The Haçienda to host 40th anniversary rave on original site

Virgin Radio

8 May 2022, 13:25

Peter Hook is throwing the event in the car park!

No really. Located in the basement car park of the Haçienda apartments on Manchester's Whitworth Street West, the party is slated to take place on 21st May and marks 40 years to the day that the legendary Manchester nightclub first opened to the public.

The Manchester Evening News says that a letter has been sent to residents by the event's organisers – that would be former Joy Division/New Order bassist Peter Hook, Paul Fletcher, James Masters and Aaron Mellor – inviting them to join in the celebrations.

Nice one! Sorted! Etc.

"As you might be aware, FAC51 The Haçienda celebrates its 40th anniversary in May 2022, having opened its doors in May 1982 to create the legacy which has given the apartments their unique heritage and history," reads the letter.

"Some might remember or may even have attended the event which we did for the 30th anniversary in 2012 which was much praised and this event will be generally similar to our previous event in the car park. All proceeds from the event are to be donated directly to charities."

Largely funded by Factory Records, late Factory Records owner Tony Wilson and - infamously - the never seen profits of New Order, The Haçienda was a nightclub and music venue in Manchester, which became famous during the Madchester years of the 1980s and early 1990s

Additionally, says DJ Mag, a new British pop culture exhibition will launch on 19th May at Manchester's John Rylands Research Institute and Library. Taking in the history of The Haçienda and Factory, the exhibition will form part of an overall project which the organisation says is "dedicated to the preservation and research of popular culture".