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Club Retro

383 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne   Tel. 9670 6575   www.retroclub.com.au
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First venue photo of Club Retro
Second venue photo of Club Retro


Venue type: Club    Review: Tony Clarke
Club Retro is Melbourne's longest running retro night and enjoys something near cult-status by the regulars - some have been going there for over fifteen years. Open on Fridays and Saturdays only, Fridays has traditionally been the main night, although Saturdays can often be just as popular.

The nightclub is split into two distinct levels:

Downstairs is part of the Niagara Hotel, and is a large more pub-style room with a small and rather intimate coloured dancefloor. Often more modern songs will be played here.

Upstairs is the main dance and bar area, and features classic retro with a dance floor that is generally packed right through till the late hours.

Upstairs Upstairs, when it is open, is a maze of corridors and another, smaller bar.

The crowd is, as you would expect, about late 20s and upwards, and extremely friendly and fun-loving.
Readers' Reviews
Looks like a place that decided 20 years after it was built in the early 80s to rename itself "Retro" rather than get a renovation. So daggy and cheesy you will be guaranteed some silly fun and imitations of "the dancing scene in the Breakfast Club". The crowd mostly consists of friendly, unpretentious and fun bunch of people in their late 20s and over.
Leanne, Brunswick, 03/05
Well, my feet have never been so sore... but do you think I could stay off that dance floor. I was there for my hens night with 13 other 80s lovin' chicks and we all agree that it was the best venue we have ever been to. The crowd was awesome, really friendly and not at all sleazy, the dancefloor is black and white checks, the DJ plays all requests (within reason) and you are guaranteed to scream and run to the dancefloor with your hands in the air at least 10 times...each hour! And that was fine beacause there is heaps of room on the dancefloor and podium (if that's your thing). I did the robot, the MC Hammertime dance, we made a train (and nearly everyone on the dancefloor joined on), running man and had a really bad urge to do the caterpillar (but I had a skirt on). Seriously people if you love the 80s you need to get yourself to Club Retro, and if you don't love them that much you will when you get there.

The DJ plays the best selection from the 80s, you won't hear all the crap cliche songs you find on typical "best of the 80s" compilation CDs, he has a really wide selection and really kept the crowd dancing. Compliments to him!

You needn't wait too long at the bar, although it gets a little crowded here it is more of a talking area than a queue. Drinks are average price, however I must admit I didn't buy too many as I only go to the bar when the crap songs come on, and there weren't many of those.

I now have a theory that everyone has a story about Belinda Carlisle's "Leave a light on for me", it was the first cassingle I ever owned.... that night at Club Retro took me back, it took us all back, when that song played we all had a moment, we shared our stories, we sung really loud, we danced with our hearts and I will never forget it!

Please, please, please go...if you like Marquee you will love Club Retro. Any age, any style you are bound to have a great time there were 18 - 35's, single men, single women, couples, punks, Paris', surfies, metros and even goths. It is.... the club that does not discriminate!!

Have a rad time!
Tazza
Tarryn, Langwarrin, 12/05
Retro is a top place to end up at it only starts to fill around 11 so get in early and have a laugh with your mate s because soon it will seem like the whole world is trying to fit in there and lining up for a drink can be a hassle but other that that its great place with a very friendly crowd.
Troy, Richmond, 06/06
Its a run-down multi-level venue that plays 80s music. Dark and dingy is part of its iconic appeal though. Its always packed to to the rafters (with lots of hens nights parties), and the crowd is a real mixture of ages. The crowd are generally friendlier than many venues, people there take themselves less seriously and its harder to act tough and pick fights with the daggiest 80s music blaring. The cover charge is $15 to enter, and the venue doesn't have air-conditioning, so everyone is dripping with sweat.

At $10 per drink, and $15 cover charge, it definitely isn't a cheap night out. It actually used to be a cheap and fun venue a few years ago and worthy of the positive reviews it got.
Brent, Flemington, 03/10

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