Who would have thought that a small nightclub behind Cardiff Central station would bring so many people together? Not many clubs have seen friendships made for life and are still talked about, despite being demolished nearly 20 years ago.
While it is a cliché to say, the Hippo Club on Penarth Road in Cardiff absolutely brought people together through amazing tunes and good times along with a sense of belonging that was found in abundance.
The venue was also a place that many big name DJs would actively seek and want to play at. Couple this with some of the best resident DJs around and the Hippo had all the hallmarks of being one of, if not the, best clubs around.
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The beloved venue was opened by Peter Loughlin, and it was once described as “the centre of the universe for dance music” during the 90s. Eric Morales was one of a slew of top-name DJs to play at the venue, alongside the likes of Pete Tong, Judge Jules, Sister Bliss, Paul Oakenfold, and Boy George.
Speaking in 2009, Meady Mohammed, who ran the venue, said: "The people who came to The Hippo didn’t just come from Cardiff, they came from all over Wales and even across the Bridge. We were one of the few club brands that people would travel for.
“What was special about it was that everyone got on. Everyone was on first name terms with the bouncers, DJs and staff and it had a very relaxed atmosphere.
“And for a club that had so many people in it, we rarely had any trouble. I’m not lying when I say we only had around eight incidents in the whole time it was running. It was like the ’60s in there. They didn’t want a scuffle, they all wanted love and kisses.”
Also speaking in 2009, former resident DJ Ollie Jay believed that the building’s rundown state was part of its charm.
“It had a capacity of 600 and we used to cram about 1,200 people in there so it was always a bit, shall we say, personal, in there", Ollie said.
“We always called it ‘the sweatbox’. The toilets were world-renowned as the worst ever, the floor was sticky, the walls were sweaty and girls would arrive in beautiful dresses and leave looking like tramps. But they came because it was all about the people and the vibe.
“People still talk about it because it was the first real underground club that Cardiff had.
“There wasn’t a particular music policy, we played everything, so all the major DJs played there. The first time Judge Jules played he did it for £200 and a bottle of Jack Daniels. Now he’s in the £5,000 per night bracket.”
Speaking in 2005, former Hippo doorman Paul Bowen said:. “I’ve worked in a lot of nightclubs but there was this chemistry about the place which just worked. Everything came together – the music, the staff, the clubbers, the décor, the sound system – there’s not been anything like it the Hippo since.”
Remembering the big names the venue attracted, DJ Paul Lyons said: “I met all the superstar DJs of the time from Sasha to Boy George to Carl Cox – they all wanted to play the Hippo. It was the best underground club Wales has ever seen. It had something that no other club had. It wasn’t about the way you looked or who you knew.”
Meanwhile, doorman Rhys Jones summed up the spirit amongst the Hippo’s staff, saying: “The thing I’ll most cherish was the family atmosphere among the people who worked at the club.”
If you went to the Hippo Club, we would love to hear about your memories in the comments below.
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