but has always been dreadfully lacking in the nightclub department. In the late 90's, there were essentially three of them in the city centre - "The Gallery"; "Toffs" and "Ziggy's". The latter being an independent, while the other two were owned by Northern Leisure, then taken over by Luminar Leisure, and were all nondescript places to get a few more drinks back in the days of pubs closing their doors at 11pm. York thought it had found it's own "Superclub" right at the end of the old Millennium, with the opening of "Ikon & Diva" as part of the Clifton Moor retail park about four miles out of the city centre. The place was popular for a time, being a bit of a novelty. I seem to remember them running free shuttle buses from the busy "pre-club" pub area in Rougier Street - these were a torrid experience in themselves, by large, and unfortunately in the last few months of the club's operations one of these buses was involved in a serious RTA in the early hours of the morning, with several injuries and a fatality - it was reported in the media that this was sadly down to drunken antics of a passenger on board who served several years in prison for their actions.
I attended University in Dundee from 1998 - 2003, and found the clubs there to be far more refreshing. The "Mardi Gras" was the popular choice at that time, but I preferred the alternative scene offered by it's neighbour "Fat Sams". Around about 2000-01, there was something of a "price war" on drinks, with clubs knocking out shots of vodka for between 20p - 50p on midweek evenings, and another venue (I think perhaps "Club Oasis") did an all you can drink for a fiver deal. Ultimately, all this led to inevitable carnage, and not long after Dundee City Council ended up bringing in a minimum pricing structure for licensed premises (with, I think exceptions for private members clubs, such as the Student Union / Social Clubs although I may be wrong on that).
Not been in a nightclub for nearly eleven years (the last time being on my thirtieth birthday). I cannot say that I miss them. Longer and more flexible pub opening hours accommodate my socialising and drinking needs nowadays - well maybe not in 2020! (Although it's a rarity I'd be out much after 11 in any case)!
