RETRO: Heaven 17, Pulp and dancing girls - remembering Adelphi nightclub

Well, two of them were pretty big names in Sheffield music in the 1990s.

But all three - Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, the synth pop legends Heaven 17 and the scantily clad ladies in question were at one point involved in entertaining punters at the Adelphi nightclub, in its various guises..

The venue, based in Attercliffe’s Vicarage Road, near Attercliffe Road, hosted a Sheffield Wednesday themed event for the Owls Trust in 2001, in which Heaven 17 played a gig and Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker put on a DJ set.

In the flyers used to sell the event, those interested were told: ‘There’s even a suggestion Peter Shreeves might give us a song.’

It’s unconfirmed if that ever happened - sadly - but the venue regularly put on live music and DJs, including local girl band trio Supersister, who performed their chart single Coffee.

The bar was known for being open late, serving until 4am.

The listed building, which today lies dormant, has had an undoubtedly rich history.

The Adelphi opened as a theatre and cinema in 1920, built by architect William C Fenton.

The cinema closed in 1967, and the building was then used as a bingo hall under the unsurprising name Adelphi Bingo Club.

It later became a nightclub, hosting Gatecrasher before its organisers moved venues to the Republic in the city centre.

It then briefly became a ‘Million Dollar Babes’ lap dancing club, then a music and arts community enterprise centre to train youngsters for careers in the music industry.

n We want to hear about your best nights out in Sheffield at bygone venues. Send your photos to [email protected] and we’ll feature the best ones in an upcoming Midweek Retro.