Blitz spirit

Blitz: the club that shaped the 80s is a major new Design Museum exhibition exploring the niche London nightspot that birthed the New Romantic movement

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In 1979 at the tail end of punk's first wave and the start of Margaret Thatcher's tenure Las prime minister - a small but restless group of creatives would congregate every Tuesday at the Blitz Club. Rejecting mainstream society and the parameters of existing subculture, these bright young talents dubbed the Blitz Kids and New Romantics - would go on to revolutionise popular culture with their eccentric fashions and experimental music.

Although it existed for just 18 months and was only large enough for 50 people, the Blitz Club inspired a new wave of glamour and launched the careers of Spandau Ballet, Boy George, Marilyn and Visage, as well as a long list of designers, artists, filmmakers and writers.