During June 1999 we visited Europa Swansea – but felt a bit uneasy.
Not sure why! The building had been recently refurbished, there was good attention to detail by the management.
But I think we were experiencing the worst door supervisors imaginable.
Maybe that was it. Maybe they just didn`t like people.
Gordon Anderson had been brought in the manage the business, after the previous door team had terrorised both the Manager and the Regional Manager.
The door team had been dismissed, because of their alleged involvement in drug dealing and their threatening approach. The police had been involved, who in turn, had considered the closure of the premises. Understandably the whereabouts of the previous manager was unknown, so Gordon had taken over, and seemed to be running the business from his office. Support management scampered around in effective mode, which produced a good standard of entertainment and hospitality.
Europa was located at the side of a roundabout on the main Swansea thoroughfare into pub and clubland, where the main opposition was the huge Rank venue, and the Escape “Rave” club.
Students were on holiday so the Europa traded to a lower level than normal, when up to 600 customers would flock the lower floor, and 250 on the one above. Clearly the reduction in attendance was also due to the drug problem, unfriendly door staff, and the previous manager, who feared more for his own safety than his club.
At that time the future of Europa was in serious doubt. The police were watching very closely, and formal complaints had been made by residents living closely to the club, regarding nuisance and noise.
All of which was really sad, because the club itself was great; there was nothing wrong with the customers, and the management were keen.
Full marks to the current management for create a good atmosphere despite all the distraction.
Though it felt good to drive away!