Sanctuary Music Arena

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Sanctuary Music Arena
The front of the Sanctuary Music Arena
The front of the Sanctuary Music Arena
Location(s) Milton Keynes, England
Years active 1991 — 2004
Genre(s) Drum and bass
Dance music
Capacity 3,000 — 8,000
Promotions Dreamscape
Helter Skelter Rave
Slammin Vinyl
Gatecreasher
Cream
Godskitchen

Uproar

The Sanctuary Music Arena was a 3,000 capacity music venue in Denbigh North, Milton Keynes in the UK. It opened its doors on December 6th 1991 to ESP promotions event called Dreamscape. Its also billed as the first and only designer dance venue in the country.

The Sanctuary saw some of the UK's first legal Raves and was pivotal in the development of the Drum and Bass music scene. The Sanctuary played host to the UK's biggest dance music promoters, including Dreamscape, Helter Skelter Rave, Slammin Vinyl, Gatecrasher, Hardcore Heaven, Cream, Uproar and Godskitchen. The venue attracted a national audience to its legendary 12 hour all night events.

From 1995 onwards various promoters would occasionally use the adjacent "Rollers UK" roller skating rink and the "Fastrack" go-karting area in conjunction with the Sanctuary, creating an 8,000 capacity multi arena venue, one of the largest of its kind in the country.

The Sanctuary finally closed its doors on 10th July 2004 wher Slammin Vinyl held the final event with a capacity of 12,000, The event hosted the best UK hardcore , Drum & Bass, Old Skool and Hard Dance DJs from across the country. Sadly this legendary venue was subsequently demolished to make way for a new Ikea store and Milton Keynes Dons F.C. football ground.