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Brickwork: A Biography of The Arches
Nightclub, theatre, creative hub, party place, and one of the most important venues in Scotland, Britain and Europe: for almost 25 years, The Arches was the beating heart of Glasgow.
In 1991, former punk-turned-theatre director Andy Arnold walked into the disused red brick Victorian railway arches underneath Glasgow’s Central Station and immediately saw the potential of the space. Not even he could have imagined its future, as simultaneously one of the biggest and most famous nightclubs in the world and a major player on the European theatre scene. Until its closure following a drug-related death in 2015, The Arches carved its own, indefinable path, playing a vital role in the lives of many Scottish artists along the way. Some of those stars of the future began their careers taking tickets, hanging coats and serving drinks there.
For the first time, the people who made the venue get to tell their story. Piecing together accounts from directors, DJs, performers, clubbers, artists, bar tenders, actors, audiences and staff, Brickwork writes the biography of a space that was always more than its bricks and mortar.
In 1991, former punk-turned-theatre director Andy Arnold walked into the disused red brick Victorian railway arches underneath Glasgow’s Central Station and immediately saw the potential of the space. Not even he could have imagined its future, as simultaneously one of the biggest and most famous nightclubs in the world and a major player on the European theatre scene. Until its closure following a drug-related death in 2015, The Arches carved its own, indefinable path, playing a vital role in the lives of many Scottish artists along the way. Some of those stars of the future began their careers taking tickets, hanging coats and serving drinks there.
For the first time, the people who made the venue get to tell their story. Piecing together accounts from directors, DJs, performers, clubbers, artists, bar tenders, actors, audiences and staff, Brickwork writes the biography of a space that was always more than its bricks and mortar.
- GenresNonfiction
207 pages, Paperback
Published November 4, 2021
1 person is currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Kirstin Innes
13 books151 followersKirstin Innes is an award-winning journalist and arts worker who lives in the west of Scotland. Fishnet, her debut novel, was published in April 2015 by Freight, and won The Guardian Not The Booker Prize. Her short stories have been published in a number of anthologies and recorded for BBC Radio 4, and she's had short plays performed at Tron Theatre and The Arches in Glasgow. Her journalism has been published in The Independent, The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and The Herald, and she was assistant editor of The List magazine between 2006-2010. Kirstin won the Allen Wright Award for Excellence in Arts Journalism in 2007 and 2011.
She's currently working on her second novel, Scabby Queen, and her first full-length play, Take Your Partners.
She's currently working on her second novel, Scabby Queen, and her first full-length play, Take Your Partners.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 20, 2021
“Manchester had Hacienda. Ibiza had Space. Liverpool had Cream. But we in Glasgow had The Arches. So much more than just a club, a place where everyone was welcome. Not driven by money, not driven by ego, not conforming to the latest fads and trends.”
Why would anyone want to write a biography about a building? About a random bar and club where punters used to go and get up to all sorts of chaos on a Saturday night? A place with bad press in the end that led to its closure? Because it’s oh so so much more than that!
Brickwork is such important work! It has taught me things that I didn’t know about the Arches, it’s history, what it actually represented for so many and obliterated all the stereotypes I had about it in my head. I was new to Glasgow when it closed down, had heard of the legendary nights and been to a few amazing gigs there myself (The Prides being my last one) but none of that comes close to the stories retold in this book!
It’s clear that The Arches wasn’t just a venue. It was a community, a family, a place where people were able to express themselves freely in whatever way they choose- Arches had something for everyone! Places like this are so important. It’s clear that it have so much to so many who wouldn’t have had the chances it gave them, or even happiness.
I had no idea about the theatre and arts events put on here too. I had no idea about how much they did for people trying to find their place to start in the arts. I thought it was just a club for people to get high and have a good time. That was just on the surface…..
“A belief that we could do something that was positive for people that would probably never have gotten those chances before”
It’s clear Glasgow is nothing without The Arches.
Why would anyone want to write a biography about a building? About a random bar and club where punters used to go and get up to all sorts of chaos on a Saturday night? A place with bad press in the end that led to its closure? Because it’s oh so so much more than that!
Brickwork is such important work! It has taught me things that I didn’t know about the Arches, it’s history, what it actually represented for so many and obliterated all the stereotypes I had about it in my head. I was new to Glasgow when it closed down, had heard of the legendary nights and been to a few amazing gigs there myself (The Prides being my last one) but none of that comes close to the stories retold in this book!
It’s clear that The Arches wasn’t just a venue. It was a community, a family, a place where people were able to express themselves freely in whatever way they choose- Arches had something for everyone! Places like this are so important. It’s clear that it have so much to so many who wouldn’t have had the chances it gave them, or even happiness.
I had no idea about the theatre and arts events put on here too. I had no idea about how much they did for people trying to find their place to start in the arts. I thought it was just a club for people to get high and have a good time. That was just on the surface…..
“A belief that we could do something that was positive for people that would probably never have gotten those chances before”
It’s clear Glasgow is nothing without The Arches.
April 8, 2022
This is a biography of the famous night club/theatre in Glasgow ' The Arches' told by those who worked there, had an association with it or enjoyed the party atmosphere and creative hub, which was well known within Britain and also Europe. This is a must read book telling of the rise and the sudden fall of this iconic venue and everything that happened in-between.
For nearly 25 years The Arches was really popular and played a big part in the careers of many young artists until its sudden closure following a drug related death in 2015.
A really informative book with interesting background stories and photographs.
For nearly 25 years The Arches was really popular and played a big part in the careers of many young artists until its sudden closure following a drug related death in 2015.
A really informative book with interesting background stories and photographs.
December 19, 2021
I LOVED this so much. I loved The Arches and spent so many happy nights there, reading this brought it all back. I’m still a bit heartbroken about The Arches closing, but this book is a beautiful testament to the memories that the venue gave to people - you can feel the love coming from the pages. Read this book!
January 13, 2022
The best book I have read in many years. I may be biased being a proud Glaswegian but it still feels like a loss.
April 25, 2022
Really enjoyed learning about the history of the Arches, and the impact it had on the arts and culture scene in Glasgow.
February 16, 2022
Pure nostalgia.
I miss The Arches, the theatre, the space and the community the flourished there.
I miss The Arches, the theatre, the space and the community the flourished there.
July 29, 2022
An incredibly unique writing setup- Brickwork reads like a long running conversation between the people who created and worked at the Arches. I loved feeling like I was a part of the story, even with no prior understanding of Glasgow theatre or clubbing culture. My only regret reading this book is that I couldn't have witnessed a true night at the Arches.
I've rated it 8.5/10, and you can read the full review here: https://www.2percentbooks.com/brickwo...
I've rated it 8.5/10, and you can read the full review here: https://www.2percentbooks.com/brickwo...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews