100 years old - and all set for a second century of city fun

ONE of the longest-running venues in the UK is celebrating a landmark centenary of music and dancing.

- By LYNETTE PINCHESS

The Palais in Nottingham, now under the custodianship of DHP Family, turns 100 next week, with a Palais 100 event coming later this summer.

Now a nightclub, it opened in 1925 as the Palais de Danse, one of the finest dancehalls outside London, hosting elegant tea dances with a band. As the years rolled on, it played host to live bands including The Clash in 1977. In the late 1970s the venue became famous for its jazz-funk and Northern Soul all-day-ers, and the downstairs bar was rebranded as the Bali Hai Room with a revolving dance floor.

Following new ownership and a refit, it left its ballroom roots behind and embraced the nightclub era as Ritzy, welcoming a host of famous names and the hugely popular TV show The Hitman And Her.

In 1998, new owners gave the venue a £2.5million refurb, including an updated globe on the roof and restoring the Palais name.