Popular nightclub to close after 25 years

Tuesday 27 June 2017

Many islanders will have memories of dancing in the nightclub known variously as Folies, Babylon, Mint, Koko and Kasbar - but now the venue is to close, leaving what's being described as a "big hole" in the industry.

Its been revealed that after 25 years in existence and several name changes, the nightclub located on the Esplanade would be closing down towards the end of September, after the sale of the premises.

The club was known over the years as Follies & Platinum, Mint & Babylon and more recently Koko & Kasbar. It is one of the largest nightclub venues in Jersey with a capacity of 900 people and three bars. The nightclub was famous among partygoers for its two different ambiances, offering favourite tracks from the 60s, to the 90s on one side and electronic music on the other.

DJ Mel, who became Koko & Kasbar's first female resident DJ 10 years ago, has been part of the club for the past 17 years. Last year, she took a "break" from Kasbar's decks to focus on her own business and became an events DJ, more recently supporting Katherine Jenkins during an evening in support of Jersey Hospice Care. 

She told Express: "It will be sad to see Koko & Kasbar go. I am going to miss the nightclub, the regulars and the familiar faces. It's like a family in here and I got to know a lot of people and it was a pleasure to celebrate big moments with them, like engagements, weddings and birthdays. Kasbar is where I learned my trade. I've grown up DJing in Mint & Kasbar and learnt so much, and that experience has given me opportunities to play festivals and events in Jersey, the UK and beyond, places I would never have dreamt about playing at. 

"I’ve enjoyed playing a small part in the island's nightlife history, being there for 10 years, week in week out in Kasbar, I’m the longest serving resident female nightclub DJ on Jersey and I would hope one day someone will beat my record and more girls will get involved. But I think it is time to move on, things do change and the nightlife has changed significantly since I started."

The DJ who says she has "... so much to thank the Palladium group family for, from giving me the job in the first place and having faith in me" promised to be back for the club's last night "to play my final swan-song in the place that made me who I am today!"

She said: "I will be returning to Kasbar to DJ the last night, but I must admit it’s going to be very emotional for me. Now all I’ve got to do is decide on that all important last song! I’ve got a good idea what I will end the night on, but I’m keeping it top-secret right up until the last night! I’m not even sharing it with my better half. I'm not sure what the other DJ's have in store for Koko yet but I'm sure they will all be taking a turn behind the decks."

Although she became a kind of figurehead for the nightclub, as the only female resident DJ there, Melissa is adamant Koko & Kasbar are not just about her. She explains: "The DJs in the main room of Koko have been so instrumental in the clubs success, Al has been playing for 17 years, Gerry for 10 and Danny for 5 years. The longevity of the DJ’s shows how close knit a family we all are."

Pictured: DJ Mel behind the decks in Koko.

While she has been given a two-nights-a-month residency in Ce Soir, "to continue playing the music people know and love from Kasbar", DJ Mel says it won't be the same without Koko & Kasbar and that the nightclub will be missed by a lot of partygoers. "It will leave a big hole in Jersey's nightclubs industry as one of the largest capacity venues. It doesn't mean someone is not going to come along and do something different.

"The music industry has changed so much though and smaller venues are doing really, really well. Before, when we didn't have the Internet, we would only listen to the Top 40 songs and there was no particular genre in nightclubs. Now, people can access whatever they want and it so much diverse. Each club now has its own genre and I think that is going to develop even more." 

Pictured: Kasbar and Koko nightclub, located on the Esplanade, will close its doors later this year towards the end of September.

There is no word yet on who bought the building on the Esplanade or what will become of it but Melissa is sure of one thing, the last night will be one to remember. She promised: "I really want to celebrate the clubs' happy memories and make our last night in Kasbar one that goes down in the history books!"