NYE 'party to remember' set for closing Watford nightclub

Pryzm nightclub in The Parade, Watford has been a popular party venue for decades

A "historic" nightclub is to close its doors for good - but not before throwing a New Year's Eve "party to remember".

Pryzm in Watford hosted acts including The Real Thing and Sister Sledge during its disco heyday in the 1970s and 1980s.

The venue has been known as Baileys and Paradise Lost - and Kudos in the 1990s.

Its current owners said they were "unable to reach an agreement with the landlord on a new lease".

Headline music acts such as The Real Thing played at Baileys in the 1970s

Ian Richards, who became a DJ at Baileys in 1979, said: "It was unbelievable - a club like no other."

Sharing his memories, he said: "It had a resident band, a DJ and disco, a separate disco upstairs, and top of the bill cabaret acts.

"You could have a three-course meal while watching Tommy Cooper and Freddie Starr, or headline music acts from the United States like Sister Sledge.

"It was always heaving. Even on a Sunday night, there were 2,500 people."

Ian Richards (centre) pictured with The Nolans at Baileys club in 1984

Mr Richards said the venue changed in the 1980s, losing the live acts in favour of DJs.

"The directors decided if they did away with the cabaret side of things, they could turn it into the most incredible disco," he said.

"It's safe to say the people of Watford and surrounding areas were absolutely distraught."

'It was a lifestyle'

Tom Howard was regional manager of the venue in the 1990s when it was called Kudos.

"It was a busy club in those days, open about five days a week," he said.

"'Grab a Granny' night was on Wednesdays for over-25s, and we used to get 1,000 people. On Friday and Saturday it was at capacity of 2,500."

Mr Howard said there was a "hard core" group of committed clubbers who would sometimes turn up two or three nights a week.

"They'd be out til 02:00 then back at work at 07:00. It was a lifestyle - people loved dancing, loved meeting people and just getting away from life," he added.

Pryzm nightclub pictured in 2023. The venue has moved from cabaret acts to DJ nights and nightclubs in the last 45 years

Mr Howard said the golden age of the nightclub seemed to have ended.

"Over the years, everybody's wanted to change it into something else," he said. "Gone are the days of big nightclubs, of 2,000 people going down to a club.

"There will always be a nightclub, there just won't be very many."

Pryzm said its closing night on New Year's Eve would be "a party to remember"

The owners of the current club, Pryzm, said they had "no choice but to close the venue".

"Closing the premises will be a sad day for our staff, management, and millions of customers who have enjoyed the venue over the years," they said.

Watford Town Centre BID (Business Improvement District) also said it was "saddened" to learn the "historic venue" would be closing.

"Whilst the impact of the loss of Pryzm remains unclear currently, the long-term future for the town centre economy continues to look prosperous," it said.

"We have no doubt the New Year's Eve party will be a fantastic evening for all those attending."