Tucked away on this busy Sheffield road stands a building with a spectacular and standout facade.
Located at London Road and Boston Road near the city centre, this site opened back in 1914 as the 1,250-seat Lansdowne Picture Palace. After a 1940 air raid ended its cinema era, it briefly operated as a Marks & Spencer before becoming the Locarno Ballroom in December 1954.
Later, it would become renowned as Tiffany’s, Vickers, The Palais; it went through several transformations.
This photo gallery highlights some of the iconic venues from that era: Locarno Ballroom, Tiffany’s, The Music Factory and Bed.
The Music Factory launched in 1994, hosting the popular Love To Be dance nights until closing in 1998.
🎞️ Did you enjoy this fond look back to the Sheffield in the past? Well, why don't you sign up to our free retro newsletter.
In March 2000, following a short spell as Clubgeneration, Bed opened with a star-studded launch featuring Philip Oakey (The Human League) and Dean Honer (All Seeing I). Bed thrived as a garage, RnB, and hip hop hub until its 2004 closure.
The photos capture dance floor revellers – including a Coronation Street actor – alongside DJs and queuing clubbers at both legendary venues.
Did you spend evening sessions partying at Bed, Music Factory, or its previous iterations, and do these throwback pictures bring back fond memories?
1. Locarno Ballroom
Lunch hour rock and roll sessions at the Locarno Ballroom, Sheffield, on February, 1957 | Sheffield Newspapers
2. Boston Street
Boston Street and the bottom of Pearl Street in December 1962, looking towards the Locarno Ballroom (formerly Lansdowne Picture Palace) on the corner of London Road | Picture Sheffield/John Lythgoe
3. Locarno
The Locarno (later Tiffany's and today a Morrisons Daily supermarket), at the junction of London Road and Boston Street, Sheffield, in January 1964 | Picture Sheffield/Sheffield Newspapers Ltd
4. Tiffany's
Tiffany's nightclub, on the corner of London Road and Boston Street, just outside Sheffield city centre, in February 1977. It originally opened in 1914 as the Lansdowne Picture Palace and was also known as the Mecca Dance Hall and the Locarno. | Picture Sheffield/Sheffield Newspapers