The loved and lost nightclub that was “ahead of its time”
Revellers at Garlands nightclub, Liverpool.
Circa 1998(Image: Mirrorpix)
An iconic nightclub loved by many is returning to Liverpool after 15 years. The historic venue, Garlands, nicknamed the yellow brick road, was one of the city’s most loved clubs and achieved legendary status as the first after-hours gay club in Liverpool.
In its day, Garlands hosted a huge line-up of well-known house DJs and welcomed a variety of famous faces such as Claire Sweeney, Steven Gerrard and many members of the cast of Hollyoaks. The venue, called Eberle Street, in the Pride Quarter, home but often ventured to the River Mersey. It is this concept that is coming back again on Saturday, July 25.
John Cummings, who co-owned and operated the venue before its closure, has teamed up with Craig Cavanagh and Brookside actor Philip Olivier and his restaurant The Daffodil, to bring the idea to life.
They told the ECHO: “We were the first ever club night to throw a party on the Mersey ferry – and now, for the first time since 2011, we’re bringing the fairies back aboard The Daffodil. Right in the heart of Liverpool Pride weekend.
Inside Garlands, Liverpool, circa 1994/5(Image: @linden_archives)
“For over two decades, Garlands has been Liverpool’s original home of self-expression – the place where you could always be exactly who you are, surrounded by people who get it. The best crowd in the city, hands down. Expect a night of the best funky house and house classics, the kind of music that takes you right back to when you were dancing on the Mersey with your people. This is what Garlands does best, and it’s been too long coming.
The original Garlands on the Mersey parties started in the 2000s, running legendary circular-flyer events on vessels like the Royal Daffodil. The “trailblazing” venue, was a place for everyone and known for its infamous catchphrase – “Garlands made me do it.”
But after being a firm feature on the club scene for around 25 years, it closed its doors for good in 2019. The Eberle Street club had five rooms of music – the Main Room, Room Britannia, Boudoir, Sonderbar and Bedlam – and over the years, thousands followed the yellow brick road to Garlands’ dancefloor.
Lynnette Devine, originally from Toxteth, started working for Garlands in the same year it opened. She acted as the club’s costume designer right up until 2017. Apart from dancing the night away, Lynnette helped put on fashion shows and stage performances every Saturday night.
Inside Garlands, Liverpool, circa 1994/5(Image: @linden_archives)
She previously told the ECHO: “It was very much a time of being in love with Clubland. A lot of people from different walks of life finally came together under one big flag of love peace and unity.
“Everyone used to be so excited for the weekends back then and a lot of friendships that were forged are still very relevant today. The gangs of mates still hang out today, that’s almost 30 years.”
Lynnette remembers first attending the club and “virtually being the only female there.” Regardless, this didn’t stop her feeling like she belonged. She added: “Basically anyone who fell under the umbrella of being friendly, open-minded human being was welcome, regardless of race or sexual orientation. This was a new idea at the time as up until then the gay scene had been very much separate in the 1980s.
“I have a card from all the staff and clubbers given to me one night which I still have today. It’s quite heartbreaking to look at it now as a number of those people have now passed on. It was the people that made Garlands. The staff and the clubbers united.
Inside Garlands, Liverpool, circa 1994/5(Image: @linden_archives)
“My flat at the time was on Dale Street and once the landlord asked me how many people actually lived there as it was always full of characters from the club.”
Paul Wong, who lives in Kirkdale, was the club’s licensing manager back in 1996 and struggled to remember a weekend when it wasn’t jam-packed. He recalled how, at the time, Liverpool gay clubs didn’t have a 6am dance licence but, after Garlands was granted one, locals stopped travelling to the likes of Leeds and Manchester and started pushing the pink pound into the city.
He said: “It was ahead of its time, pushing boundaries all the time with house music. It’s still missed today and people still talk to me about it. To them, it was an escapism, it was a way of life. People came to the club to escape their worries and troubles.”
Former Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers was pictured at the venue and Reds captain Steven Gerrard famously won £5,000 from teammate Peter Crouch by singing there during a Carry On Misbehavin’ gala.
Soon a hugely successful night in Ibiza began and the famous Fairies ‘Cross the Mersey bashes were held in the Balearics. However, it has not been without its ups and downs over the years, including being gutted by fire in 2002 and being forced to shut its doors for three months in 2015 after a police raid.
Fans of Garlands protest outside Liverpool’s Magistrates court on Dale street, Liverpool(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Numerous city club raids, as part of an investigation into violence and drugs in the city’s club scene, ended in the venue being temporarily closed. But the subsequent court hearing saw a memorable protest outside Dale Street’s Magistrates’ Court from club regulars. In May 2015, Garlands re-launched the legendary club night.
At the time, Garlands boss John told the ECHO: “Garlands had its long awaited reopening on Saturday night and played to a capacity crowd of massively excited revellers who chanted Garlands name in large queues until gaining entry to the club. Once inside they were treated to a fantastic night of unique entertainment and music.”
In 2016, Garlands temporarily closed its doors for the summer for a regeneration project, which included the laying of a “yellow brick road,” and external LED lighting before reopening in August.
But in October that year, tributes were paid by the Garlands family and clubbers to Mark Jenkins – known as Marky J – the original face of Garlands and voice behind the club, following his sudden death.
Starting as a promoter in the mid-1990s, Marky J started working for the Eberle Street venue after modelling for Armani in New York – and is credited with being the brains behind the flamboyant art and creativity that made Garlands internationally famous.
Lynette Devine and Mark Jenkins on Fairies across the Mersey in 1996(Image: Lynnette Devine)
At the time, John, said: “He was a creative genius, he could have done anything with his life. Boy George would have hid in his shadow. I offered him his job at Garlands and I’ve been good friends with him since then.
“He was so bright, too bright for most people. As out there as he was, he would speak to anyone and bring the most narrow-minded people round. Garlands was his family.”
A tribute night was held that November. Costume designer Lynette worked with Mark between 1995 to 2001 and described him as the “Scouse Andy Warhol.”
She said: “I had a very close friendship with Mark up until his death. He was the most inspiring person to be with and, from my point of view, he was one of the most deeply kind-hearted people I have ever met. He was very motivated and the most outrageously funny person and, on the flip-side, he was very good to his friends and I guess we were like a big family.
“If ever I needed anything he would always be there when I needed a mate or shoulder to cry on. I loved Mark – probably the most I ever felt for anyone, as my real brother had just died tragically and he filled that space in my life. I miss him immensely and wish that I could hear his raucous cackle laugh once again. There will never be another.”
In August 2017, it was announced that the iconic Garlands venue was to be no more on Eberle Street, leaving Liverpool – to be replaced by Vegas-style superclub.
Today, the former Garlands nightclub on Eberle Street is now home to Elysium, a nightclub that has been closed for some time following a fire.