‘90s rave doco about UK nightclub Sterns resurfaces as 30th anniversary of the venue closing approaches

Photo of a packed dancefloor at Sterns

An old ‘90s rave documentary about UK nightclub Sterns, called ‘Mensa Lord of the Rave’, has resurfaced as the 30th anniversary of the clubs closing approaches. You can watch the entire thing for free on YouTube below.

With no phones in sight, this was a time when illegal outdoor raves had been making their way into nightclubs.

According to the testimony of ravers that frequented Sterns and DJs that played there, the club – a 19th Century mansion in Worthing, West Sussex – had an atmosphere like nowhere else, although it somewhat slipped under the radar in the early ‘90s when compared to spots like the Hacienda up north in Manchester.

N-Joi and The Prodigy played there, plus DJs like Sasha, Moby, Carl Cox, Fabio and Grooverider, Mr C, Rhythm Doctor and others. There was even a dedicated afterparty location on a nearby farm – simply referred to as ‘The Farm’!

Sterns was largely promoted through flyers and word of mouth, attracting coach-loads of party-goers from all over the country and even European visitors before closing in 1993.

The nights were led by a guy called Mensa and promoted by ‘In-Ter-Dance’, which you’ll hear more about in the doco. The 90-minute film was produced & directed by David Kenny. Enjoy.

Mensa Lord of the Rave, full documentary:


Thanks to the BBC for supporting data and photo of the crowded dancefloor. Outdoor image credit: Factmag.

    Join Our Rapidly-Growing Community of Dance Music Fans!

    Sign up to get the latest dance culture news and other updates via our weekly newsletter. You'll also receive other EXCLUSIVE, community-only content straight to your inbox.

    Latest posts

    Photo of the dancefloor at BPM Costa Rica
    Global News

    BPM Costa Rica Unveils Initial Lineup for 2024 Edition

    September 28, 2023
    Old photo of the late Tony De Vit
    Culture News

    Tony De Vit Documentary ‘Don’t Ever Stop’ is Scheduled for October Debut

    September 26, 2023
    Photo of a DJ performing a Hip Hop routine
    DJ News

    Serato and DJ Jazzy Jeff Pay Tribute to DJs for Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary

    September 26, 2023

      Join Our Rapidly-Growing Community of Dance Music Fans!

      Sign up to get the latest dance culture news and other updates via our weekly newsletter.

      Follow Us:

      Visit Our Merch Store
      Get FREE shipping when you spend over $50
      Shop Now
      DJ Line-ups Released!
      Visit our main festivals page to get the latest...
      View Festivals
      Previous
      Next

      latest posts

      Photo of the dancefloor at BPM Costa Rica

      BPM Costa Rica Unveils Initial Lineup for 2024 Edition

      Array
      (
          [0] => 69921
          [1] => 1079
      )
      
      September 28, 2023
      The event will again feature house and techno’s finest DJs and producers across 3 stages in Tamarindo for 5 days…
      Old photo of the late Tony De Vit

      Tony De Vit Documentary ‘Don’t Ever Stop’ is Scheduled for October Debut

      Array
      (
          [0] => 1552
          [1] => 1079
      )
      
      September 26, 2023
      The film tells the story of Tony’s rise to fame, his tragic passing and his incredible legacy, starring DJs including…
      Photo of a DJ performing a Hip Hop routine

      Serato and DJ Jazzy Jeff Pay Tribute to DJs for Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary

      Array
      (
          [0] => 1553
          [1] => 1079
      )
      
      September 26, 2023
      Serato is teaming up with some of hip hop’s most prolific DJs, commencing with DJ Jazzy Jeff showcasing his DJ…
      photo of the main stage at Sun Cycle festival

      Sun Cycle Festival Reveals Lineup for NYD 2024

      Array
      (
          [0] => 36
          [1] => 35
      )
      
      September 15, 2023
      Spread across 3 bespoke stages at the Coburg Velodrome in Victoria, organisers have invited artists including Jayda G, Mildlife, Objekt,…
      Photo of the dancefloor at Let Them Eat Cake, Melbourne

      Let Them Eat Cake unveils lineup for NYD 2024

      Array
      (
          [0] => 36
          [1] => 35
      )
      
      September 14, 2023
      The roster boasts a mix of both local and international talent, with notable including Ben Klock, BICEP (DJ), LF SYSTEM...