Site of legendary nightclub to be turned into flats

Plans for more than 200 apartments on Princess Road have been submitted to Manchester City Council

After years of lying empty, the site of a former nightclub once dubbed "a cornerstone of Manchester's black history" is set to become home to a development of more than 200 apartments.

The site, on Princess Road in Moss Side, has fallen into disuse since the Reno - a music venue at the heart of the city's black community in the 1970s - was demolished in 1987.

Developers MSV Housing say they want to ensure the club's legacy lives on in the design of the 212-apartment block and are committed to "celebrating" its heritage as Manchester's first racially inclusive nightclub.

The plans for the new development have been submitted to the City Council, with construction to start as soon as next year.

Joanne Bonnington, from MSV Housing, said the Reno was remembered as "a place where people listened to funk and soul".

"If the plans are approved, there will be a planning condition around celebrating that heritage, so we will continue to engage with the community and look for ideas around that," she said.

No judgement

Broadcaster and Manchester social historian Karen Gabay called the Reno, which was opened in 1962 by Nigerian Phil Magbotiwan, "a cornerstone of Manchester's history - and especially Manchester's black history".

She said: "People very much felt that it was a place where they could dance [and] mingle - black, white, mixed heritage.

"[It was] back in those days of colour bars, so back then a lot of people couldn't get into clubs in Manchester - but they could get into the Reno club, and they could get into that club without judgement."

The site of the former Reno nightclub has been little more than wasteland for almost 40 years

DJ Persian started working at the Reno in 1967 and became known for introducing soul records from the United States to the club.

Those tracks included classic funk records such as Groove On, by Willie "Beaver" Hale, Joy and Pain, by Maze, and Turned On To You, by the Eighties Ladies.

Previously known for reggae. the club began attracting a whole new audience, and was celebrated for its racially inclusive vibe.

The disc jockey said the club was often visited by celebrities, including the cast of Coronation Street, snooker player Alex "Hurricane" Higgins, and Muhammad Ali.

"People used to come from Europe, especially on a Sunday night, just for the Reno and go back the next day," he said.

"In the end I stopped playing reggae and built the Reno up into the first soul venue."

DJ Persian introduced soul music to the Reno club