Brit revellers have mourned the reported closing of “Europe’s worst nightclub,” where former Boris Johnson strategist, and infamous eyesight tester, Dominic Cummings once worked. Known for its sticky carpets, torrid music and cramped atmosphere, Klute Nightclub – in the heart of Durham – grew to become a landmark arguably as well known as the city’s Cathedral and university. But after more than 50 years of forging memories – both good and bad – the nightclub reportedly shut its doors for the last time on April 20. The nightclub’s owners Tokyo Industries have not released any formal closure notice, although the club has posted no updates on its social media pages since March 13. The Mirror has contacted Tokyo Industries for comment. Klute was reportedly branded Europe’s second worst nightclub by FHM magazine before it nabbed the top spot by default after the first placed venue burned down. The club was previously owned by Cummings’ uncle before the nightclub was taken over by Tokyo Industries in 2013 who owned it until its reported closure. Dillon Blevins, Klute’s general manager at the time of its closure, told Durham university outlet Palatinate the club had indeed closed. “As a former student of Durham University from 2017, I experienced Klute in its element first-hand. At no point was Klute the worst nightclub in Europe: Klute wasn’t even the worst nightclub in Durham. “From what I have seen from the frontline of the Durham night out, I believe that while Klute’s closure isn’t solely due to changing student [club] preferences, it’s clear that the way we spend our leisure time and our money has completely shifted.” The revelation, first reported by the outlet, sent shockwaves among the city’s former students and revellers, some of whom shared their despair with The Mirror. “Klute could be the eighth circle of Hell or paradise, depending on how your night was going, whether you had had a quaddie, and whether you had a lecture the next morning at 9am,” digital journalist and author Sophia Smith Galer said. “I always did have a lecture at 9am, not that that ever stopped me. “Being told Klute was the the de facto worst nightclub in Europe because it came second in a list somewhere and the first club had burned down was a more important initiation process than matriculation. Everyone has an anecdote long whittled down into legend from those sticky floors. Klute was awful, but it was our awful. I am very sad to see it go.” Onward think tank director Sebastian Payne told The Mirror he was gutted future Durham students would be robbed of Klute experience. “Klute was a quintessential part of every Durham student’s experience, for better and worse,” he said. “It’s everything people said: small, sweaty, stinky, chocked full of cheesy music and annoying people. It was also terrific fun and unlike any other nightclub – not least by ending every single evening with the exact same combo of Summer of ’69 and That’s Amore. No one will remember those lethally strong vodka drinks. Deeply sad that future generations won’t get to enjoy such a crucial coming of age experience.” Others shared their horror on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, with some posing the question – perhaps jokingly – questioning Durham’s purpose without the iconic nightclub. Account @MadeofElements said: “Can Durham exist without Klute? “Is it not as woven into the fabric of the city as the cathedral itself? Signed, a Durham grad who possibly went to Klute once. Wearing toga. In freshers. Having attempted typical student night life reverted to toasties, books and TV in the JCR.” Rylan Holey added: “OMG. If Klute’s gone I’m definitely not going to go back for my 20-year Durham uni anniversary now.” Upon learning of the tragic development, Ipaper executive news editor Rich James posted: “Say it’s not so. Klute – the God-awful-but-essential nightclub in Durham is no more.” While Klute has closed its doors for the last time, leaving many with lasting memories, a question remains: Now it’s gone, where is Europe’s worst nightclub?
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