Manchester and the 1980s.

The video content below was recorded from the site of the Hacienda, the iconic Manchester nightclub. While the new building is similar in appearance to the former club, it is now a block of apartments. The Hacienda has entered into the folklore of the city, and its name is now a byword for all that was cool in the city. However, the Hacienda was never about the cooler than thou set. The club became famous because it was popular. The club was popular because it was a brilliant place to have a great time with your friends. The beer was cheap and the music was loud.

Tony Wilson and Rob Gretton created the Hacienda as an attempt to do something different. Manchester in 1982 was a fairly depressed city and its nightclubs were very traditional. Think of doormen in tuxedo's, flat beer and flat music. Wilson and Gretton wanted to bring something of America to Manchester, and they did.

Visitors to Manchester can visit the site of the club and imagine what it was like. For young people with ambition the Hacienda is a good case study. It shows that great things can be achieved by trying something different. It also shows that without organisation, even the best things can quickly go wrong.