UNVRS
Nightclub in Ibiza From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
UNVRS previously known as Ku Club (1979–95) and Privilege Ibiza (95-19)[1] is the "world's largest nightclub"[2][3] according to the Guinness Book of Records, also defined as a superclub with a capacity of 10,000 people and encompassing 6,500 m² (69,940 ft²).[4] It is located close to the village of Sant Rafael de Sa Creu on the Spanish island of Ibiza, less than one kilometre (0.6 miles) from the nightclub Amnesia.
| UNVRS Nightclub | |
 | |
 | |
| Former names | Ku, Privilege (Until 2024) |
|---|---|
| Location | San Rafael, Ibiza, Spain |
| Operator | The Night League |
| Type | Nightclub, music venue |
| Genre(s) | Electronic dance music, live music, performance art |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| Record attendance | 10,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1978, reopening 2025 |
| Renovated | 1995 and 2023-2025 |
| Expanded | 1997 and 2023-2025 |
| Closed | 2019 |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
The venue has remained closed since 2019 following the COVID-19 pandemic.
However in August 2024, The Night League, the brand behind Ushuaïa and Hï, announced the club will be known as [UNVRS] and will be the world's first "Hyperclub", which is due to reopen in 2025.[5]
The history of Privilege began in the early 1970s when it started out as a restaurant, then expanded to include a bar and a community swimming pool. It was then known as Club San Rafael.[6] In 1979, the venue was sold to the Real Sociedad footballer José Antonio Santamaría, together with the creative team of Brasilio de Oliviera (founder of La Troya Asesina, one of Ibiza's longest running nights[7]) and Gorri. The venue then changed its name to KU, after the name of a God from Hawaiian mythology (see Kū). The appeal of the club was such that it commissioned a medium-length film showcasing the many wonders of Ibizan landscapes and nightlife in the mid-eighties.[8]
Throughout the 1980s,[9] KU Club earned a reputation initially as Europe's premier polysexual but predominately gay nightspot and was compared to an open-air version of the famous Studio 54 in New York. It staged spectacular parties in the main room, which was organized around a swimming pool and a statue of Ku. The place was also where the video to "Barcelona" by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé was filmed on 30 May 1987.[10] It was the witness to early live performances by groups such as Spandau Ballet and Kid Creole and the Coconuts.[11] The club featured in a Channel 4 documentary called A Short Film about chilling, which labelled KU as "the mirror of Ibiza".[12] A group of fashion designers called Locomía would have shows at KU.[13] After being discovered there, they went on to become a highly successful recording project. The open-air parties came to an end when legislation forced many of the greater clubs in Ibiza to cover their dancefloors in the early 1990s. Nevertheless, the sheer size of the venue gave rise to the claim of it being the size of an aircraft hangar with a 25-metre (82 ft) high roof.
The club continued with the KU Club name until 1995 before becoming known as Privilege, after a change of ownership to Jose Maria Etxaniz.[14] In 1994, it hosted Manumission, one of the island's most famous events. In 1998, La Vaca Asesina moved to Amnesia and was renamed La Troya Asesina. After a dispute between the club owner and Manumission's organizers in 2005, the event ended in 2006. La Troya Asesina moved to Space in 2006.
According to official statistics published in the 2003 edition of Guinness World Records, Privilege is by far the world's largest nightclub covering an area of 69,968 sq ft (6,500 m2) and holding 10,000 clubbers.[15] Designated areas of the club include the Coco Loco bar area, and the La Vaca dance area (now known as the Vista Club).[16]
Resident DJs include:[17]
- Adam Beyer
- Ben Klock
- Carl Cox
- Marcel Dettmann
- Jayda G
- Alex P
- Deborah De Luca
- Dennis Cruz
- Sindey Charles
- The Blessed Madonna
- Young Marco
- Luca Donzelli
- Jamie Jones
- Seb Zito
- Michael Bibi
- Darren Price
A number of live performances at the venue have included:[18][19][20][21][22]
- Tiësto
- Steve Angello
- Sebastian Ingrosso
- Alesso
- Chris Brown
- Benny Benassi
- Example
- Eric Prydz
- Hardwell
- Gorgon City
- Redfoo
- apl.de.ap
- Bingo Players
- Danny Howard
- Far East Movement
- Pete Tong
- Adamski
- Divine
- Duran Duran
- Carl Cox
- 808 State
- Freddie Mercury
- Gloria Gaynor
- Grace Jones
- James Brown
- Kylie Minogue
- José Feliciano
- Kid Creole & The Coconuts
- Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD)
- Spandau Ballet
- Sylvester
Notable promoters have included:
The club has attracted many celebrities over the years, including Boy George, Madonna, David Bowie, Grace Jones, Jean Paul Gaultier, Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, Moschino, Tina Turner, and Valentino.[26][27][28]
- The club is seen in the online racing game Test Drive Unlimited 2.
- The club is mentioned in the film Kevin & Perry Go Large.
- Resistance (2017)
- Afterlife (2017)
- Babylonia
- Brazil
- Calcutta
- Fort Ku
- La Vaca Asesina (1978-2006)
- Manumission (1994-2007)
- Tanga Night
- The Home of Troy
- The Killing Cow
- The Temple of Love
- White Fool Moon
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