The Reno nightclub became a destination for renowned African Americans and people of mixed race in the United States in the late 1960s. After fighting Bradford-born Richard Dunn in 1976, famed boxer Mohammad Ali was said to have visited the Reno. According to reports, Bob Marley and Tony Wilson also paid a visit to Reno.
According to Manchester’s Finest, the Reno was a hub for many of the high-flying revelers and fan enthusiasts who were forbidden from patronizing white-dominated venues. The club was founded in 1962 by a Nigerian named Phil Magbotiwan after he encountered racism while trying to gain access to white-dominated nightclubs in Manchester, England.
Magbotiwan founded the nightclub, which began as a Salvation Army Hostel for African mariners. Previously, it was a club called “The Palm Beach,” which was run by Roland West. As the facility’s patronage grew, it evolved into a 24-hour venture where people of color could hang out and participate in fun activities such as parties. The building, which also housed the Nile reggae club, was located on the corner of Princess Road and Moss Lane East. The Reno was located downstairs, while the Nile Club was located upstairs.
The Reno transformed Manchester’s nightlife and transformed it into a true musical city, nurturing black culture and music of African origin. Magbotiwan’s goal was to create a space where people from all walks of life could come to have fun without being judged because of the color of their skin.
It was without a doubt the city’s first racially integrated nightclub. According to the BBC, no person of mixed race attended the Reno and complained about being abused or not having enough fun. The Reno was a haven for soul fans and England’s mixed-race community.
Reno was not a location one would freely visit if they were bored. On any given night in Reno, the only requirement that mattered was the DJ behind the disk, and any music request would be met.
In the 1970s, racial barriers were created to prevent people of African and Asian ancestry from entering city center nightclubs. The introduction of the Reno provided a welcoming environment in which people could patronize, forget about their concerns, and dance to the coolest and hottest tunes of the day.
DJ Persian, who played at the nightclub seven nights a week for 16 years, was one of the notable personalities who woven a musical mystic around the Reno. He was admired for his unique style of R&B and soul music, which is frequently heard for the first time.
The Persian music concept was to play slow music that was carefully chosen and released to bring sensuous healing to the clients of the nightclub. People’s attitudes toward clubbing transformed as the use of recreational substances and the demand for faster-paced music increased.
The federal government became concerned and ordered the Reno to close, eventually demolishing the basement club. In 2017, a project was commissioned to dig what was remained of the Reno with the intention of temporarily presenting it at the Whitworth Art Gallery. The artifacts from what remained of the Reno were moved to the Manchester Museum.