The closure of The Ironworks last night [Saturday Feb 4] to make way for a Courtyard by Marriott hotel has left many with heavy hearts.
Memories of great nights out at the venue will linger long with a generation of folk who loved the craic, the atmosphere and above all, the live music pumped out with passion by big names and rising stars alike.
There’s nothing in town to replace the 1000-capacity Ironworks, so its loss is a particularly bitter blow to live music fans in the city.
The Ironworks was fought for long and hard back in the Noughties.
Everyone agreed that Inverness, made a city in 2000, needed a dedicated live music venue similar to those in other Scottish cities.
By 2005, something was being done about it, led by local musician Wayne MacKenzie, formerly of Wolfstone.
His company, La Scala Entertainments lodged a planning application with Highland Council for a dedicated live music venue at the bottom of the city’s Academy Street.
It would be known as The Ironworks, seeing as it was planned for ground which was once part of the Rose Street foundry.
There was an immediate groundswell of support.
Wayne said at the time: “I have had calls from musicians of both local and national fame who feel that, at last, Inverness can get the type of facility that The Lemon Tree gives Aberdeen or The Venue offers Edinburgh.
“Arts organisations also agree there is a need for this and the scale of the response has been highly encouraging.”
Confident
His vision was backed by Stewart McKinnon, director of Raw Promotions (Scotland) Ltd who said: “We have strong relationships with all of the major promoters and record labels in the UK and are confident that we could firmly establish Inverness on the touring circuit for live music and arts.
“The Ironworks project has immense potential and will be an asset to the city and the music scene in Scotland.”
Charlie McKerron of Capercaillie (above) said: “Highland has needed a venue like this for years”, while Wolfstone’s Duncan Chisholm said it would save ‘so many Highland people having to travel south to see bands which will now put Inverness on their playlist.”
The mood music so far was good
The plans were for the venue to accommodate 800 people standing, with a further 60 on the balcony.
It would cater for all genres of music, but definitely not be a night club, “a totally live music venture,” Wayne stressed.
Eden Court was closed for its big revamp at that time, so everything hung on the council’s decision about The Ironworks.
But there was a spanner in the works
City provost Bill Smith opposed the development, afraid the venue would be a magnet for drunks and discos, generating a sound problem for neighbours.
La Scala Entertainments invited Mr Smith to a meeting and managed to allay his fears, stating: “Anyone who thinks this is a nightclub or super-pub simply hasn’t seen the design, with a huge stage, a two tier viewing area and a relatively small bar.
“It’s a concert hall layout and nothing remotely like a club scene.”
They won their argument, to Wayne’s relief.
Amid congratulations and celebrations, he said: “It’s the realisation of a dream for me and years of work.”
As the opening date approached, talent was sought for Unleashed Live, the start of a series of free gigs featuring local and unsigned bands.
And with that, in July 2006, The Ironworks was up and running.
Babyshambles were booked for the December, quite a coup as it was one of only two Scottish dates for the huge band, fronted by Pete Doherty.
Pete Doherty, name always accompanied by the word ‘troubled’, was in the news as the boyfriend of supermodel Kate Moss and a heroin addict.
He brought his own brand of trouble to The Ironworks having smoked a series of cigarettes during the concert, at one point having four in his mouth, all lit.
New legislation preventing this had been introduced earlier that year, and the authorities were up in arms and threatening penalties.
The Ironworks management vigorously defended themselves: “Everyone was fully aware in the band about the smoking ban. The stage crew even took cigarettes off him (Doherty) when he went on stage the first time.
“We did everything in our power to stop him, short of throwing him out of the building.”
In the end Doherty was issued with a warning, and would reappear, all forgiven, at The Ironworks in September 2012.
Meanwhile the venue quickly found a place in Invernessians’ hearts.
The Blues Brothers arrived in the Highland capital in style with their show, complete with their trademark 70s US State Ohio Trooper and a new set boasting five more police cars.
The Best Blues Brothers Show in the World Ever was part of their 25th anniversary tour.
Tickets were snapped up when the legendary Van Morrison appeared a few months later.
In 2008 Fat Boy Slim aka Norman Cook, delighted with a private gig at The Ironworks prior to headlining RockNess.
He said as he was coming up early to check out some technical requirements for RockNess, “I might as well have a party while I’m up here. I’m excited about seeing the people of Inverness.”
The list of big draws at The Ironworks is long and impressive — Dizzee Rascal, Thin Lizzy, Kasabian, the Charlatans, Runrig, comedian Frankie Boyle, Franz Ferdinand, to name just a few.
It was the venue for body building and boxing, blue light discos for young teens.
The lease changed hands but the bands played on until the pandemic took The Ironworks into financial uncertainty.
Then developers moved in, with £30m plans for a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel on the site, saying it would be a boost to post-Covid recovery.
The die was cast.
There were some planning knockbacks which gave momentary hope to Ironworks supporters, ultimately in vain.
The question now is what will be done about getting a new home for the Ironworks?
More on The Ironworks:
The search for a new Ironworks is continuing – but it won’t be in the Eastgate
Inverness Ironworks hangs in the balance as council planners throw their weight behind hotel scheme
Objection lodged on ‘heritage conservation grounds’ to luxury hotel that could replace the Ironworks
Conversation