Black Orchid: The legendary Nottingham nightclub where Take That performed in the 90s

For many, the 1990s embody 'the good old days'. With Britpop in full swing, New Labour in power, and England reaching the semi-finals of major tournaments, it’s fair to say that the ‘90s was a great time to be alive. 

The ‘90s is considered the last full decade before the internet took over and changed the way we interact with one another. 

If you were a young person in the ‘90s, then chances are nightclubs formed a major part of your life. 

Read more: Love Nottingham

The nightlife scene here in Nottingham was undoubtedly as good as anywhere in the country, with dozens of pubs, clubs and bars all vying for customers. 

But one venue, the Black Orchid, probably stands out from the rest in being Nottingham’s most iconic ‘90s nightclub. 

The club opened in 1989 and quickly became a hit with the city’s partygoers, hosting up to 2,500 people on busy nights. 

Black Orchid’s unique selling point was bizarrely a Cantonese buffet available upstairs, meaning you could easily line your stomach without leaving the building!

Such was the allure of Black Orchid that the club hosted many famous faces over the years, including a little-known band from Manchester in 1992. 

Take That (then featuring Robbie Williams) performed at the club as they began their journey to stardom. Tickets cost just £3 and included entry to the dancefloor afterwards. What a bargain!

The club closed for refurbishment in January 1998 and reopened as Isis in the early 2000s. 

During its renovation, in 1999, a Top of the Pops episode featuring Tom Jones and Martine McCutcheon was filmed inside the venue. 

Isis closed in 2009 after a string of violent incidents and the building has remained vacant ever since. 

Plans for a family entertainment complex were mooted in the late 2010s, but they fell through because the venue was not big enough.