Northern Ireland institution The Stiff Kitten Club has closed its doors for good.
Posting on the club’s Facebook page, the owners today announced that The Stiff Kitten Club would be coming to an end, citing a “problematic location” and need for “massive investment” as the cause of the closure.
Over the club’s lifespan they attracted an enviable list of top-name talent, including Mark Ronson, Calvin Harris, Two Door Cinema Club, Chase and Status, Disclosure, 2 many djs, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Sasha and loads more, and said they managed it simply by “badgering artists and their management for months on end until they caved in.”
It’s always sad to see a venue fall off the map, and from the tone of the post, it sounds as if The Stiff Kitten Club will leave a gaping hole in the local scene.
“It is with heavy hearts that we have decided to close the doors of the Stiff Kitten for the last time today, and move on. We have so many happy memories associated with this place and the wonderful nights we’ve put on there over the last decade.
We managed to attract some world class acts to our quirky little venue, often badgering artists and their management for months on end until they caved in. It’s hard to believe we had the likes of Mark Ronson, Calvin Harris (for £4 admission!!!), Two Door Cinema Club, Chase and Status, Disclosure, 2 many djs, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Sasha, (and the list goes on and on) play at our little Belfast club over the years.
We hope these good times will live on in people’s hearts but it is time for us to move on to other things. The Stiff Kitten site has always been a problematic location to do business in, and this has only became more of a challenge in recent years with a general shift towards the Cathedral Quarter. This coupled with the many other projects our associated businesses have to focus on, has meant that we cannot give the Stiff Kitten the attention and considerable investment it requires to thrive again. It was very much a club of its time, and that time has now passed.
On a brighter note, never people to stand still, we continue to have some exciting new projects in the pipeline which we will be able to tell you about very soon!
But in the meantime to all who danced, worked and performed, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us to do what we love for a living!
Alan, Phil and the rest of our great team.”
