‘OZ offers escapism in sumptuous surroundings’

A cascading waterfall, a pond over two floors and stainless steel trees - you got it all if you went to OZ in South Shields.

It was the latest hit attraction to open in South Tyneside and the club with a difference was unveiled to the world in 1988.

Some of the people who were there on the opening night of OZ in 1988 - alongside a robot called Adam. | sg

placeholder image — Some of the people who were there on the opening night of OZ in 1988 - alongside a robot called Adam. | sg

We wonder how many nightclubs had all of this when it was launched.

It certainly got our reporter talking. They described it as ‘head and shoulders above anything else in town, and possibly the region’.

The Gazette story added: “OZ offers escapism in sumptuous surroundings. Two flights of stairs lead disco-goers to the entrance of this discotheque fantasy, where a cinema-style pay desk awaits. Close by is the secure cloakroom.

Inside OZ which had all sorts of new features including a two-storey stream and a waterfall. | sg

“Smoked glass windows offer a sneak preview to guests of what is in store inside OZ. Step through the double doors and you are inside a world of light, colour and fantasy. OZ has to be seen to be fully experienced.

“Fibre optics form the main stay of the lighting system inside the club, and their effect is quite stunning. Trees of stainless steel, topped with coloured leaves, then close by, strands of fibre optics changing colour and shimmering.”

OZ had a colour scheme which was ‘shades of purple, pink and blue.”

Inside OZ on the opening night of the South Shields club in 1988. | sg

But the most talked about feature of the club was ‘the cascading waterfall which wends its way from the upper floor to the lower level with a drop of 50 feet,” said our reporter.

“On the upper floor of OZ is where you find the source of the waterfall. The steam runs across two levels on the upper floors of OZ, close to the three dance floors that are situated here.”

It then goes ‘through ponds which are lit with a blaze of colour created by fibre optics. It then travels under the DJ's console and onto the waterfall - cascading down to the pond on the lower floor of the club.”

Customer comfort was the priority and at its most packed, it could hold 1,600 people. But we want to know if you were one of the regulars in those early days.

Get in touch and re-live your OZ experiences by emailing [email protected].uk