Jamesy Belfast was working in The Parliament on the night The Kremlin opened on a March Saturday night a quarter of a century ago.
One of the resident DJs in what was the main venue for gay people in Belfast through much of the 1990s, Jamesy recalls there was a feeling of some dread among the staff.
“It was unreal, the Parliament was empty and there was a feeling it was done for,” says Jamesy. Despite, or because of, his position as being one of the best known DJs in the city, he likes to keep a low profile away from the decks.
Staff at The Parliament had known for some months of the impending March opening of the new club, which celebrated its 25th birthday last weekend.
Seamus Sweeney, originally from Donegal, and Andre Graham, from New Zealand, had been operating in Dublin but on a visit to Belfast concluded there was an opening for a much grander and more flamboyant venue in the city.
There were few event nights at The Parliament and a feeling in the community they “just opened the doors and took the money”, says Jamesy.
Still, there were people saying there was a room for two major venues.
On visits to The Kremlin, opened on the site of the former Penny Farthing bar, Jamesy came to the conclusion the new owners were going to make sure the venue was the only one.
It was not just every night had some different type of event, including bringing over major acts from Britain, or The Tsar members bar, but also the design.
“Aside from being a new gay venue, it really was the first place in Belfast with a minimalist design,” Jamesy remembers.
“The floors were all polished concrete. The walls were smooth painted matt black and it was all glass and brushed stainless steel everywhere.”
The Kremlin even had a “straight” night to “see the club everyone is talking about”.
It was billed as a venue with the authenticity of the Communist era, including authentic artefacts from the 1930s, but with a twist, “everybody will be ecstatic to be held inside”.
The Parliament shut as a venue mainly for gay people in 2003.
Jamesy was on board within weeks of the March 6 opening night, with a slot on Wednesdays, a men only night. He has been a fixture since, switching to Saturday in 2000.
“They told me later there was a poll of customers asking which DJ they wanted. It was Boy George and second was me,” jokes Jamesy.
But security for clubbers was an issue for the management of the club, which had an entrance on Little Donegall Street when it first opened, before switching to Donegall Street.
Jamesy remembers attempts to attack those lined up waiting to enter. Security was needed to stop fights breaking out outside the club.
Still, the owners believed The Kremlin, close to the then still nascent Cathedral Quarter, would become the hub at the centre for nightlife for the gay community in Belfast. It happened.
In 2009, Anthology NI took over The Kremlin’s lease, then several years later took over sole ownership for a reported £3 million.
“It’s been an amazing and fun 15 years running the Kremlin. We have seen people from every walk of life visit us from all over the world,” said Anthea Wilson, Anthology’s director.
“I’m incredibly proud to have been part of the 25 year journey and would like to thank all the staff, managers, entertainers and customers who have made the Kremlin what it is today. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Kremlin’s next 25 years.”