The clubs future was seriously threatened when it's owners Luminar went into administration late last year but normal business seemed to be restored when the company was taken over by Whitbread. But after ongoing discussion with the landlords Xscape to keep the club at the venue, Luminar were forced to close Oceana.
Oceana at Xscape was an iconic part of Milton Keynes' nightlife. But now with it's departure and a new club due to open in the near future, I can't help speculate what it will be like and also what it could be.
I strongly suspect that the replacement for Oceana will be very much that, a replacement. I think they will look to draw the same crowd, i think it will be pretty much the same as Oceana but with a new badge and a bit of a change of decor. It makes sense because the crowd are still there, the Saturday night before Oceana closed was a very busy one. There are still hundreds, thousands of people who will queue up for the kind of night that Oceana provided. It was pretty much a generic nightclub, the music, the dress code, the atmosphere, everything about the place was an example of what the typical night out for the typical weekend clubber is about, and to it's credit, it was a good example.
What else could take over the venue? Could something new spring up and offer us something different? I don't think so. In my opinion it's a nice thought, that something refreshing, something with a bit of edge and soul, a place that would encourage us to think and talk and interact, even create would be good. Rather than another environment for us to dance, drink, shag and spend lots of money. That's what it's all about at the end of the day, money. It's big business and as far as big business is concerned, it's not broken, so don't fix it.
Xscape have more to consider too, with other night clubs housed in the building which pretty much rely on the huge numbers drawn by Oceana, it seems they really have little choice but to welcome a carbon copy.
I can't help thinking though, that in the centre of our town is a place that can bring people together. This country and this town are severely lacking a sense of community, yet the driving force of commerce absolutely dictates a total disregard of the issue, and in fact promotes the opposite.
What do you think? Can't wait for a banging new club like Oceana to fill the vacant hole that was left in your weekend? Or would you rather see something a little different take the stand?
