Sterns Nightclub

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Sterns was a nightclub located on Highdown Hill in Worthing West Sussex on the South Downs off the A259 road just north of Ferring. It was a rare example of an early UK club boasting 4 separate rooms with DJ's playing Rave, Breakbeat Hardcore, Jungle music, Techno, Progressive House, Hard House and Garage.

Although Sterns had played such music before, the most famous club nights were started in 1991 by a promoter named In-ter-dance run by the late Mensa. Such was the club night's reputation that it was credited by a number of artists on their record sleeves, was one of the most well known Rave/Hardcore clubs in Europe and was regularly visited by clubbers from all over the UK.

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[edit] The building

Sterns was located in an old mansion on the southern slopes of the South Downs. It was also known as "The House on the Hill". The building was based on three floors and had a number of rooms, the "Top Floor", "Garage Club" & "Underground" each playing different genres of electronic music.

The main room was called the "Underground", complete with signs in the style of the London Underground Logo. This was entered via 2 sets of downwards steps, with the Garage Club in between sets of steps. The Underground was located at the lowest level of the building partially embedded in the hillside in a large concrete bunker. It boasted a massive 30 kW sound system, incredibly powerful for the space. On the second set of steps the bass was so intense it was difficult to carry out a conversation with someone adjacent to you and for them to hear you without speaking right into their ear. The underground had an impressive array of lighting including a smoke machine, UV and a Laser.

On busy nights it was common for condensation generated from heat and sweat to collect on the ceiling and drip down onto the clubbers towards the end of the night.

Other rooms included the Garage room and chill out room and small cinema located on the first floor where ambient music was played. The club had an outdoor section with a tea room and seating. There was also the "Top Floor" just after the main entrance where there was another DJ playing and a bar area.

[edit] The nights

Sterns held regular weekly events. Some started at approx 8.00 p.m. and lasted until approx 2.00 a.m., usually on a Friday. All-nighters were held monthly on a Saturday and started at 9.00 p.m. and lasted through until 6.00 or 7.00 a.m.

To attend all-nighters you had to sign up for membership of In-ter-dance. At its peak in 1992 In-ter-dance had 25,000 members.

Often the party would continue well after the club closed in the adjacent car park where club goers cars fitted with sound systems would provide the music.

[edit] DJs and acts

The sheer range and variety of DJs and performers that have graced Sterns is testament to its place in Rave and Hardcore folklore.

[edit] Flyers

Interdance advertised its regular events at Sterns with Flyers. There were a very large range of flyers produced and often they parodied well known brands or popular culture of the time such as Swan Vestas, Marmite, Benson & Hedges, Perrier Mineral Water and The Blockbusters quiz game with its tag line "I'd like an E please Bob!".

[edit] External links

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