Bristol's floating nightclub that's still going strong after decades

Bristol's floating nightclub is celebrating its ruby anniversary in May. Thekla is turning 40 and is celebrating in true Bristol style with a five-day programme, including live music with some of the venue's most memorable performers making a return.

Dubbed a cultural institution in the city and beyond, the team at Thekla will be celebrating a new book about the iconic venue. The Complete History of Thekla, documents its history and legacy from its days under a different name and tales dating back to 1958. And Thekla is inviting some of its favourite talent from the past four decades to come back and perform.

Taking to the stage will be My Nu Leng, who were original residents at Thekla’s 51°27' club night when it started in 2011, and regular 51°27' guests Kahn & Neek, who also hosted their own Bandalu club events on the boat. Closing the weekend on Sunday, May 5, are Beatles Dub Club & Friends including the Mad Apple Circus horn section, the Bloco B samba dancers and the Binbag Wisdom vocalists.

The weekend also features chart-topping Strangers singer Kenya Grace, English punk-rock duo Soft Play (DJ set), alternative-indie band The K’s, space-rockers Henge and a special Pop Confessional club night with Twisted Time Machine.

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Alex Black, general manager at Thekla, said: “Celebrating 40 years in Bristol is absolutely incredible. Thekla stands for so much more than a music venue - it is an institution testament to Bristol’s vibrant culture. Each band that plays and all the up-and-coming DJs all tell a story and add to the rich history of the city’s music scene.

"We can’t wait for people to get their hands on the book that documents the legacy and passion of Thekla. The vessel’s 40th anniversary also comes at a pivotal time for independent music venues, acting as a space for growth for emerging artists and inspiration to grassroots venues that are faced with rising operational costs. Celebrating four decades of Thekla signifies the power of culture and arts, and how important it is to the city and for the city.”

Tickets are available via Thekla's official website.

The history of Thekla

Having made its way into Bristol's Floating Harbour in 1983 Thekla, which was called the Old Profanity Showboat at the time, hosted hundreds of theatre, cabaret, comedy and live music events in the city. After welcoming a number of the country's finest artists of the time, the Old Profanity Showboat closed its doors in August 1986, when the punk scene of the late 80s, as well as the likes of Massive Attack, Roni Size and Portishead in the 90s that shaped the venue into the Thekla the city knows and loves today.

In a deep dive into the archives in celebration of Thekla’s 40th anniversary, the team have pulled together an exclusive archive book, The Complete History of Thekla, looking at the vessel's legacy and cultural influence. The book will be on display on a walk-up basis on the top deck of Thekla on May 1.

Fans will also be able to purchase the book at selected retailers following the celebrations, and it's promised to contain plenty of information about its rich history, and the weird and wonderful stories from over the years, including the hidden Banksy, yet to be uncovered. When looking back across four decades of Thekla, it’s not just about the journey of the vessel and the spectacular performances that have taken place, but the people who have worked there, which make up its rich and colourful history.

Former cleaner, Kim Lintern, has a trove of fond memories, dating back to when she first began working there in 1993. She says: “There was a guy called Charlie who was the manager at the time, and he lived on the ship in the cabins in the early days. He started dating his girlfriend, and they absolutely loved doing the Tango.

"I remember one day, I came down to the dancefloor to start the cleaning, and there was Charlie and his girlfriend doing the Tango on the dancefloor amongst all the cigarette butts and empty beer cans.”

Other eventful stories vary from times where the waste tanks would fill up and the boat would lean, making the walk up and down the dancefloor feel as though punters were traipsing uphill, to the colourful memories of ‘Little John’, the maintenance man and engineer who left his mark with a circle of tea stained rings on his favourite table.