There was a new name on the Newcastle nightclub scene 25 years ago - Ikon.
In reality, the trendy new club on New Bridge Street was the latest in a long line to operate in the same building over the decades. Depending on your age, you might also have known the place as the Oxford Galleries, Tiffany's, The Studio, Ritzy, Central Park, Diva, Liquid Envy, or Club LQ.
Back on September 17, 1997, former heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno and a selection of celebrity lookalikes - including Chris Evans, Del Boy and Rodney, and the Ab Fab darlings Edina and Patsy - were at Ikon's opening night bash. Developed by Rank Entertainment, the club was modelled on the award-winning Leeds Majestyk, boasting £250,000-worth of state-of-the-art equipment, including a tailor-made sound system and a laser lighting rig which was the biggest in the country.
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The previous incarnation had been Ritzy and the venue underwent a major facelift in just six weeks. Wayne Tunnicliffe, resident DJ and promotions manager, told the Chronicle : "Ritzy was an icon as far as North East clubbing is concerned and that's why we've changed the name. It's been going in various guises for more than 25 years and many people who are now married met there and there's a lot of history attached to the place.
"We're moving with the times and plan to have big name guest DJs later on in the year. In November we've got the Ministry of Sound Tour coming up from London and that will be very big for us. And we'll be open for parties, hen nights, special events, that sort of thing. It's a very exciting time for us and we intend to remain at the forefront of Newcastle's club scene."
Among the celeb lookalikes on the opening night, Frank Bruno was the only one with real star quality, looking dapper in a white suit buttoned up to the collar. But, for a while, there was understandably some confusion among the revellers as to whether he was the real deal. However, the popular former champ soon revealed his own unique and amicable nature and officially opened Ikon by cutting a red ribbon as boxing-glove-clad girls danced around him. Frank later proved himself to be a real star by staying on to meet the crowd.
As well as the big-name DJs who would appear at Ikon, there was a real coup for the venue in September 1999 when an edition of Top Of The Pops was recorded there. S Club 7, ex-New Kids On The Block singer Jordon Knight, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo featuring Des'ree were among those who performed, while Bedlington-born Jayne Middlemiss hosted the show.
Wearsider Chris Cowey who was producing the iconic show at the time said: "As a kid and growing up, it always annoyed me that everything seemed to happen in London. It's fantastic to be back and to be able to put on Top of the Pops in Newcastle."
Fast forward to 2015 and the Chronicle reported that demolition of the old dance hall was under way as developers prepared to build hundreds of student flats in its place. The facade of the original Oxford Galleries would remain, but it was farewell to a famous venue which had attracted generations of Tyneside revellers for 90 years.
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