'Better than the Hacienda': Was this Manchester's greatest 'forgotten' nightclub?
28.01.2024 - 01:15
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A venue that was once at the cutting edge of Manchester's club scene played a huge role in the success of the legendary Hacienda and the dance music revolution that followed.
Now acknowledged by legendary DJs as the precursor to the world famous Hacienda nightclub, Legend opened in the basement of 121 Princess Street in October 1980. Based on Princess Street in Manchester city centre the club's owners, Lennon's Leisure, already had an impressive pedigree with the Wigan Pier nightclub part of their stable.
What set the club apart from many others was the high-end specifications it was kitted out with alongside its stunning design. Using Wigan Pier's 'American-style' disco as inspiration, Legend was equipped with state-of-the-art sound, lasers and lighting rigs in what the owners called "a money no object operation".
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From its subterranean location, Legend boasted two bars and a circular lounge area with mirrored walls and a suspended ceiling; the club even had its own restaurant. Selling the club owner's lofty intentions, An advertisement placed in the Manchester Evening News stated Legend is a "club that is going to turn the disco world of Manchester upside down."
But it wasn't just in terms of looks and being at the technical cutting-edge of the 1980s nightclub world that Legend would be remembered for, it was the music. In fact, without it, Manchester’s chapter in the history of club music could have been very different.
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The Princess Street