The Adelphi Club, De Grey Street, Hull, Yorkshire is one of the strangest music venues I have ever known. Located along a street that is made up of pre-war terraced houses, its location alone looks a little odd at first glance. However, then when you consider that it is actually little more than one of those houses, it gets really quirky. This is especially true when you consider that bands such as Oasis have played there.

I noted, with interest, in the local press, that this year, 2009, The Adelphi is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The Adelphi first opened to local fans of all types of music back in October 1984. Since that time The Adephi has become something of a local attraction. However the Adelphi has now also gained a great reputation, for offering a place for original live music to be performed, both countrywide and internationally.

This 25th Anniversary forms part of an Art exhibition which is being held at renowned local gallery The Ferens. So this hub hopefully will also form part of the homage to The Adelphi which is a truly quirky British venue.

Since The Adelphi opened it doors for the first time it has remained consistent in only one thing and that is its diversity. A silly statement? Well, yes I know that it is, but it fits The Adelphi perfectly.

Many of the clubs of the past have long gone and, for those audiences that still like to hear new underground performers, suitable venues are few and far between. In fact The Adelphi is one of the few remaining rare venues available in the UK.

Paul Jackson is the guy responsible for The Adelphi both now and back then. His one time famous side kick was Yosser, his dog who sadly is no longer around. When The Adelphi first opened Pulp was one of the bands trying to make it big who found that there were few places to play to a live audience. The Adelphi was the perfect venue and is still well remembered by the band.

The actual building, that was to become the Adelphi, was a three bedroomed terraced house at 89 De Grey Street, Hull. It was built in 1888. This residential street runs slap bang between two main roads, full of businesses, shops and some houses. When the club first opened its doors the maximum capacity in the concert room was around 220 people.

Still The Adelphi was not the first club to be opened at 89 De Grey Street.

• In 1923 the Victory Club and Institute opened having been granted a liquor licence.
• Ten years down the road this club was aptly re-named the De Grey Club.
• In 1940 the club was unlucky enough to be able to open a car park. I say unlucky as it was down to German bombing, in the second world war, flattening 83, 85 and 87 De Grey Street.
• In 1956 the venue became more sporting based. It now was known as the Civil Service Sports and Social Club.
• There seems to be rather a lack of information about the club from 1965 until 1970. Perhaps this is just typical sixties.
• 1970ish saw a complete change for 89 De Grey Street when it became a laundry, of all things.
• In 1978 the name Adelphi is given to the venue and it opens as a club. However this one was not a music club. It was more of a pub come club where drinkers met.
• In the early 1980's the ownership of the Adelphi changed and the place became known as The New Adelphi.
• It was now a sort of working men's club and actually had a "gay"night.
• The 1st October 1984 saw Paul Jackson take over The New Adelphi and the rest, as they say, is history.
• De Grey Street is within easy reach of Hull University and the many flats where students often live.

There have been many excellent performers down the years including:-

Local band The HouseMartins who went on to fame.

The Gargoyles.

Pink Noise

Death By Milkfloat

Happy Mondays

The LA'S

The Stone Roses

The Beautiful South who were also a local band made good.

Radiohead

Supergrass

Green Day

PJ Harvey

Country artist Wayne Hancock, who hubby went to see.

And More.

With a rare mixture of talent and peculiar nights The Adelphi stilll has a great programme and is well worth a visit, if only for its quirkiness. It is yet another amazing part of my city which has so many problems but also has a lot going for it.