Manhattan's Clubbing Scene is Dead; but Sankeys is Back with a Bang - Without Smartphones!
The queues snaked down the street outside Manchester's Beehive Mill venue last weekend as Sankeys Soap reopened its doors, promising to revive the city's clubbing scene without the presence of smartphones. The once-notorious club has been closed since 2017, and it seemed like the city had lost one of its crown jewels forever.
However, for fans who remember Sankeys in its heyday, the experience is sure to be nothing short of euphoric. As Lee Spence, a promoter and resident DJ from 2002-2012, recalled: "Sweat was dripping off the walls...It was an atmosphere like nothing else I'd really seen." That's exactly what David Vincent, one of the club's founders, is counting on to recreate.
According to Vincent, the solution lies in ditching our social media addiction and just letting loose. No phones allowed means no Instagram-perfect selfies; it simply means that people are more focused on the music, their fellow ravers, or even themselves (without a smartphone in hand). The goal? To revive the spontaneity and communal vibe of the original Sankeys experience.
Sankeys is scheduled to reopen in late January with a revamped 500-capacity venue. Vincent hopes that by showcasing fresh young talent and removing the distractions posed by social media, he can draw in an entirely new crowd of clubbers who are eager for the next big thing.
It's hard not to feel optimistic about Sankeys' prospects. Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), is equally enthusiastic: "By encouraging guests to be present and fully engage with music and community...these policies aim to recapture some of that spontaneity and social connection."
In other words, people just need a good old-fashioned night out - sans smartphones.
The queues snaked down the street outside Manchester's Beehive Mill venue last weekend as Sankeys Soap reopened its doors, promising to revive the city's clubbing scene without the presence of smartphones. The once-notorious club has been closed since 2017, and it seemed like the city had lost one of its crown jewels forever.
However, for fans who remember Sankeys in its heyday, the experience is sure to be nothing short of euphoric. As Lee Spence, a promoter and resident DJ from 2002-2012, recalled: "Sweat was dripping off the walls...It was an atmosphere like nothing else I'd really seen." That's exactly what David Vincent, one of the club's founders, is counting on to recreate.
According to Vincent, the solution lies in ditching our social media addiction and just letting loose. No phones allowed means no Instagram-perfect selfies; it simply means that people are more focused on the music, their fellow ravers, or even themselves (without a smartphone in hand). The goal? To revive the spontaneity and communal vibe of the original Sankeys experience.
Sankeys is scheduled to reopen in late January with a revamped 500-capacity venue. Vincent hopes that by showcasing fresh young talent and removing the distractions posed by social media, he can draw in an entirely new crowd of clubbers who are eager for the next big thing.
It's hard not to feel optimistic about Sankeys' prospects. Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), is equally enthusiastic: "By encouraging guests to be present and fully engage with music and community...these policies aim to recapture some of that spontaneity and social connection."
In other words, people just need a good old-fashioned night out - sans smartphones.
I'm so stoked to hear Sankeys is bringing back the real deal. No phones allowed? Sounds like music to my ears 
. I mean, think about it, we're always trying to capture that perfect moment on our screens, but what about the moment itself? The rush of adrenaline when you're dancing with thousands of strangers? The energy of a live DJ spinning tracks that just make you wanna move your body? That's what Sankeys is all about, and I'm here for it 
. Let's put away our phones and just let loose!
. I mean, come on! How are they gonna make it work? Don't get me wrong, the idea of ditching social media and focusing on the music is cool and all, but have you considered the demographics? The people who would go to a club like that in 2002 probably still got flip phones 
. And what about all the young folks who grew up with smartphones? They're not gonna just trade their iPhone for a Walkman 
.
. Just saying
i'm so hyped for Sankeys to reopen! they're bringing back the vibes like for real! no phones allowed is literally the best idea ever 
can u imagine how lit it's gonna be without those annoying social media distractions? we'll get to actually enjoy the music and each other's company 
i've been hearing rumors that they're gonna have some sick new DJs coming in, and i'm FREAKING OUT 
. I mean, who am I kidding? The minute you step into the venue, everyone's gonna whip out their iPhone for a quick snap... and the next thing you know, it'll be like normal times, just less photogenic 
.
I don't get why they're still using the forum's old layout, it's so outdated 
. Anyway, back to Sankeys... I'm not sure if ditching smartphones is the answer here 
.
It feels like Sankeys is just pushing the problem under the rug without actually addressing it 
.
I'm so down for this! No more selfie-stick selfies 
at clubs. People actually talking to each other face-to-face? 
That's what makes the scene go around, right? A phone-free zone is just what we need to bring back that real, genuine clubbing vibe 
it's about letting loose and having fun without distractions. I'm all for it, who needs Instagram selfies when you can get lost in the music? 
. Can't wait to see what Sankeys has in store for us this time around! It's like they're trying to bring back that old-school vibe, you know? Maybe it'll be just what we need to spice up the clubbing scene again 
. And let's be real, who needs Instagram-perfect selfies when you're dancing the night away with friends? 
. The thought of sweaty walls and euphoric vibes is giving me major clubbing feels 
. And can you imagine how more immersive the music experience would be? No distractions, no likes, no comments – just pure, unadulterated raving! 
I'm definitely excited to check it out when it opens in late January!
no phones means no distractions, just pure rave vibes! love the idea of reviving that communal energy at Sankeys 
I remember when my friends and I would go to clubs and we'd be totally in the moment, not worrying about taking selfies or texting our mates. it's so cool that they're trying to revive that feeling! 
. and I agree with Michael Kill, people do need a good old-fashioned night out without all the distractions 
!
. I'm excited to check out Sankeys when it opens and see if they can make this work. It's all about takin' back our nights, you know? 
! It's like they're saying 'enough' to our addiction and wanting us to actually live in the moment. I mean, who doesn't love a good sweat-soaked dance floor? 
but I think it's a great idea, it'll be awesome to see a new crowd of clubbers who aren't all about taking selfies and getting likes. The fact that they're showcasing fresh talent is a big plus too, can't wait to check out the lineup for the reopened venue!