ATIK Colchester history as theatre, Hippodrome, Liquid Envy

Found in one of the major High Street venue buildings, ATIK is a hotspot for the nightlife in the city centre.

With various rooms and floors, it is a clubber’s paradise, with drinks and music for all tastes.

As ATIK is now closing for good, we decided to look back at the history of the site.

History - the Grand Theatre was built and opened in 1905 (Image: N/A)

The building, known as the Grand Theatre, was built and opened in 1905, originally called the Grand Palace of Varieties.

Days gone by - the Top Rank Bingo Club pictured in 1979 (Image: N/A)

Architect J W Start was behind the design, which still declares its origins in its stonework.

Packed - inside the Hippodrome in June 1988 (Image: N/A)

By 1920 the theatre became a full time cinema until 1961, when it was closed and converted into a Top Rank Bingo Club.

Sunshine - outside the Hippodrome in 1993 (Image: N/A)

This lasted for a further 24 years, before changing into a short-lived retail outlet.

Dancing - inside the Hippodrome in 1993 (Image: N/A)

The site later became the famous Hippodrome in 1986, delighting guests throughout the 80s and into the 1990s.

Smiles - Hippodrome owner Steve Peri with Eastenders stars, Marc Bannerman and Michael Greco at the opening of the Colchester Hippodrome Experience (Image: N/A)

It continued to trade with other variations of the name until 2008 when it was converted into Liquid Envy by former owners Luminar who later changed to the Deltic Group.

Classic - Liquid and Envy as it used to look on the High Street (Image: N/A)

Liquid and Envy enjoyed many years of success, until it was bought by its current owners, Rekom UK.

Celebs - TOWIE stars enjoying a trip to Liquid and Envy (Image: N/A)

The former Liquid and Envy club closed for rebranding on April 23, 2016, later reopening under its current guise.

Party - a DJ performing on ATIK's opening night (Image: ATIK)

ATIK underwent a £400,000 revamp and was opened with the help of Irish model and Celebrity Big Brother star, Jeremy McConnell.

Club - more than 2,000 guests hit the ATIK dancefloor on opening night (Image: ATIK)

Today the original ornate ceiling and balconies are still on full view for all to admire, enhanced by the art lighting and laser systems.

ATIK trades predominantly as late-night clubbing experience but can be used as a multi-functional space for different activities such as boxing and MMA events, corporate and meeting functions as well as product launches.

ATIK will finally close on Saturday, June 3, after bosses faced the “challenges of late night trading in the 18 and 19 year-old market”.