Drug busts, local councils, and northern soul: What happened to the ‘all-nighters’?

Northern soul all-nighters, once central to the scene’s culture in towns such as Wigan, Manchester and Stoke, are now much less common. The article says their decline reflects a mix of pressures, including drug-related policing and venues losing their licences, as well as later restrictions on late-night events.

All-nighters grew from the 1960s scene and became prominent in the 1970s, when dancers gathered to hear obscure American soul records. The Twisted Wheel closed in 1971 and Stoke’s Golden Torch in 1973; Wigan Casino shut in 1981 after its council declined to renew its licence. Some events continue, including London’s 6Ts Rhythm and Soul Society and Bristol Northern Soul Club, while the article also points to licensing changes and restrictions introduced in the 1980s.