“I’m hoping Antwerp Mansion will return sometime in the future” – Cameron Rawson

Amy Buchanan | 17th March 2018

 

Antwerp Mansion is closing its doors for the final time – with partygoers and staff saying their goodbyes to one of Manchester’s most iconic nightclubs.

On Friday protestor gathered in the centre of Manchester with placards – see videos above and below by Nathan Smith.

Still reeling from the news of Antwerp Mansion’s shock closure, resident DJ Cameron Rawson, talks to Viva about the ongoing campaign to save the venue and what led to its final farewell.

What is your role within Antwerp Mansion?

My role within Antwerp is I am a resident DJ for a lot of the nights, I am a promoter for a few nights, I run some of the social media and just sort of help with miscellaneous sort of tasks. But essentially my sort of main role is DJ’ing most of the nights.

It has about a week to save its life, do you think that can happen?

I think a week to save its life is very ambitious, I don’t think its possible obviously you still want to have hope but I think that its more of a thing that its going to be an ongoing, if there’s enough people showing their love for it I mean we’ve had now maybe 17,000 signatures on the petition. I think when it gets to, you know even Andy Burnham is aware of it, a lot of people are aware of it I think a week is way to ambitious I don’t think it’s possible.

Also presumably people will be losing their jobs, yourself included, how many people do you reckon?

So there’s going to be a lot of people losing their jobs at Antwerp. There’s going to be bar staff, there’s like a good group on Facebook of about 40 people who were sort of rota’d on, on a cycle, the sound engineers, there’s promoters, there’s management, there’s builders, there’s cleaners, there’s everything you would expect. There’s DJ’s and even things such as external companies that hire in lighting and sound systems, security as well, photographers and videographers. There’s potentially hundreds of people who are going to be affected financially by the closure of Antwerp.

Do you think the council have taken that into account?

I don’t think the council have taken it into account whatsoever, they have just seen it as a problem for them and they just want to get rid of it. They have not considered anything to do with the loss of jobs, they have just seen it as being this building, a club they don’t want to be there it’s too much of a nuisance for them. It’s easy for them not to think about it and just to strike it off.

The official statement that you made on your Facebook page made it sound like this is what the council always wanted, do you think that’s true?

It’s definitely, from what I am aware, the council have always sort of been down Antwerp’s throat because it’s just a very unique venue in every aspect. It’s in the middle of Rusholme, it’s not in strictly Fallowfield and it’s not in town. It’s just sort of smack bang in the middle of a residential area and they just don’t like it even though it’s not been a problem for the last 7 years, and now they just don’t like it.

Antwerp Mansion has been compared to the closure of Hacienda and Sankeys, do you think that is a fair comparison?

I definitely think it is a fair comparison to compare it to Sankeys and Hacienda. Antwerp has been the core of so many huge events and so many nights, I’ve only been DJ’ing myself there for 18 months, 2 years and I’ve seen the effects that the music can have on people there and the culture that comes with Antwerp. There’s even like a fashion culture linked to Antwerp, Antwerp is it’s own sort of place in every aspect from music to fashion to everything essentially.

Watch: Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has a message to give about the closure of Antwerp Mansion

Do you think this is the end for Antwerp Mansion, or could they relocate somewhere else?

I don’t think, knowing the management behind Antwerp, I don’t think Antwerp closing is the last you are going to see of Antwerp and I really hope that is the case as well because it’s just such an incredible place for everyone. You walk in and everyone has fun, you don’t see people walking away and doing I didn’t enjoy that, everyone always enjoys their nights there and its such a unique experience. When I take friends who have never been to Antwerp before, when I’m DJ’ing or when I’m just going to dance, my friends are just instantly like this is incredible i’ve never been somewhere like this and all for the good reasons not the bad reasons. People go there to dance, enjoy the music and have a good time. It’s not somewhere like Deansgate Locks or Spinningfields, like people are dressing up really nicely to sort of impress or whatever. This is just about everyone enjoying themselves and that is that. I’m hoping Antwerp will return sometime in the future.

You mentioned their was a petition with 17,000 signatures, if it reaches 25,000 signatures will it stop the closure of Antwerp Mansion?

I think in terms of the petition it’s not really you get to a number and this happens, It’s more to do with the more we get the better. You know even if we had 10 people sign it, that’s 10 people that don’t want to see it close down. Now there’s 17,000 people that don’t want to see Antwerp being closed down, that’s a lot of people. More people should be signing it and I encourage more people to sign it because it takes 10 seconds to do and even one extra person can do a whole lot of difference.

Do you think this will be the death of Manchester’s nightlife as we know it?

I think slowly Manchester’s nightlife is going to change from being the forward thinking scene it once was, to being ok what’s in the top 40 let’s play that in our clubs sort of RnB, Hip-hop. Don’t get me wrong we have a lot of good RnB, Hip-hop nights at Antwerp but even then you don’t want to go to a pop night every night. You want to go to a night where you’re seeing DJ’s play the best in drum and bass, seeing the DJ’s play the best in garage, best in funk soul disco. You don’t get this, you can’t go to a venue in Deansgate Locks and you can’t hear a night where one minute you’re listening to house, you go in another room and you’re listening to The Bee Gees. It just doesn’t happen.

The announcement came out of nowhere on social media, was it a shock for you?

I think everyone who worked at Antwerp had an inkling that something was going to happen, but even I was wow ok and it still hasn’t sunk it now. I just don’t want it to go, the last night is going to be so sad, yeah it’s just not quite sunk in yet. I am looking forward to the last night but also not because I don’t want it to finish, but I know the last day and night, it opens at 2pm I think, It’s just going to be incredible. Everyone is going to be sad but it’s also like a celebration of what has been Antwerp for 7 years.

You’ve seen yourself there has been a lot of backlash on social media, what can people do to save Antwerp?

Right now the best thing to do to save Antwerp is to get involved. I believe there’s a protest happening, an organised protest on Facebook, but if you keep up to date on Antwerp’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram we’re posting everything on how you can get involved to help.

There’s also a few students that have made video’s, but essentially if you can contact local councillors in Rusholme and Fallowfield. Just contact everyone and say this isn’t fair you don’t want Antwerp to close down, but if you keep an eye on Antwerp’s Facebook all the information will be posted there to sort of get involved. Essentially try and hope that one day Antwerp will see another day rather than closing in a week or so.

Manchester City Council made the decision to close Antwerp Mansion after complaints of noise disturbance, health and safety issues and suspected mismanagement of the venue which led to a rise in crime within Antwerp Mansion.

Rusholme councillor Rabnawaz Akbar said:

There were concerns over the state of repair of the building and the grounds but we were promised that income generated from the business model would be reinvested in the maintenance and repair of the building as well as CCTV cameras and acoustic improvements to the building to minimise noise disturbance to neighbouring properties especially residents of Kent Court whose bedrooms faced the venue. The management proposed to have allotments in their gardens which would involve local community participation.

Unfortunately, the proposal did not materialise as hoped. The building was never safe or welcoming for local residents; no heating or light at the front so difficult to see and walk safely; in any case, the grounds were always full of rubbish and trip hazards. Inside the building there were additional hazards such as holes in the floors. About 2 years ago, local residents along with local Councillors had to enter the grounds and demand the removal of a mountain of rubbish which had accumulated in the gardens.

Figures provided by Greater Manchester Police show that 177 crimes were committed at Antwerp Mansion during 2017, with 157 of these crimes resulting in calls to the police.

Following speculation of other nightclubs similar to Antwerp Mansion closing down, Cllr Akbar:

We are not aware of any plans to close other ‘alternative’ style clubs. The decision in the case of Antwerp Mansion has been taken on the basis of very clear planning legislation and does not form part of any such wider plan. If the management can identify alternative premises elsewhere in an appropriate (non-residential) setting, there seems no reason why the club-model developed at Antwerp Mansion can’t be transferred and thrive there.

To read the official statement from Antwerp Mansion on the closure of the venue, visit the venue’s website.

If you would like to sign the ‘Save Antwerp Mansion’ petition, click here.

To keep up to date with information regarding the closure of Antwerp Mansion, you can find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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