It is 30 years since (FAC51)  the Haçienda first opened its’ doors on Whitworth St. West, Manchester. What a fantastic way to celebrate this anniversary, in the basement car park of the Hacienda Apartments (which now stand on the site of the former nightclub, demolished several years after they'd shut its’ doors for the last time in 1997); For just one night re-live these halcyon days of clubbing history. Pay respects to those who were involved and helped to make the world-renowned venue what it was

(-Ed. Sounds dodgy, but-) Actually it made for a pretty damn good space in which to throw a party! Only way to obtain tickets if you were a normal (-merely mortal-) punter would have been to buy tickets to one of the other (X2 & X3) events taking place at Sankeys, even then only (-of course!-) 51 pairs of tickets were given out to all 3 club-nights

A massive privilege then, to be here as event photographer, I descend a concrete slope into the underground car park, sporting those trademark black & yellow diagonal stripes on the support columns, this would be my first and my last time

Mark E. Smith from The Fall was being interviewed by the BBC. People smoked & chatted as it seemed some had not seen each other for years. Peter Hook (New Order) hosted the evening (-who else?-) with all proceeds going to music charity Nordoff Robbins. The late Tony H. Wilson (-as ever-) watched over proceedings in a larger-than-life portrait above 

A well orchestrated night, the sound-system was great, (-quite unlike the Hac then, Ed-). There were projections & event flyers displayed that seemed to go back quite some time. It was well put-together & interesting for someone like me who hasn’t lived long enough to be able to reminisce. It was here I bumped into Bez (Happy Mondays) and did a little dance with him, in aid of taking a photograph, before passing through some large industrial-looking plastic flaps hanging from the ceiling toward the dance-floor

What an awesome atmosphere, accentuated by lasers which were top class. A wide dance-floor filled with the privileged 500 lucky enough to get invited to this never-to-be-repeated event, especially as the tunes were coming thick & fast. I’ve never heard so many classics, and such a range of them, all played expertly & seamlessly together

Original Hac DJs Graeme Park & Jon DaSilva, Dave Haslam, Hewan Clarke all played, with a live P.A. from K-Klass. The final set of the night (Park) was the one that did it for me. Raised the back-of-my-neck hairs & made me dance like (I wish) I was a child of the 80’s!

It’s hard to imagine just what the original Haçienda must have been like, but a good effort was made to allow those present to re-imagine the experience. I don’t think any TV or film re-enactment, even best storyteller in the world, can quite translate what it means to really be a part of something. That’s what the people who were there seem to say when I speak to them

Hooky said that it was 'the people who made it what it was then', and that seemed a given, but what a great way also to thank the ones who could be here now to witness the reincarnation of a club-brand that is not just well-known, but quite clearly has made an impact internationally

Graeme Park was delighted to have the honour of spinning the last tune. I took a photograph of Hooky’s Haçienda watch as the last tune played and both hands were pointing north! It was a midnight finish to a truly unforgettable experience. As the event drew to a close there was a resounding shared feeling that people had partied like they were actually back in the Haç. Whatever; one thing I know for sure is that everyone there enjoyed it. I certainly won’t forget what a great night I had (once) at the Haçienda. Not for a long time to come