The owners of Christchurch nightclub Hide have announced they have sold the business after seven years of bringing underground electronic music to the city.
Mitch Ryder and Sam Smith opened the club, billed as “Christchurch's only purpose-built nightclub” dedicated to electronic music, in 2019 at the former Empire Bar on St Asaph St.
They told Stuff at the time they wanted to breathe new life into the city’s nightlife and fill the gap for electronic music left by a handful of bars closing after the Christchurch earthquakes
“Before the earthquakes, there were about 10 serious, world-class nightclubs in Christchurch. They were formidable, but they closed and there was no scope for anyone looking to rebuild,” Ryder said.
Hosting a range of electronic genres including drum and bass, house, techno and dubstep, crowds flocked to the venue - inspired by European clubs - in its early days, with shows regularly selling out.
