From Cellar to Campus: Klubben Re-Emerges in the University City

Among newly installed draft beer systems, half-empty energy drinks, bolt cutters and a strong smell of paint, the bar managers of Klubben, Victor Kring Schmidt, Christian Larsen and Emilie Clemensen, are sitting with colour samples and have to decide what colour the bar should be.

The basement people have crawled up from the dense darkness of Klubben on Fuglesangs Allé. They are now in the new University City on Nørrebrogade, where they are recreating Klubben in the new surroundings.

“The ceiling is really high here compared to the old Klubben,” says Victor Kring Schmidt, who is studying business administration in his fifth semester.

“Today we received the draft beer system, and next week the bars will be built,” says Christian Larsen, who is also studying business administration.

With the help of several volunteers from Studenterlauget, the people behind Klubben have spent the past few weeks tearing down the festivities at Aarhus BSS on Fuglesangs Allé.

An Era Has Ended: Last Day with Students at Fuglesangs Allé

And now it must be reestablished in a new territory.

“It should be ready for us to open on February 13th,” says Christian Larsen.

Klubben recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, and it was the old charm that was hardest to say goodbye to for the three bar managers.

“It was really sad to have to let go of a legendary place that has existed for so long,” Christian Larsen says.

“The old premises had a funny story. "It was great to hear the older students say that Klubben has had a great impact on their studies," Emilie Clemensen says.

Klubben is a persistent Friday bar that has been open every Friday from 12 to 02 am.

“We have almost only been closed for the Regatta and during the Easter holidays,” Victor Kring Schmidt says.

Klubben is also known for throwing large parties, and its event 'Club Klub' has in particular attracted several hundred guests. Several Danish musical artists such as Suspekt, Topgunn and Artigeardit have given concerts at Club Klub.

“We used to be so privileged that we had both huge premises in the Club and the large courtyard area. Then we also had the Fuglesangssalen, so for the really big events, we had room for 1,800 people. "We’ll have to think in new ways about how we can facilitate something like that," Christian Larsen says.

“It's a headache that you don't just know that you have space. There is serious work involved in figuring out how we can now accommodate 1,800 people," Victor Kring Schmidt says.

"We also have to think creatively about the freshers' week, where there must be room for 1,000 people. This is something we are currently planning and working towards a solution," Christian Larsen says.

“It’s not certain that there will be a Club Klub this year, but it isn’t being written off,” Christian Larsen says.

However, the new premises also offer new opportunities. The new location provides even better opportunities to add Klubben as a stop on your ‘tour de Friday bar’. 

“It took about 20 minutes to walk from the University Park to Fuglesangs Allé,” Emilie Clemensen says. 

“Klubben was not strategically well located. The students like that everything is in one place," Christian Larsen adds. 

“This location allows us to be an integrated part of the University Park,” Victor Kring Schmidt says.

“I hope we become part of the more typical Friday bar environment. Before, we were maybe more of a nightclub where people would hang out," Christian Larsen says.

The move will not only benefit the Friday bar nomads but also BSS's own students, according to the three bar managers.

“There is a little more incentive to use this as a free space. The old Klubben was cramped and dark, which was good for parties, but not good for sitting around and reading," Victor Kring Schmidt says.

“There are people who’d like to start a knitting club down here in the premises. We want to establish a space that isn’t just about partying," Victor Kring Schmidt says.

But Klubben won't be completely new. The three bar managers hope they can preserve a bit of the spirit from the old Klubben.

“We have moved our biggest brand, the bus, and hope that it can bring some of the same energy here,” Christian Larsen says.

“The spirit at the old Klubben was that people were so close together, and that's where you gathered if you went to BSS,” Victor Kring Schmidt says.

“The spirit comes with the students,” he adds.

“We'll probably play 'Angels' as the last song, as we usually do,” assures Christian Larsen.

Construction work will continue into February to get ready for the opening party, but the three bar managers are confident that Klubben will be ready.

“Yes, yes. All deadlines have been set. We're just waiting for them to be executed," Victor Kring Schmidt says.

You can see for yourself whether the schedule holds and what colour the bar will be when Klubben holds an opening party on Friday, 13 February, in the new premises in building 1832 in the University City.

This text is machine translated and post-edited by Lisa Enevoldsen.