A lost Liverpool nightclub that was "ahead of its time" was known for "pushing boundaries" on the city nightlife scene.
Garlands quickly achieved legendary status in the city after it opened in 1993 on Eberle Street, becoming synonymous for taking risks with extreme entertainment and being the backbone of the city’s LGBT+ nightlife.
The first after-hours gay club in Liverpool, it welcomed an army of visitors from Merseyside and across the country for over two decades, hosting a huge line-up of DJs, as well as a number of famous faces.
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A "trailblazing" venue, it was a place for everyone and known for its infamous catchphrase - "Garlands made me do it."
But after being a firm feature on the club scene for around 25 years, it closed its doors for good in 2019.
The Eberle Street club had five rooms of music – the Main Room, Room Britannia, Boudoir, Sonderbar and Bedlam - and over the years, thousands followed the yellow brick road to Garlands' dancefloor.
Lynnette Devine, originally from Toxteth, started working for Garlands in the same year it opened. She acted as the club's costume designer right up until 2017.
Apart from dancing the night away, Lynnette helped put on fashion shows and stage performances every Saturday night.
She told the ECHO: "It was very much a time of being in love with Clubland. A lot of people from different walks of life finally came together under one big flag of love peace and unity.
"Everyone used to be so excited for the weekends back then and a lot of friendships that were forged are still very relevant today. The gangs of mates still hang out today, that's almost 30 years."
Lynnette remembers first attending the club and "virtually being the only female there." Regardless, this didn't stop her feeling like she belonged.
She added: "Basically anyone who fell under the umbrella of being friendly, open-minded human being was welcome, regardless of race or sexual orientation. This was a new idea at the time as up until then the gay scene had been very much separate in the 1980s.
"I have a card from all the staff and clubbers given to me one night which I still have today. It's quite heartbreaking to look at it now as a number of those people have now passed on. It was the people that made Garlands. The staff and the clubbers united.
"My flat at the time was on Dale Street and once the landlord asked me how many people actually lived there as it was always full of characters from the club."
Paul Wong, who lives in Kirkdale, was the club's licensing manager back in 1996 and struggled to remember a weekend when it wasn't jam-packed.
The 58-year-old recalled how, at the time, Liverpool gay clubs didn't have a 6am dance licence but, after Garlands was granted one, locals stopped travelling to the likes of Leeds and Manchester and started pushing the pink pound into the city.
He said: "It was ahead of its time, pushing boundaries all the time with house music. It's still missed today and people still talk to me about it. To them, it was an escapism, it was a way of life. People came to the club to escape their worries and troubles."
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In its heyday, Garlands welcomed many famous faces, from actors to footballers.
Actress Claire Sweeney and DJ Pete Price partied there in 2007 and, in 2010, some of the cast from Hollyoaks, such as Kelly Marie Stewart - aka Haley Ramsey, attended.
Former Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers was also pictured at the venue and Reds captain Steven Gerrard famously won £5,000 from teammate Peter Crouch by singing there during a Carry On Misbehavin’ gala.
What is your favourite memory of Garlands? Let us know in the comments section below.
Soon a hugely successful night in Ibiza began and the famous Fairies ‘Cross the Mersey bashes were held in the Balearics.
However, it has not been without its ups and downs over the years, including being gutted by fire in 2002 and being forced to shut its doors for three months in 2015 after a police raid.
Numerous city club raids, as part of an investigation into violence and drugs in the city’s club scene, ended in the venue being temporarily closed.
But the subsequent court hearing saw a memorable protest outside Dale Street's Magistrates' Court from club regulars.
In May 2015, Garlands re-launched the legendary club night.
At the time, Garlands boss John Cummings told the ECHO: "Garlands had its long awaited reopening on Saturday night and played to a capacity crowd of massively excited revellers who chanted Garlands name in large queues until gaining entry to the club.
"Once inside they were treated to a fantastic night of unique entertainment and music."
In 2016, Garlands temporarily closed its doors for the summer for a regeneration project, which included the laying of a "yellow brick road," and external LED lighting before reopening in August.
But in October that year, tributes were paid by the Garlands family and clubbers to Mark Jenkins - known as Marky J - the original face of Garlands and voice behind the club, following his sudden death.
Starting as a promoter in the mid-1990s, Marky J started working for the Eberle Street venue after modelling for Armani in New York - and is credited with being the brains behind the flamboyant art and creativity that made Garlands internationally famous.
At the time, John Cummings, the former co-owner of Garlands, told the ECHO: "He was a creative genius, he could have done anything with his life. Boy George would have hid in his shadow.
"I offered him his job at Garlands and I’ve been good friends with him since then."
He added: "He was so bright, too bright for most people. As out there as he was, he would speak to anyone and bring the most narrow-minded people round. Garlands was his family."
A tribute night was held that November.
Costume designer Lynette worked with Mark between 1995 to 2001 and described him as the "Scouse Andy Warhol."
She said: "I had a very close friendship with Mark up until his death. He was the most inspiring person to be with and, from my point of view, he was one of the most deeply kind-hearted people I have ever met.
"He was very motivated and the most outrageously funny person and, on the flip-side, he was very good to his friends and I guess we were like a big family.
"If ever I needed anything he would always be there when I needed a mate or shoulder to cry on. I loved Mark - probably the most I ever felt for anyone, as my real brother had just died tragically and he filled that space in my life.
"I miss him immensely and wish that I could hear his raucous cackle laugh once again. There will never be another."
In August 2017, it was announced that the iconic Garlands venue was to be no more on Eberle Street, leaving Liverpool - to be replaced by Vegas-style superclub.
Garlands itself was to become an international brand in collaboration with a hotel chain, with the venue becoming two nightclubs called Brickworks and Underground.
What do you miss most about the past? Attractions, lost venues or perhaps the way of life. Take a look at our nostalgia survey
In March the following year, the ECHO reported how the legendary Liverpool club night burst back onto the scene in January with Garlands Gathering and that the renowned nightclub was set to re-open its doors for good.
In November 2018, a huge birthday party was also thrown to celebrate Garlands turning 25 years old.
But in 2019, Garlands closed its doors after a quarter of a century, saying it would "require a book thicker than the yellow pages" to thank everyone that made the club what it is.
Taking to Facebook to share the news, a spokesperson for Garlands said: “25 amazing years at our home on Eberle street (Minus our little trip to Dale street while we rebuilt the club) has come to an end.
"Garlands has given us all a place to dance and really be who you want to be!
"Over the years there have been so many incredible memories made in that building. We have loved, danced, cried and, in some cases, married one another. To find a nightclub with so many amazing characters would be a difficult task.
"To start giving shout outs to the people that made Garlands so fabulous would require a book thicker than the yellow pages, but each and every one of you helped to create a true Liverpool institute and we cannot thank you enough for all of your support.
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"Through the highs and lows, it has been an incredible journey. Garlands for a lot of people became not only a safe place to spend your weekends but a chosen family to grow with.
"Although there will not be any more Garlands parties at 8-10 Eberle Street, the party is not over for us. We are working with some select clubs across Europe who share our values of the main element of the party being fun.
"Follow the yellow brick road to the dance floor."
Fans of Garlands also took to social media to express their sadness and share their favourite memories.
Victoria Gerrard said: "Was the best place ever - so many memories and good friends I made in there some stories never to be told, haha amazing end of an era."
And Dave Robinson commented: "Spent the best years of my life in that club, it really was a family."
Last year, Garlands returned for one night only with huge garden party event taking place at Grand Central Hall in July.
And its legacy still continues.
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