In this video, I sit down with Coddy to hear his vivid memories of growing up in Manchester and his unforgettable clubbing days spanning the 1980s and 1990s. Recommended to me by Jacqui—who appeared in a previous video—Coddy has known her since they were both teenagers. After he commented on my Facebook post about Jacqui’s video, she chimed in to say, “Coddy was there from day one.” That was all the encouragement I needed to get him on camera.
Coddy takes us on a journey that starts with his early teenage years—hanging out at the Silver Screen nightclub in Eccles, Winton Youth Club, and loafing around Manchester Arndale on Saturdays. From those innocent days, he graduated to his first real club experience at Tropicana on Oxford Road, before sneaking out to the legendary Reno club in Moss Side—often by climbing out of his bedroom window at 2 a.m. to avoid his dad, who was sometimes drinking next door at the Nile.
He shares stories of how the Reno was a place where jazz and R&B met community and weed wraps—often sold by a bearded glass collector. Coddy recalls the rush of staying out until 5 or 6 in the morning, creeping back in through his window like a proper clubland ninja.
We also talk about the famous Hulme “kitchen parties,” and how his mates set up unofficial raves in abandoned flats on Epping Walk—hotwiring electricity and knocking down walls to make room for a dancefloor. They’d charge a couple of quid on the door and have some legendary nights.
Coddy opens up about his introduction to house music, first through The Gallery and then The Hacienda, where he became a regular. He tells us about being there in the early days—queuing up with the Salford and Moss Side crew, meeting people like Roger on the door, and how the vibe changed over the years as ecstasy gave way to cocaine and gangs took over the scene.
He reflects on the beauty of those early rave nights—of dancing till dawn, sharing love and good vibes, and sometimes buying drinks for total strangers. We talk about the rise of clubs like Flesh at The Hacienda and how the gay nights felt safer and more inclusive, especially as the mainstream scene became more aggressive.
Coddy also shares stories from Cream in Liverpool and Back to Basics in Leeds, and how his social circle stayed connected thanks to Facebook and WhatsApp. He fondly remembers the old crew from the Hacienda, the first cubicle meeting spot, and wonders where many of those faces are now.
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