Delicatessen Club
Delicatessen - History of the Club
Delicatessen started back in 2001 when I (Rob Smith) couldn’t find the kind of club night I wanted to go to. So having had some experience of running nights at local venues such as Bath Place Community Venture I decided to start my own up! After speaking to a few venues including Warwick Uni students Union, where I had been a student, I approached the club Sugar on Tavistock Street in Leamington spa. Delicatessen was born and our first event was in November of 2001.
Being a new event we started small, originally downstairs in Sugar with an initial following of around 100 people. Playing an eclectic mix of Hip Hop, Funk, Breaks, Old soul, Latin and Drum n’ bass it only took a couple of terms before Delicatessen began making it’s first forays upstairs to Sugar's 450 capacity venue!
Delicatessen's frequency increased to every other week. Flyers and posters went from black and white to full colour and the numbers kept going up. We always wanted to keep the vibe fresh and original - so we started bringing in some new and interesting ideas! The 'Delicatessen' brand developed a strong reputation for quality music and a great night out!
Crowd sizes continued to increase and Delicatessen started to fill the upstairs and at the end of Uni terms the downstairs too. We experimented with taking Deli (as it was now often referred to) to some new venues with trips to venues including the Moseley Dance Centre, Birmingham’s Custard Factory, and both Warwick and Coventry Students Unions.
We like to keep things fresh and interesting at Deli and over the years we have tried plenty of extra features to keep things fresh. Examples include:
- Guest DJ’s (including Dr Rubberfunk, Rob Life (Breakin Bread), Aldo Vanucci (Cat Skills)
- Live musicians (percussion, sax, trumpet, didgeridoo)
- Turntablists
- MC’s, beat-boxers and poets
- Circus performers and visual theatre
- Break dancers
In 2005 we decided that the events in Sugar had run their course (4 years is a long time in club terms) and it was time for pastures new. We held our first event in London In the Play bar on Old Street on the 10th of March 2006. After an amazing response particularly from so many old Warwick Deli fans now living in London we are pretty sure the London events are only just getting started!
Delicatessen continues to develop whilst still keeping the same great vibe people have come to know and love! The Delicatessen ethos is about getting people together to enjoy diverse music in a friendly, happy atmosphere! We don't run drinks promotions - we think that's a bit soulless. If you want a credible alternative without losing the party atmosphere Delicatessen is where you need to be! If you’ve been before you now know what it’s about. If not come along and become part of the family! See you there soon.
20 favourite Delicatessen classic tracks:
- Tricka Technology – Krafty Kuts
- Get Down – Nas
- Breathe don’t stop – Michael Jackson Vs Q Tip
- I got life _ Nina Simone Vs Groovefinders
- Memphis Soul Stew – King Curtis
- Slam - Pendulum
- I got 5 on it – Luniz (Urban Takeover mix)
- Golddigga - Kanye West
- Ghostwriter – RJD2
- Get up off a that thing _ James Brown
- Hip Hop – Dead Prez
- Rotton – Blak Twag
- Groove is in the Heart – Deee Lite
- Witness – Roots Manuva
- Les Fleur – Minnie Ripperton
- La Banda – Da Lata
- Zulu War chant – Afrika Bambaata
- Keep it moving – Mr Scruff
- All this love that I’m giving – Gwen McRae
- Man of constant sorrow- Skeewiff