Many revellers will look back at these long-gone south Essex nightclubs with fond memories of packed dancefloors and wild celebrations.

As Southend's newest nightclub Popworld opened its doors on Friday with nostalgic pop tunes, we've decided to delve into the Echo archives and remember these once well-loved south Essex night spots.

Can you spot yourself dancing the night away in any of our pictures?

READ MORE: How a 20 second earthquake caused panic and damage around Southend

Echo: A foam night at Kings Club, Canvey, in September 1995A foam night at Kings Club, Canvey, in September 1995

Kings Club, Canvey

Built in 1962, Kings Club was the brainchild of Jack King, who managed the then Kings Holiday Park - Kings Park Village today.

And it was a hit, attracting some of Britain's biggest showbusiness stars over the years, including Tommy Cooper, Shirley Bassey and Frankie Vaughan.

Boy band Take That entertained revellers at the venue in their early days, while dance sensation Spiller played a live set there in 2000, just a year before the historic Canvey nightspot shut its doors.

Echo: Lookalikes - George Michael, Cher, Madonna and Michael Jackson impersonators at Raquel's, in BasildonLookalikes - George Michael, Cher, Madonna and Michael Jackson impersonators at Raquel's, in Basildon

Echo: Memories - the former Uropa nightclub in Market Pavement, BasildonMemories - the former Uropa nightclub in Market Pavement, Basildon

Raquel's / Club Uropa, Basildon

The iconic Basildon club, in Market Pavement, opened in 1983 and drew crowds of revellers from all over the county.

Raquel’s hosted plenty of stars such as homegrown talent Depeche Mode, who performed to adoring fans in November 1981.

Sadly, the hotspot welcomed partygoers for the final time in 1995.

A year later the club reopened as Club Uropa, but was not nearly as popular and closed down in 1998.

Echo: Pope party - a disco and mass in honour of Pope John Paul II at Raquel's, Basildon, in May 1982Pope party - a disco and mass in honour of Pope John Paul II at Raquel's, Basildon, in May 1982

Tots / Talk Of The South / Talk, Southend

Southend's most famous club, known as Talk Of The South (TOTS), Tots 2000 and Talk over the years, sadly closed down on New Year's Eve in 2019.

The venue had been open on the seafront since 1973 and hosted a wide range of celebrities over its years as one of Essex's most iconic nightclubs.

Echo:

Announcing its closure in 2019, a spokesman for the club said: “TOTS was undoubtedly the most successful club in Essex for many, many years.

“To all the previous managers, DJ’s, promo, cleaners, bar staff, pot staff, door staff, receptionists, promoters and all other staff. Not to mention the owners. You made it what it was. We salute you.”

The venue was transformed into a bowling alley in 2022.

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Here are some more photos of south Essex nightclubs we miss...

Echo: Rains in SouthendRains in Southend (Image: Newsquest)

Echo: New Year’s Eve party held at the Southend-based Zero SixNew Year’s Eve party held at the Southend-based Zero Six (Image: Newsquest)

Echo: Time Disco in Times Square, BasildonTime Disco in Times Square, Basildon (Image: Newsquest)

Echo: Sam Elgawad owner of Hats disco in Basildon celebrates the opening with staff in 1990Sam Elgawad owner of Hats disco in Basildon celebrates the opening with staff in 1990 (Image: Newsquest)