So many clubs, bars and pubs have left their mark on Liverpool over the years.
But few clubs still evoke as much feeling, or as many good memories, as the 051. Back in the 1990s, the venue on the corner of Mount Pleasant and Brownlow Hill was known as one of the city’s most famous venues.
With a capacity for 2,000 people, for years clubbers would tackle the club's rite-of-passage stairway descent to the basement expanse to dance to some incredible music. At the time, 051 lovers would dance the night away in baggy jeans, oversized t-shirts, crop tops, bucket hats and more.
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Above the huge site, you could see the bold lettering of '0 five one' elsewhere in the city. With resident Dave Graham emerging as one of the defining tastemakers at the club, it was the arrival of Lee Butler, who’d made his name DJing at The State, which ushered in a new phase at the ‘0 five’ and began solidifying one of the most loyal crowds in the north west.
Aware of the competition at the time, the 051 one decided to build its offer around its local resident DJs, spearheaded by the pairing of Graham and Butler. Former 051 DJ and Radio City presenter Lee Butler spent years in the DJ booth of the club, with nearly a decade spent on the decks starting in October 1996.
The 051 established itself as one of the biggest clubs and brands in Liverpool through the 90s and early 2000s, but in 2005, the venue closed. Since then, the site has been home to a cinema, paintball arena, bar - people have even abseiled off the building for charity, it’s the weathered yellow sign reminding of its former glory.
The venue became other clubs, including Aura from September 2013, but was stripped out by 2016. The building's peculiar yet distinctive façade at the foot of Brownlow Hill and Mount Pleasant has been through a range of iterations . The empty venue is one of Liverpool's last iconic nightclubs that's still standing, with the likes of Paradox and Nation falling victim to the bulldozer over the years.
The latest series of Memory Lane is in major retailers including Asda, Tesco, Home Bargains and selected newsagents now. This series of the bumper picture special looks at fun in the sun - with stunning photographs and treasured memories of family holidays from years gone by. You can also buy Memory Lane online here.
In 2020, clubbers reminisced about their days at the famous 051 club following claims the site was to be demolished. At the time, Radio City DJ Lee Butler posted on Twitter claiming he had received an email from the owners saying the 051 would soon fall to the bulldozers.
Floods of comments came in with clubbers talking about their nights out there. Daniell35830961 tweeted: "The excitement waiting in the queue and that feeling when you get in past the bouncers legging it down the stairs."
Scouse_ma replied: "Used to work there behind the bar and had a boss time getting paid to dance my t**s off."
PeterSimmoYNWA wrote: "I once walked to the front of a long queue to tell the doorman that he knew my brother, to see if it would get me in quicker. He said 'I do know your kid...but don't name drop and F-off to the back of the queue'."
carllpool tweeted: "First time ultra beat did pretty green eyes, locked out dead early queue was still massive outside, atmosphere was unreal inside, think they did the week after as well? I was one of the lucky ones who got there early waiting in dickies until they started queuing.
deanojoiner shared his favourite memory: "Sliding down the banister straight though the curtains, taking a few doormen out like skittles. Didn’t do it again after that."
Did you ever visit 051 nightclub? Let us know in the comments section below.
PaulButler08 replied: "Memory? MEMORY? If you've got memories of the 051 then I don't reckon you ever actually went the 051!"
Azefc tweeted: "Moschino shirts. Warrior live on stage. Darude vs the roof is on fire." AndyWandy0 replied: "Sonique live, cans of red stripe and the un-official chill out area."
And Jamesw03041984 wrote: "Met my missus there, still together after 18 years. It was absolutely brilliant, nowhere like it anymore."
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That same year, we were given a rare glimpse inside 051 nightclub which is "exactly like it was" 15 years after it closed. The amazing footage, recorded by Lee Butler, showed some elements of the famous club still in situ and still easily recognisable.
Viewers could see the DJ box, the upstairs former VIP area and Lee filming from the balcony which once offered a view down over the dancefloor. You could also see old 'Versace' toilets looking pristine with the 'GIANNI VERSACE' lettering still stuck on the tiles.
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On Tuesday, August 2, the former nightclub was devastated by a fire with people questioning why it hasn't been redeveloped. When the fire broke out, Merseyside Police closed both Mount Pleasant and Brownlow Hill while fire crews from four engines battled the blaze that started in a ground floor stair well of the building.
The nearby Mount Pleasant car park was closed while fire crews carried out a full search of the fire-affected building. Shoppers returning from the city centre were denied access by car park staff an d had to wait outside.
A nearby café worker told the ECHO he was the one who called the fire service after someone ran in and alerted him of the blaze. Mo, who works in 16 Swirls coffee and frozen yogurt shop on Mount Pleasant, said: "Someone came in and shouted 'there's a fire'. I called the fire service and they were here really quickly.
"Crowds of people gathered along the road and watched the fire crews. There are always things going on in the building though. People break in and cause trouble. I remember another fire in there on the ground floor a few months ago."
Today, all that remains of the nightclub is the building, as well as clubbers fond memories and photographs of great nights there. Over the years, a number of 051 reunion events have also been held.
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