27 photos from the '90s Birmingham club scene

While putting together our recent 15 Signs You Were On The Birmingham Club Scene In The '90s feature, we came across the photography of Henry Ratcliffe.

A freelance club and rave photographer throughout the '90s, Henry's images of sweating crowds and pensive DJs in Birmingham's clubs were printed in magazines such as DJ, Sky, Wax, UK Club Guide and The Face. As soon as we saw them, we knew we had to track him down and give him and his photography some well deserved attention.

Taken at many of Birmingham's most legendary club nights and parties, including Miss Moneypenny's, Atomic Jam, Flashback, Nu Tonik, Oscillate, The Bubble Club and Boogie Down Brum, these images offer a fascinating glance back to a long-passed era when the clothes were bad, the haircuts were awful, but the music and parties were incredible.

Now living in Moseley, Henry organises record fairs with his partner and keeps busy with travel and live music photography and collecting music memorabilia. 

As well as tracking him down and insisting he scanned his old images for us to show off here, we grabbed a few words from Henry, who was more than happy to oblige.

'I became seriously interested in photography in the early '90s. I started to approach various magazines during my second year of a Photography HND at Sandwell College, West Bromwich and then began to pick up some freelance work. 

'While documenting nightclubs, I was also attending and taking pictures at many illegal raves and free parties particularly those organised by DIY, Smokescreen, Pulse and Krunch. 

'My favourite nights as both a punter and a photographer were The Bubble Club, Nu Tonik and some of the early Capsule events at The Medicine Bar. 

'The atmosphere in The Que Club was second to none, it was such a friendly club in the mid-'90s. Nu Tonik was a great little sweatbox and The Med Bar was just different to anywhere else at the time.'

Contact Henry on henryratcliffe@yahoo.co.uk

We take a loving look back at some of Birmingham's most memorable and important raves, club nights, venues, promoters and tunes, from Atomic Jam, Sundissential and Flashback, to Miss Moneypenny's, Bakers and House of God...