Nightclub where stars loved to party closing its doors after 11 years
BOX Nightclub is shutting its doors after almost 11 years in Belfast.
The nightclub in the Odyssey Pavilion, which opened in 2006, has announced it will hold its final party night on July 1.
The club opened its doors in 2006 and over the years has hosted parties for some of the world’s biggest stars.
After-parties for the likes of Lady Gaga, One Direction and Rihanna were held there, while Rory McIlroy celebrated his first major win and Carl Frampton held a bash at the Box too.
It comes as Belfast’s Odyssey Pavilion is undergoing a major overhaul for the first time in its almost 20-year history.
New plans include merging and dividing up existing units for new cafes, bars and restaurants. It’s attached to the SSE Arena, which underwent major works in 2015.
Fresh plans also include a new health club and “arena hospitality suite”.
There will also be a new climbing wall, refurbishment of the cinema, bowling alley, new lighting systems, and changes to the building’s entrance and facade.
The nightclub said: “Box, as we know it, will unfortunately cease nightclub operations in the Odyssey Pavilion as of Saturday July 1. We came for a good time and stayed a very long time, expecting us to last four years, here we are close to 11 years later and what a journey it’s been.
“In 2006 we came, we saw, we conquered. 23,000sq feet, capacity of just under 1,800 persons, over two floors with seven bars, 22 tills, 120 staff, averaging 3,500 customers every week, we changed the city’s clubbing landscape for good. We could go on and on but we have one huge final week of parties to plan so we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the management, the bar staff, the DJs, the cleaners, the door team, the suppliers, but most of all we would like to thank all of you ... 2,000,000 customers through our doors is truly remarkable.
“Lifetime of memories, lifetime of friends.”
On Wednesday, the Odyssey Pavilion began its first phase of its public consultation process.
A Public Application Notice (PAN) went on display as part of a process which seeks to encourage the public and all relevant stakeholders to express their views on the proposed refurbishment