Farewell thanks to: ‘…all patrons, promoters, DJs. managers, staff members and partners for years of incredible memories’ [https://london.tigertiger.co.uk]

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GENERATIONS of clubbers hold fond memories of Tiger Tiger, staggering home after a sensory overload and a very long night.

The venue in the Haymarket, which opened in 1998, became known for its sticky floors, intense lighting and smell of Lynx.

It boasted four dance floors and five bars, playing music from all genres. There really was something for everyone at Tiger Tiger, but particularly for students who cherished the venue as a cheap night out.

This week, after 26 years in the West End, the club shut up shop for good.

Ross Killington, aka DJ Ross K, has performed more than 100 nights in the main room. The Saturday night regular DJ said the closure was a dark day for the industry, yet another example of the trend of large London venues closing down.

DJ Ross said: “It’s a shame that another one of London’s famous nightclubs has closed down. Large nightclubs are getting rarer and rarer which is sad because for myself as a DJ they’re the most fun to play by far.

“There’s nothing quite like a huge hall with huge speakers, a trendy bar just doesn’t provide the same thrill.

“In terms of customers and experience, the place was obviously getting old and if you read the reviews it would have obviously put you off; but in reality a lot of people had fun in there and we even had some regulars. It’s just the people that enjoy themselves don’t tend to think about leaving reviews, which is a common issue across bars and clubs.”

Ross Killington aka DJ Ross K: [Lauren Mabbett]

A string of once high-profile clubs in the capital have shut down in recent years.

On his personal memories, he spoke of “high energy crowds and great nights in terms of being able to push the boundaries with the music”.

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Tiger Tiger was fined £120,000 last year after serving caustic soda with tequila shots, rather than salt, resulting in four customers being rushed to hospital.

The venue’s owner pleaded guilty to four charges under section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in December 2023. The incident took place in December 2021.

A planning application has been submitted by Centro Planning Consultancy to Westminster City Council detailing an application for the conversion of Haymarket House into a “507 room hotel”.

The plans, pending approval from the council, will see extensions to the second to seventh floor levels, a new eighth floor and a roof-top plant screen.

The club franchise owned by Novus Leisure also had club sites in Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and Cardiff all of which are also closed.

A statement came via their website that they were now closed.

It read: “Tiger Tiger London has now closed. Thank you to all the patrons, promoters, DJs, managers, staff members and partners for years of incredible memories.”