York’s famous nightclub brand Ziggy’s is set to return to Micklegate next week (Friday 23 July)
It will reopen in the same venue but the club is having a massive reboot to fit in with the demands of the modern day club goer.
Ziggy’s first opened in 1982 and was designed and run by Andrew Elliot.
He will still be involved of course, but he’s given a free hand to his General Manager Russell Gilbert and son Max Elliot to create an experience that is in tune with the times.
One of the big changes is there will no longer be dancers on the third floor. Instead it will be music on every level.
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General Manager, Russell Gilbert, outlined his vision for the club saying he can’t wait to get started and that it was becoming a bit difficult to remember what a nightclub actually was like after 18 months of covid closure.
“We will be operating multiple nights with different genres of music throughout the week. There will be a rock indi night, Wednesday’s is going to be our main student night where we’re going to be playing multiple genres across the whole building, there’s going to be hip hop, r&b, and then you can go upstairs and you can listen to some cheesy classics, or you can chill out in the gin bar and listen to something more mellow, and talk with your friends. And then we are working with Phat Fridays too”
Phat Friday’s is York’s longest running student night. Starting in 2012 at The Duchess and soon becoming the biggest event in the weekly student calendar.
Phats, York’s infamous ‘Hip Hop House Party’ returns on Friday 23rd July at Ziggys York. Tickets available here
The Ziggy’s Team have spent a lot of money on refurbishing the building with a new sound system, bar areas and toilets. Work is still going on to get everything ready for Friday.
Russell told YorkMix about how they will adapt to the changes in covid rules too.
“We’re obviously going to be keeping as safe as possible. All staff will have the option to wear a face covering. We will have sanitising stations throughout the venue and will be keeping the place very clean. We will follow the current Government guidelines and adapt to how they may change.”
You will be allowed to make your own decision about face masks inside the venue and Russell says we all have to use common sense.
“I’m extremely excited. Obviously, it’s been a very dull 18 months and I couldn’t tell you how excited I am to get back into the building and get back to making memories again and, you know, have a really good night out.
“There’s a lot of nearly 19-year-olds that have never been on a night out like this before because of covid.”
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Ziggy’s owner Andrew Elliot says he’s keen to make good use of the building and will be offering something for those who are a bit older who may want a nightclub experience but perhaps in the daytime.
He’s delighted to see Ziggy’s come back to York and says it’s a move he made because actually he just missed the place.
“I’ve owned the building a long, long time, obviously it’s been rented out but now I am back and I’m excited about what’s happening, although the last 18 months, has been trying to say the least. it’s fantastic to have Ziggy’s back”
“The 80s were a brilliant period for nightclubs, possibly the best. You had to have clean shoes and tie to get in then”
He laughs because dress codes have changed a bit although it’s going to be no tracksuits and hoodies in 2021. But Andrew enjoyed that period:
“The music was great. It was all new.”
However the Ziggy’s Reboot is just as exciting for him and he says he will enjoy offering more in the day too.
“We are offering the facility for, shall we say someone of my age group on a Saturday afternoon seems to pop in here for a beer or a nice gin and tonic in fairly palatial surroundings.
“We’ve got a little beer garden at the back and we are planning to put some live music on in the venue.
“Maybe a little local rock band or a tribute band and then possibly we’re looking at a jazz band at tea time. So really, a chance to enjoy a nice Saturday night out but during the day! He joked “Be home again in time for cocoa.”
It certainly makes sense to use the building for as much of the 24 hour day as possible especially when a business is recovering from the lockdown. It will also appeal to those who remeber many a good night in the iconic club but perhaps don’t fancy hitting the dance floor any more.
Ziggy’s on Micklegate will be back on Friday 23rd July