End of an era: Christchurch club-goers prepare for Hide's last dance

The owners of Christchurch's popular Hide club are about to turn off the lights for good, as club culture is reshaped by the changing habits of music fans and party-goers.

Hide club has hosted a raft of local and international DJs and electronic acts since opening in 2019, establishing itself as a pivotal post-quake club staple in the city and one of the country's most reputable venues.

The central city spot on St Asaph Street will hold its "last dance" on 4 July after co-owners Mitch Ryder and Sam Smith confirmed the site was being sold.

"We've had a wonderful seven years running the venue. We've had lots of challenges along the way as well," Ryder said.

"The timing's right. I've got a young family and Sam's got a young family on the way. We've just had a great time and everything's in a good place, so why not end on a high?"

The purpose-built venue had hosted renowned international acts such as Becky Hill, Sammy Virji and Wilkinson.

Hide had hosted a diverse range of events including open decks nights, university club nights, morning raves and live shows that the co-owners said had helped to support local talent.

Heartfelt tributes were posted on social media in response to the news of Hide's closure from DJs and loyal club-goers.

Christchurch woman Tash Taane told RNZ she frequented Hide most weekends and even contemplated having her wedding after-party at the club.

"Hide wasn't just somewhere to go on a Saturday night it was where friendships were made, relationships started and memories were created," she said.

"For me personally, it's where I met my future husband, so it'll always hold a special place in my heart."

Christchurch-based DJ Amy Jane - aka Miss Jane - had played Hide a number of times, including a support slot for Bryan Gee in June.

She said opportunities for DJs could become more sporadic after Hide closed.

"We've seen clubs come and go and that will still happen. The underground culture is still quite strong and people love it," Jane said,

Fellow local DJ Chetty D was a mainstay of Ōtautahi's electronic underground for more than 20 years.

In March he supported a live trifecta of D&B figureheads in Goldie, Grooverider and Dillinja at Hagley Park.

Chetty D said Hide's closure marked the "end of an era".

"It provided opportunities for me to have a go. It's provided a lot of opportunities for so many young DJs coming through," he said.

The 350-capacity spot also filled a gap for Christchurch's clubbing scene following the earthquakes during a period that saw the closure of dancefloor hubs like the Ministry.

Hide's closure was largely due to the changing priorities of its owners, but also the changing priorities of party-goers.

Ryder said he had seen shifts in the club scene, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Young people are way more health-conscious these days, like consumption of alcohol is dropping a lot, which massively affects profitability of venues," he said.

"Most of the time that's where most of the turnover comes from, not necessarily through tickets."

Ryder and Smith also run the annual Lakes Festival.

Ryder said the rise of summer festivals in Christchurch alongside an economic downturn was threatening the viability of standard club nights.

"You've also got a cost of living crisis where young people are prioritising maybe putting aside money and going to an experience like Electric Avenue or Lakes or Rhythm & Vines. They're prioritising that one big experience over maybe going to a small nightclub once a month or once a fortnight," he said.

Hide's owners believed there were still good options for Ōtautahi club-goers, including Darkroom and the industrial-style Sydenham Underpass, but the venues still needed support.

UK drum and bass luminary Doc Scott would be last big-name act to play the venue on Friday.

A 12-hour "longest dance" event, showcasing more than 20 local DJs, would take place from 3pm on Saturday.